For drivers on the roads of Georgia and elsewhere, intersections are among the most dangerous locations. These areas where vehicles traveling in different directions cross each other’s paths increase the chances of having an accident.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), intersection-related crashes account for about 40% of all accidents each year in the United States, about 45% of all injury accidents, and about 21% of all fatal traffic accidents. Many of those crashes involve illegal left turns, where a driver at the intersection turns in front of oncoming traffic.
If you were injured after another driver made an illegal turn, consider retaining an East Point left turn accident lawyer. Bader Scott Injury Lawyers is ready to defend your right to seek compensation when you have suffered personal injuries at the hands of someone else. For a free consultation, contact us at (404) 888-8888 today.
Understanding Left Turn Laws in Georgia
The Official Code of Georgia Annotated §40-6-71 is very clear regarding the law for drivers attempting to make a left turn at an intersection. The driver turning left must yield the right of way to any vehicle that is approaching from the opposite direction, meaning the approaching vehicle would be crossing the path of the driver making the left turn.
The driver turning left must only execute the turn at a time when the intersection is clear and when there is no chance of a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction creating a hazard.
Exceptions to Left Turn Violations
The driver turning left would have the right of way in an intersection when the traffic lights at an intersection are giving this driver the right of way, stopping the vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
If the intersection contains multiple stop signs, and a driver blows through the stop sign and strikes a driver who is legally making a left turn, the first driver could be found liable for the crash.
A driver who is traveling at excessive speeds or driving in a reckless manner who strikes a vehicle making a legal left turn could be found liable as well.
Finding Help with Your Left Turn Car Accident Claim
Although the majority of left-turn accident cases are easy to understand, if some of the unusual circumstances mentioned earlier occurred in the crash, it can become difficult to determine exactly where the fault lies. The other driver’s insurance company may be attempting to claim you made an error behind the wheel and contributed to the traffic accident.
This is an area where an East Point left turn accident lawyer can help with your case. We will study the facts in the case, determining exactly what happened. We can use the facts to attempt to prove that you did not do anything wrong, which means the other driver was at fault. This means you deserve full compensation for your personal injuries.
Contact Bader Scott Injury Lawyers for help with your case. We will be ready to begin working for you as soon as you choose to retain us. For a free review of your case, call us at (404) 888-8888 today.
For a free legal consultation with a left turn accidents lawyer serving East Point, call (404) 888-8888
Common Causes of Left Turn Accidents
Left-turn accidents occur for several reasons that involve driver error, including:
- Ignoring traffic lights
- Ignoring traffic signs
- Driving recklessly
- Not seeing traffic lights
- Drunken driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
Any of these types of errors would almost certainly result in a finding of negligence against the driver who caused the crash.
Should police officers investigating the motor vehicle accident determine that the driver violated state traffic laws, they may issue a traffic ticket to that driver. If the driver who hit you during a left turn receives a traffic ticket, this is a key piece of evidence to support your personal injury claim.
East Point Left Turn Accident Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
Left Turn Car Accidents Often Result in Serious Personal Injuries
Unfortunately, left turn accidents often result in serious injuries to those involved. This occurs in large part because of the nature of the crash. Some of the types of crashes that may occur at an intersection because of an illegal left turn include:
- Side impact: where a driver is turning illegally in front of you as you are traveling in the opposite direction could cause you to impact that car in the side with significant force, also called a T-bone accident.
- Head-on: where, if a driver is turning left illegally but sees you coming in the opposite direction at the last second, the driver turning left may suddenly straighten out, leading to an extremely dangerous collision that is nearly head-on.
- Pedestrian crash: where a driver turning left does not pay attention to the road ahead, potentially striking a pedestrian who has entered the crosswalk legally.
- Sideswipe: where the driver turning left onto a multi-lane road crosses multiple lanes of traffic to the right while turning, which could cause a sideswipe crash against a driver who is already traveling in the right lane.
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Begin Your Pursuit of Compensation by Contacting a Left Turn Accident Attorney Today
Do not let the negligence of someone else cause financial harm to you and your family without defending your rights. When another driver has made a mistake behind the wheel, showing negligence, you deserve to receive compensation for your pain, suffering, medical bills, and reduction in quality of life.
An East Point left turn accident lawyer has seen far too often the results when another driver makes an illegal turn at an intersection, creating a crash with significant force. You may be facing a long rehabilitation to try to return to your normal life, and you should not have to pay your medical costs on your own.
Call Bader Scott Injury Lawyers today at (404) 888-8888 for a free consultation. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can begin investigating the accident to determine what happened. We will work to show that the facts in the case point toward you receiving a fair settlement. According to OCGA §9-3-33, the statute of limitations is two years to begin the process of filing a personal injury claim so do not hesitate to contact our office.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form