Left Turn Accident Lawyers Monterey CA
Monterey’s congested roadways make them difficult to navigate. One of the most challenging driving maneuvers a driver may make is attempting a left turn. This maneuver is even more dangerous when the turning driver does not have a green arrow and heavy traffic is present. This is why many traffic accidents involve left-hand turns.
When left-hand turn accidents occur, left-turning drivers may be responsible under California’s fault laws. However, these cases are not always straightforward, as it can sometimes be confusing who had the right-of-way. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Firm can review your claim and explain how California law applies to your case.
Statistics for Left-Hand Turn Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 40 percent of nearly 6 million crashes that occurred in the United States in one year were intersection-related crashes. 61% of these crashes occurred when someone was turning left, compared to only 3.1% when drivers were turning right.
Why Are Left-Hand Turns So Dangerous?
Left-hand turns are dangerous for many reasons. When traffic signals are not regulating turns, drivers must try to judge the speed and distance of other drivers. They may not be accurate about these estimates and can turn in front of unsuspecting drivers who do not have sufficient time to stop before a collision occurs. Additionally, drivers may have lowered visibility due to weather conditions, heavy traffic, or obstructions. These dangers increase exponentially when drivers cross multiple lanes of traffic.
Left-hand turns also involve a wider radius than right-hand turns, keeping them in the path of oncoming traffic for longer than other types of turns. Drivers may also speed up as they are executing left turns. These combinations can make these turns dangerous and sometimes even fatal. They can also make pedestrian accidents more likely.
Even when turns are regulated by traffic signals, collisions can still occur. Drivers traveling straight may run red lights or stop signs. Drivers turning assume that other drivers will obey traffic rules and signals and may turn into the path of a driver illegally running the red light. Turning drivers who have a green light but not an arrow must yield to oncoming traffic and can be hit by oncoming traffic when they think it’s safe to turn when it’s not.
California’s Laws Regarding Left-Hand Turns
California law specifically states drivers’ duties when making turns. When making a left turn, a driver must move to the left-hand edge of the extreme left-hand lane or portion of the roadway available for traffic traveling in that direction. At an intersection, the driver must enter the intersection and execute the left turn in the appropriate lane.
Additionally, California law requires drivers turning left or completing u-turns to yield the right-of-way to oncoming vehicles approaching from the opposite direction if those vehicles are so close as to present a danger at any point during the turn. The turning driver must continue to yield the right-of-way to approaching vehicles until the driver can complete the turn with reasonable safety.
The driver may turn after yielding as described above and using their turn signal. All approaching vehicles traveling from the opposite direction must then yield the right-of-way to the turning vehicle.
Who Is Responsible for Left-Hand Turn Accidents?
California is an at-fault state for car accidents. Under these rules, the driver determined to be at fault for the accident is responsible for paying for the damages they caused. Either driver may be at fault for left-turn accidents. A thorough investigation may be necessary to show which driver violated the right-of-way rules.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that of the 756,570 intersection-related crashes attributed to drivers, the most common reasons for the crash include:
- Inadequate surveillance – 44.1%
- False assumption of other’s action – 8.4%
- Turned with obstructed view – 7.8%
- Illegal maneuver – 6.8%
- Internal distraction – 5.7%
- Misjudgment of gap or other’s speed – 5.5%
In many left-hand turn accidents, the driver turning is found at fault because they executed the turn when it was not safe to do so.
However, blame may shift to the driver traveling straight when that driver does something wrong. For example, that driver may:
- Speed
- Run a red light
- Run a stop sign
- Be distracted
- Drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Not pay attention
An experienced personal injury attorney can review the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine who is at fault.
Evidence to Prove Liability in a Left-Hand Turn Accident
Even though drivers turning left are often determined to be at fault in causing the crash, these cases may sometimes involve complexities that raise questions of liability. The drivers involved may blame each other for the accident, and the insurance company may deny claims. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to establish fault and minimize any fault attributed to their client.
Evidence that can help prove which driver is at fault for the accident may include:
- Damaged auto parts and the location of the damage
- Skid marks and debris on the roadway
- Accident scene photos
- Videos of the accident, including video footage from traffic cameras, surveillance cameras, and dashcams
- Medical reports
- Reports prepared by accident reconstruction experts
Learn more about how we can help you with the personal injury claim process when you call for a free case review.
Compensation You Can Recover from a Left Turn Accident
Left-turn accidents can cause serious injuries that lead to permanent disabilities and life-altering consequences. Through a car accident claim, you may be able to recover compensation for your accident-related injuries and losses, including:
- Medical expenses – You may be able to have medical bills stemming from the accident paid by the at-fault driver’s insurance company, including for emergency treatment and transportation, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic tests, medicine, and medical devices.
- Lost wages – You can recover compensation for the wages you lost while seeking medical treatment and recovering from your injuries.
- Reduced earning capacity – If the accident left you permanently disabled or caused you to change your line of work, you can seek compensation for the permanent reduction in your earning capacity.
- Property damage – You can seek compensation for the costs to repair your vehicle. If these costs exceed your vehicle’s fair market value, you can seek compensation for its replacement value.
- Pain and suffering – In addition to economic damages, you may also be entitled to compensation for your non-economic damages, including for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress.
- Lost quality of life – Left-hand turn accidents can alter your life, cause permanent disabilities and impairments, and reduce your quality of life. You may be unable to enjoy your favorite pastimes or the same type of relationships you had with loved ones. You can seek compensation for these losses.
Let our attorneys determine the compensation available to you while you focus on your recovery.
Contact the Left Turn Accident Lawyers at Allen Law Firm for a Free Case Review
If you were injured in a left turn accident, our personal injury law firm can provide you with dedicated legal representation. You should not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. The left-turn accident lawyers at Allen Law Firm can review your accident, gather evidence to establish fault and fight for the fair compensation you deserve. Contact us today to arrange a free consultation.
