California Left-Turn Accident Lawyers
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Our California Left-Turn Accident Lawyers Provide Legal Help To The Injured
Getting into a traffic accident just because a driver recklessly turned left is not only inconvenient, but it can also lead to injuries that may affect the way you live. Serious injuries can mean time away from work. Your bills can also pile up as you try to heal. Our California left-turn accident lawyers may be able to provide you with the legal help you may need. Contact Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Our experienced attorneys in California understand how complex left-turn accidents can get. We are here to help you explore your legal options if you get injured in such a crash. Our firm has decades of experience helping accident victims pursue compensation. Start by calling us at (888) 488-1391 to know if you have a valid case.
Why You Need California Left-Turn Accident Lawyers
Individuals without legal representation may find it more difficult to handle complex insurance issues after an accident. There are several reasons why left-turn accidents are more complicated than other types of accidents. For example, insurance adjusters consider who had the right-of-way, whether the light was red or green, or if there ever was one. They may also check how fast the cars were going and whether the drivers involved were driving recklessly at the time of the collision.
Insurance companies review claims based on their policies, which may not always align with your expectations. They may take positions that affect how your claim is valued. They have claims adjusters who evaluate and sometimes challenge personal injury claims. By consulting our California left-turn accident attorneys, you can better understand your legal options and rights under the law.
How Our Left-Turn Accident Attorneys Can Help You
From the initial investigation to the resolution of your claim, our experienced left-turn accident lawyers in California are prepared to assist you.
Our car accident lawyers offer legal support tailored to your case. We can help you in the following ways:
- Case Evaluation — Some accident victims downplay their injuries after a crash, thinking they won’t get justice anyway. You should never downplay yours. You may have the right to pursue compensation if you suffered losses in an accident caused by another’s negligence. Our left-turn accident lawyers in California know what questions to ask to help you calculate your damages.
- Accident Investigation — You will need evidence if you want to collect a monetary recovery after the crash. Left-turn accidents are not always as straightforward as you might think. Your legal team can work with expert investigators and accident reconstructionists to collect evidence that shows what events led up to the collision. Your attorney can use the evidence to negotiate with insurance companies about the settlement amount.
- Settlement Negotiation — Settlement negotiations can get intense quickly. Insurance companies may try to intimidate accident victims who are not legally represented. If you hire our California left-turn accident lawyers to represent you, you can have confidence that your rights are advocated for.
- Extensive Trial Preparation — Most civil traffic cases are resolved during the negotiation phase, but sometimes, taking your case to trial might be necessary if parties fail to agree on a settlement. The thought of presenting your case in a courtroom can be intimidating. Fortunately, our left-turn accident attorneys in California can represent you in court and advocate for your rights.
Trial preparation is not always easy. However, your attorney can help you understand what it takes to prepare your case for presentation to a judge or jury. You will work as a team to create a strategy that presents your injury and losses after a left-turn accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Left-Hand Turns Dangerous?
Left-hand turns are more dangerous than right turns for several reasons. For one, they require drivers to make much wider turns, possibly across multiple lanes of traffic, which typically disrupts traffic flow. Apart from the drivers and other motorists, pedestrians are also at greater risk of injury if they encounter drivers making a left-hand turn since they tend to speed up as they turn.
Additionally, left turns might involve visual obstructions. Drivers face traffic coming from different directions, so they must exercise extreme care when turning left. Ensuring that they follow state law regarding the use of indicator lights and extreme caution helps ensure that the driver does not put the occupants of their vehicle, other vehicles, or other drivers in danger.
All drivers must have sound decision-making skills to help avoid accidents. Drivers making left turns must think very quickly and make several simultaneous mental assessments and decisions, including:
- Making fast judgment calls about the speed of oncoming traffic
- Deciding whether they have enough time to complete the turn while the light is green or yellow
- Determining whether other drivers will obey traffic safety laws
Whether you’re a pedestrian or another motorist, you deserve to know your legal options for financial compensation if you’re injured in a traffic accident. Reach out to us and speak with our dedicated California left-turn accident lawyers near you.
How Can Left Turns Be Safer?
Defensive driving can make left turns on the roads safer. There are simple practices that every driver can use to ensure that the roads are safe. Some examples of good driving practices include:
- Look out for “no left turn” signs and check other traffic (left, straight, right, left again).
- Wait for the green arrow on a protected left; yield to oncoming traffic on an unprotected one.
- Always make the turn from the designated lane (same left lane) and never enter the right lane.
- Look both ways and make sure that the oncoming lanes of traffic are empty before attempting to make a left turn.
- Turn on the left turn signal before slowly entering traffic or the intersection; give yourself enough time to turn and slow down.
- Make a “squared turn,” not a 45-degree turn, and avoid trying to “cut the corner” of oncoming traffic.
- Apply minimal pressure to your car’s accelerator to maintain your turning speed, then accelerate once the turn is finished.
Drivers who fail to follow the right-of-way rules could get into an accident with oncoming traffic. They might not have enough time to brake, which can result in a particularly dangerous T-bone or head-on collision. Even when drivers have a left-turn traffic light, they should still practice extreme caution and care when operating their vehicles.
It’s impossible to prevent accidents completely, but you can significantly lower your risk through defensive driving and turning cautiously. Even so, if you were hurt in an accident because a driver did not make a safe left turn, our California accident lawyers can help you hold the negligent driver responsible.
How Much Do Accident Lawyers Charge In California?
Every case is different, and legal fees can vary based on several factors. Our lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t need to pay the attorney’s fees upfront, and we only get paid when we win your case. During your initial consultation, we’ll review your situation and explain how fees work so you know what to expect.
Should I Get A Lawyer For A Minor Car Accident In California?
Yes. Remember that some injuries do not manifest right away. If you accept a settlement offer from the insurance company, it might not adequately cover the full extent of your injuries and their impact on your overall quality of life.
Sometimes, it really isn’t the type of accident that you need to consider if hiring a lawyer for a car accident is worthwhile, but rather your injuries. Aside from injuries, the insurance claims process, disputes over who’s to blame, and long-term pain can arise later. Even a fender bender can lead to unexpected legal and financial issues if you don’t have proper legal guidance.
Our client was driving with his wife and son on a two-lane highway when a drunk driver crossed the double yellow lines, causing a head-on collision that claimed the life of a loving wife and mother.– Arash Khorsandi
Common Causes Of Left-Hand Turn Accidents
A driver’s error can cause a left-turn accident and injure you. Common ways negligent drivers cause left-turn accidents in California include:
- Tried to beat oncoming traffic
- Did not look both ways when crossing
- Failed to signal when changing lanes
- Cut the corner
- Sped through turns
- Rolled past the stop line
Common Injuries From Left-Turn Car Accidents
Victims of left-turn accidents might face minor injuries or severe and life-altering injuries. Some common injuries accident victims may suffer from include:
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Concussions and other head injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Scrapes and cuts
- Burns
Any of the above injuries could need serious medical attention. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you might need months or years of ongoing treatment. If someone’s carelessness led to your injury, our left-turn accident attorneys in California can help you explore your legal options for recovering long-term medical costs.
Which California Laws Apply To Left-Hand Turns?
It is important to know and understand the law that applies to your case after an accident. Certain laws apply to drivers turning left onto a highway and to those turning left onto a side road, an alleyway, or private property from a highway. Your left-turn accident lawyers in California take these laws into account.
All drivers making left turns must yield to oncoming traffic. Drivers should not impede traffic flow and should only have enough space to finish their turns. Drivers are expected to know these basic laws about making left-hand turns.
Under California Vehicle Code Section 22100, if a driver is making a right turn, they are required to turn as close to the right-hand curb or the road as possible. If a driver is making a left turn, they must start from the furthest left-hand lane available and turn into a lane that is legally available for them to enter.
California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) requires drivers who are turning left to yield to drivers who are approaching from the other direction. Left-hand turners must yield the right of way until it is reasonably safe to complete the turn. On the other hand, under (b), if the driver is in the middle of making the turn, then vehicles approaching from the other direction must yield to the left-hand driver until they finish executing the turn.
Also, under the same section, if the driver yielded and was given a signal that they intended to turn, they may make a U-turn as required by the code. Any drivers approaching the car attempting to make a U-turn should yield and allow them to make a proper turn.
Every driver should operate their vehicle in a way that avoids an immediate hazard. Making improper left-hand turns has hefty consequences. Due to putting other drivers at risk, making a bad turn may lead to a $238 fine for California drivers.
Who Is Legally Responsible For A Left-Hand Turn Accident?
Since left-hand turners must yield to oncoming traffic, they are most often held liable if a left-turn accident happens.
California law, along with most courts, has concluded that making a left turn is one of the most dangerous maneuvers a driver can make since the left-turning vehicle enters the opposing traffic lane. Because of this, state law requires drivers who want to make a left turn to use their indicator light at least 100 feet before they approach the intersection and wait for adequate space if they don’t have the time to make the turn safely. Still, it is normally not enough for the driver to simply put their indicator light on.
In general, drivers should use extreme care before pulling out to make a left turn. An accident victim who can prove that the driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic might have a legitimate compensation claim. Speak to our left-turn accident attorneys in California about the details of your case to learn more about your potential entitlement to financial recovery.
When Are Other Drivers Liable For Causing Left-Turn Accidents?
There are a few circumstances when a motorist other than the left-turning driver is responsible for causing the crash after a left turn. These drivers are often negligent or distracted, and their reckless driving can lead to serious accidents.
Examples of driver negligence can include any of the following:
- Running a red light or a stop sign
- Speeding and/or improperly entering an intersection
- Using earbuds to listen to a podcast
- Watching internet videos
- Using the GPS
- Changing the radio or other devices
- Playing cell phone games
- Reading
- Eating
- Grooming
- Checking emails
- Talking to passengers
- Talking or texting on a cell phone
If another driver stops too suddenly and causes the left-turn driver to stop unexpectedly, which leads to a crash, the driver might be responsible for causing the accident. Left-turn drivers who can prove that the negligence of another driver caused their accident might be able to recover their losses.
How Long Do I Have To File A Lawsuit After A Left Turn Accident?
The statute of limitations covers civil cases and sets the deadlines for filing lawsuits. In California, car accident victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Two major exceptions exist: the accident happened before the victim turned 18 or the victim did not immediately discover their injury. The latter is known as the delayed discovery rule.
- If the victim is injured while they are a minor, the statute of limitations does not begin until the day they turn 18. The victim has two years from their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit.
- The discovery rule allows accident victims two years from the date they discover their injury to file a lawsuit. This rule is important because some injuries do not manifest right away. Insurance companies may argue that if the victim had gotten medical attention after an accident, they would have discovered their injuries. That is why getting medical care immediately after a crash is crucial.
Deadlines May Vary For Different Cases
Different cases have different deadlines for filing a lawsuit.
- Victims claiming property damage have three years from the date the damage occurred to file a lawsuit.
- If a plaintiff has a claim against a government agency, they have six months from the date the incident happened to file a claim with the agency. If the victim’s claim is denied, then they have the right to file a lawsuit. Since lawsuits against a government agency can be difficult to navigate, you can contact our attorneys for legal support.
How Much Is My Left-Turn Accident Case Worth?
It is reasonable to wonder how much money your case is worth. No one can guarantee that you will receive a specific amount of money after an accident, but some surrounding facts point to an estimate of the final value of your case. Here are some of the factors to consider if you want to get an idea of the overall value of your case.
- Medical Treatment — The extent to which you need medical care for your injuries can impact your final case value. Typically, extensive medical treatment is more expensive. Your condition might also require you to receive ongoing treatment, like physical therapy. If the accident caused injuries that left you disabled, your case might be worth more. Our California left-turn accident attorneys may be able to assist you in pursuing claims for medical expenses, depending on the facts of your case.
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity — Some injuries can be so severe that they leave you unable to work. When that happens, you might need a settlement that covers your financial losses so you can continue paying your bills. An accident can cause you to have reduced earning capacity, too, which means that you are unable to return to the same type of work as you could before the crash. You may have options to pursue compensation for these losses, and our left-turn accident attorneys in California can help.
- Mental and Emotional Trauma — Left-turn car accidents can leave you with serious mental and emotional trauma. Accident victims may have the option to pursue non-economic losses such as pain and suffering. Despite being entitled to financial recovery, proving mental health issues like PTSD can be hard, especially with no legal representation. We may be able to help you explore options for pursuing compensation related to the mental and emotional effects of the accident, depending on your case.
Left-Hand Turn Accident Statistics
Unfortunately, left-hand turn accidents are far too common across the United States, not just in California. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,006,376 single- and two-vehicle crashes involving left turns in 2022. Because intersections are where two or more roads cross each other, and maneuvers like turning left, right, and over are done by drivers simultaneously, traffic collisions frequently happen there.
A study on left-turn crashes and motorcycle safety reports that from 2017 to 2021, left-turn crashes that involved motorcycles made up about 26% of fatal two-vehicle collisions. This data shows that accidents during left turns are especially dangerous. Tools like left-turn assist systems and other safety measures can help prevent these crashes.
Call Our Left-Turn Accident Lawyers In California
After an accident, knowing what to do to get the financial recovery you need can be difficult. As a left-turn accident victim, you may also deal with the emotional fallout on top of your injuries. Recovering from an injury may take a long time, and medical expenses can continue to pile up. Experienced left-turn accident attorneys can help you explore your legal options for seeking compensation under California law.
Whether a negligent motorist turned left and caused an accident or another reckless driver caused one while you were turning left, consult our legal team at Arash Law. Contact us via our online chat feature or give us a call at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free case review.
For decades, we have represented people in accident cases and remain committed to providing dedicated legal support. We represent accident victims in Sherman Oaks, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose, Sacramento, Riverside, San Francisco, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Fresno County, and the rest of California. Reach out to our experienced lawyers to discuss your injury and claim concerns.
