Car accidents are one of the leading causes of injuries in the United States, which is understandable given that nearly everyone drives – to and from work, school, meetings, and other activities. One of the most common kinds of accidents occurs when cars attempt to make left turns and are struck by oncoming traffic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that 61% of crashes that occur while turning or crossing at intersections involve left turns.
Left-hand turns are more dangerous than right-hand turns for a variety of reasons. Drivers must pay attention to oncoming traffic and judge how fast they’re driving, as well as keep an eye on the traffic signals.
More reasons why left turns are dangerous include:
- Left-hand turns disrupt the flow of traffic
- Many drivers forget or choose not to use turn signals
- Most drivers accelerate going into left turns
- Drivers turning left need to cross at least one lane of traffic
- Drivers turning left must watch out for cars that can come from multiple different directions
Who is Liable for Damages?
When it comes to determining liability, it may seem initially obvious as to who is at fault for left turn accidents. While driving rules vary by state, one common rule is that drivers must yield when making turns – especially left turns. Drivers making left turns are generally required to wait until it’s safe to turn across traffic. This means that if left-hand turns result in an accident, even if an oncoming vehicle collides with the other, the driver making the turn will be deemed at fault. Failing to yield for oncoming traffic qualifies as negligence, and other injured victims have a valid personal injury case.
However, there are some cases where the driver making a left turn may not be negligent, including:
- If the turning driver has a left turn arrow and the other driver went through a red light
- If the other driver went through a stop sign
Why It’s Important to Hire an Attorney
Because sometimes even the most seemingly simple cases can be complicated, it’s important to hire a car accident attorney to determine liability. One of our knowledgeable attorneys can fully evaluate your case to confirm if the collision was caused by the other driver. We can also gather evidence like photo documentation, crash reports filed by police, and expert testimonies.
We Don’t Win Until You Do
With years of experience, the seasoned car accident attorneys at Crossen Law Firm understand that suffering from injuries can be not just emotionally taxing, but financially expensive, too. As if it wasn’t challenging enough having to miss out on wages or losing your earning capacity from having to miss or quit work, you may also have mounting medical bills and property damage you can’t afford. Our team is here to pursue the compensation you deserve to pay for these expenses and more. We also operate on a contingency fee basis to be as accessible as possible, which means that you don’t need to worry about paying our lawyers until we win your case.
Contact Crossen Law Firm online or by phone at (317) 401-8626 for a free consultation if you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident. Our personal injury lawyers are fierce advocates for those who have been wrongly harmed by negligent drivers.
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