Left-turn accidents are dangerous for all road users. Drivers who make turns carelessly can hit bicyclists, pedestrians, or motorists with the right of way. Every year, too many people are injured or killed in left-turn accidents in Sherman Oaks, California.
California law explains a driver’s legal duties when turning left. A driver who violates these rules is liable for the resulting car accident. A Sherman Oaks left-turn accident lawyer from JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers fights for your right to injury compensation after another driver’s negligence injures you, contact us at (833) 852-3600 to schedule a free consultation.
How JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Left-Turn Accident in Sherman Oaks, CA
Our firm’s Sherman Oaks personal injury lawyers have over a century of combined legal experience. Since the firm’s founding, we have successfully secured hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our injured clients.
We assist you in the following ways after another driver’s negligence causes a serious car accident:
- Evaluate your situation to identify all possible legal claims
- Build a case using the records and documents we gather
- File a claim and negotiate with the insurance carrier for a fair settlement
- Prepare a lawsuit against the negligent driver if their insurer refuses to settle
Left-turn car crashes can result in permanent injuries that prevent you from earning a living. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Sherman Oaks car accident attorney and learn how we stand up to insurers to fight for fair injury compensation.
Causes of Left-Turn Crashes in Sherman Oaks
Left-turn accidents occur for a variety of reasons, including the following:
Left-Turn-Across-Path
Left-turn collisions occur primarily in two locations. At intersections, left-turn collisions happen when a vehicle makes a turn across an active traffic lane. This type of accident is also known as a left-turn-across-path (LTAP) accident.
LTAP accidents often involve motorcycles. Specifically, a driver may fail to yield to a motorcyclist who is going straight through an intersection. Sometimes, the car may hit the motorcycle broadside. In other cases, the driver may turn in front of the rider, causing the motorcyclist to strike the side of their vehicle.
Intersections
Between intersections, left-turn collisions can happen when a vehicle turns left across an active traffic lane or turns left from a driveway or alley to enter a roadway.
California law requires drivers making left turns to yield the right of way to any vehicle close enough to present a hazard and to continue to yield until the driver can turn safely. When a driver violates this rule, they end up in the path of another vehicle. The resulting T-bone accident can cause serious injuries.
Specifically, a vehicle occupant can be pinned and crushed when another car hits the door next to them. Even if the occupant avoids crushing injuries, their seat belt and frontal airbag will not prevent them from sliding sideways. As a result, they may suffer head, chest, or abdominal injuries.
Failing to Yield to Pedestrians
State law also requires drivers making left turns to yield to pedestrians crossing the road. This duty applies at any intersection, whether it has a marked crosswalk or not.
Thus, a pedestrian on the sidewalk who is crossing an alley or driveway has the right of way over a driver who is turning left into or out of the alley or driveway. Similarly, a pedestrian crossing at an intersection that doesn’t have a traffic signal will typically have the right of way.
When drivers fail to spot people in crosswalks, they can cause pedestrian accidents. They can also injure or kill someone when they see a pedestrian, but try to beat them by hurrying to make a turn.
Liability for Sherman Oaks Left-Turn Collisions
Legal liability for car accidents in California depends on negligence. A lawyer establishes negligence by showing that a driver failed to exercise the care expected of a reasonable road user in the same situation. In the case of left-turn collisions, this often occurs when a driver violates California’s right-of-way rules.
For example, suppose that a driver caused a left-turn motorcycle accident. They saw an approaching rider, but they believed that the gap was big enough for them to turn, and they failed to yield. The driver is likely responsible for the crash.
In rare situations, the other driver may be liable for the turning driver’s injuries. Specifically, suppose a driver ran a red light and hit a driver making a left turn. In this case, the driver who ran the red light did not have the right of way and, as a result, may be held liable for causing the crash.
Contact Our Sherman Oaks Left-Turn Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Left-turn accidents in Sherman Oaks almost always result from a driver’s negligent or wrongful acts. Contact JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with an experienced Sherman Oaks left-turn accident attorney to discuss your crash and how we can help you seek compensation for your losses.
