Knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorneys Aggressively Representing Motorists in All Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Claims
Some “rules of the road” are more complex than others. However, one of the most straightforward rules is that drivers who are making a left-hand turn must yield the right of way to other motorists. Yet, left turn accidents are one of the most common types of motor vehicle collisions in Fort Lauderdale and throughout the state.
If you’ve been injured in a left turn accident, the Blakeley Law Firm can help. For more than a decade, we’ve been aggressively pursuing maximum damages awards on behalf of injured motorists and families who lost loved ones in left-turn accidents. We handle all types of left turn accident cases, including those involving car, truck, and motorcycle collisions.
What Are the Common Causes of Left Turn Accidents?
Simply put, a left turn accident is a motor vehicle collision where at least of the vehicles involved was making a left turn immediately before the accident or as the accident occurred. In this way, most left turn accidents are also considered failure-to-yield accidents because the driver turning left usually is responsible for yielding the right of way.
There are many potential causes of left turn accidents, some of which include:
- Illegal left turns;
- An obstructed view of oncoming traffic;
- Distracted driving;
- Malfunctioning or missing traffic signals or signs;
- Misjudging the speed of an approaching vehicle; and
- Making an incorrect assumption about another driver’s actions.
Most of these accidents are caused by the negligence of the driver who was attempting to turn left; however, that’s not always the case.
Who Is at Fault in a Left Turn Accident?
Under Florida Statutes § 316.075 and § 316.122, drivers planning to make a left-hand turn must yield the right of way to pedestrians and other drivers who are either traveling straight through the intersection or making a right turn from the opposite direction. However, there are certain situations where the left-turning driver may not be totally at fault for a collision.
Green Arrows
Drivers making a left-hand turn at an intersection with a green arrow have the right of way. However, even with a green arrow, motorists must yield to pedestrians and other vehicles that are lawfully in the intersection. For example, a motorist is usually considered negligent if they run a red light and collide with a left-turning driver who had a green arrow.
Left Turns After a Light Turns Red
Drivers planning on making a left often enter an intersection with a green light but, due to constant oncoming traffic, might not have the chance to complete a left turn before the light turns red. In this case, the left-turning driver should wait until the intersection is clear. If the left-turning driver tries to turn before the intersection is clear, they may be at fault for the collision. However, the oncoming motorist (who presumably ran a red light to enter the intersection) may share responsibility for the accident.
One important thing to keep in mind about left turn accidents is that these cases sometimes involve situations where two or more drivers share blame for the collision. When this happens, Florida’s pure comparative negligence law allows anyone injured in the accident to bring a claim against any other negligent driver, regardless of their respective roles in causing the collision. However, a victim’s damages award will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
Were You Involved in a Left Turn Accident and Wonder Who Was At Fault?
If you or a loved one was recently hurt in a Fort Lauderdale car accident while turning left or while the other vehicle was turning left, it is important to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your case. Left turn accidents are complex and the other driver or their insurance company might try to blame you for the accident. But don’t take their word for it. Instead, reach out to the Blakeley Law Firm and let our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers review your case for free. We will give you an honest assessment of your claim and explain what you can do to hold the other driver financially accountable for your accident-related expenses. To learn more, and to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today, call (800) 602-5000. You can also reach us through our online contact form. We have offices conveniently located in Fort Lauderdale, Miami Gardens, West Palm Beach and Jacksonville.