Most drivers know they should slow down at a flashing yellow light, knowing what it legally requires of you, however, is a whole other thing entirely. Under Mississippi traffic law, a flashing yellow light carries a specific duty of care.
Failing to meet that duty can determine who is held at fault after a crash and can impact your car accident claim. If you’ve been in an accident at a flashing yellow intersection and are unsure where you stand, here’s what the law says, how fault gets divided, and what to do next.
The Legal Meaning of a Flashing Yellow Light
According to Mississippi traffic signal laws, a flashing light at an intersection means caution. It means the driver should slow down, look both ways, and be prepared for possible hazards before proceeding.
“When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.” — (Miss. Code Ann. 63-3-311)
The key word here legally is “caution.” If an accident occurs and analysis shows that a driver rolled through the flashing yellow without reducing speed or checking for cross traffic, then that driver is negligent and exposed to liability.
Flashing Yellow Light vs. Flashing Yellow Arrow
They are not the same, and the difference matters.
- A flashing yellow light is for drivers proceeding straight through an intersection, warning them to proceed with caution.
- A flashing yellow arrow refers to drivers making left turns. It means you can turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Confusing these two signals is a common mistake. Opposing lawyers will exploit the distinction if you were involved in a turn when your accident happened.
Mississippi Right-of-Way Rules at Intersections
At an intersection where one driver has a flashing yellow light and another has a flashing red, the right-of-way belongs to the driver facing flashing yellow.
Flashing red requires a complete stop. Flashing yellow means “proceed with caution.”
Understand, however, that right-of-way is not a free pass. If the driver with the right-of-way flashing yellow light blows through the intersection without slowing or checking both ways, they can still be held partially liable in a crash—even if the other driver ran the red light.
Common Causes of Accidents at Flashing Yellow Lights
Most intersection crashes involving flashing signals are because of these common mistakes:
- Drivers running the flashing red without stopping
- Left-turn drivers misjudging or not noticing oncoming speed
- Speeding through a flashing yellow without slowing
- Drivers distracted by their phones, in-car screens, or other passengers
- Poor visibility due to weather, sun glare, or overgrown signage, and
- Pedestrians suddenly entering the crosswalk
Determining Liability After a Flashing Yellow Light Wreck
Mississippi is a pure comparative negligence state. This means both parties who are involved in an automobile crash can share a portion of the liability and receive compensation.
If you are in a crash, your compensation is reduced by whatever percentage of fault gets assigned to you. For example, if you receive 25 percent of the liability on a $40,000 claim, then the amount you receive will be $30,000. The other $10,000—25 percent of your claim—has been taken out to reflect your share of blame.
Using the same example, if the other driver is assigned 75 percent of the blame, and their claim is also $40,000, they’ll receive only $10,000.
Sharing liability cuts both ways. If you had the right-of-way with a flashing yellow but were speeding, the other side can claim that your speed was one of the main contributing factors in the crash. If you rolled through a flashing red light, liability could cut even deeper against you. Even so, speed, visibility, road conditions, and the other driver’s behavior will still influence the final calculation.
Steps to Take Following a Gulfport Intersection Accident
If you are not seriously injured after a crash, there are steps you can take to aid your insurance or personal injury claim. Document the accident scene as thoroughly as you can.
- Take photos of the traffic signal, the intersection layout, skid marks, and the condition of both vehicles before any objects or debris are moved.
- Note which lights were flashing and in which specific direction. This detail can help shape the entire liability calculation.
- Get contact information from witnesses before they leave.
- Do not admit or even discuss fault at the scene. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with an attorney.
- Seek prompt medical attention, even if you feel fine. Symptoms from intersection crashes, especially concussions and brain injuries, can take one to three days to show symptoms.
A Gulfport Car Accident Attorney Can Help
If you were seriously injured in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve real legal representation.
At Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, our car accident attorneys have spent decades fighting for injured victims in Gulfport and throughout Mississippi. We know what it takes to go up against insurers who would rather pay as little as possible than make you whole.
We will work to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and every other cost this crash has put on your plate. Reach out and schedule an evaluation with our Gulfport car accident lawyer.
