Left Turn Car Accidents

Driving through an intersection should not have to be an anxiety-inducing experience, yet many drivers speed through traffic signals and put others at risk. When motorists attempt to make a quick left turn through a yellow or even a red light at an intersection, a serious left turn accident can happen. Left turn car accidents usually involve another vehicle that is moving straight through an intersection. As such, left turn accidents can lead to side-impact crashes or T-bone crashes and even head-on collisions.

Left turn crashes are just one type of accident that can happen at an intersection, and it is important for anyone who has been injured in such an accident to hire a personal injury attorney for help. An experienced left turn car accident lawyer can discuss your case with you today.

Left turn car crashes happen more often than they should, and they frequently occur because a driver disobeys a traffic signal or is driving aggressively. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discusses intersection accidents and left turn crashes, citing some of the following information:

• Turning left is one of the most common reasons for an intersection crash;
• Left turn car accidents often occur when a driver turns despite an obstructed view or misjudges the speed or gap of an oncoming vehicle;
• Inadequate surveillance is another common reason for a left turn car accident;
• Left turn accidents largely occur at intersections controlled by traffic signals, but they can also occur at intersections with stop signs; and
• More than 22% of all accidents that occur at intersections result from a left turn.

In many cases, the driver who made the left turn is at fault for a left turn car accident. At the same time, however, left turn car accidents can also happen when the driver turning left obeys all rules of the road but another motorist speeds through a traffic signal or stop sign.

An experienced lawyer familiar with left turn car accident cases can work with you to help prove that the other driver is responsible for your injuries and that you should be compensate you for your losses.

Each state has its own statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim. The California statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including left turn accident cases, is two years from the date of the collision. A plaintiff must file a lawsuit within two years from the date of a left turn car accident that caused her injuries.

In some cases, however, the deadline for filing a lawsuit is much shorter. For example, if you were injured in a left turn car accident caused by a government employee (school bus, police car, city vehicle), you may need to file your lawsuit in a much shorter period of time. Under California law, for instance, claims against government agencies must be filed either within six months or one year from the date of the accident.

If you were injured in an intersection car accident involving a driver turning left, a left turn car accident attorney may be able to help you file a claim for compensation. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about how we assist injured people in their car accident claims.