Turning left on busy Los Angeles roadways can be challenging in certain circumstances. Depending on the volume of traffic, and the situation, attempting to turn left can be downright dangerous if not done carefully.
Causes of Left Turn Car Accidents in and around Los Angeles
There are many ways a left turn accident can occur in and around Los Angeles, particularly considering the traffic congestion associated with many Los Angeles streets and roadways.
Common causes of left turn accidents include:
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Failing to use a turn signal
- Turning left when a traffic signal is going from yellow to red
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving
- Misjudging the speed or distance of oncoming vehicles
Understanding the Right-of-Way when Making a Left Turn
The right-of-way refers to the legal right to proceed in your automobile, such as to proceed into an intersection or across the road. Left turns can be risky dangerous because it is generally up to motorists to know and obey California’s right-of-way laws. If a motorist wrongly assumes they have the right-of-way to turn left at a steady green light, this can lead to an accident with an oncoming vehicle.
Please note, if a traffic light at an intersection has a left turn arrow, the motorist must wait until the green light to complete the left turn. However, many intersections have round green lights rather than turn arrows. At these intersections, the driver turning left legally must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. Generally speaking, this means the motorist needs to wait to make the left turn until the opposite lane is clear of traffic.
Failing to follow the right-of-way rules at an intersection can place the turning driver directly in the path of an oncoming vehicle. The oncoming driver may not have enough time to hit the brakes and prevent a collision. Left turn accidents can inflict significant damage since they culminate in a T-bone or head-on collision.
Establishing Liability for a Los Angeles Left Turn Accident
In many car accidents involving a motorist who was turning left, the turning motorist is most likely to be held liable for the accident. Why? Because it is the driver making the left-hand turn’s responsibility to yield the right-of-way and proceed across the intersection with caution in most instances. Nevertheless, every accident is unique, and liability will depend on the specific circumstances of the wreck.
It is important to understand that California is a fault-based state. Basically, this means a car accident victim bears the legal burden to prove that the other motorist is to blame for the collision in order to have grounds to pursue financial restitution for their harms and losses. Establishing that the other motorist caused your accident by making an unsafe or improper left-hand turn may require evidence such as:
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- Surveillance footage
- Police report
- Traffic cameras
- Photographs
- Eyewitness testimony
Injured in a Left Turn Accident? Contact a Reputable Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a family member suffered a serious injury in a left turn auto accident, contact the Law Offices of Ramtin Sadighim. Our team of highly experienced and reputable Los Angeles personal injury attorneys are here to help. Our legal team will treat your case with the personal attention and care it rightly deserves.
For further information and/or to schedule a consultation please contact The Law Offices of Ramtin Sadighim at 888-999-8744 or visit www.CaliAccidentAttorney.com to learn more.
Individualized care is our specialty at the Law Offices of Ramtin Sadighim. As an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney, Mr. Sadighim understands that every client, case, and circumstance needs a different approach for the best results.
