California is a fault-based auto accident jurisdiction. If you are involved in a multi-vehicle crash in San Joaquin County, it is imperative that you know how to protect your right to recover full and fair financial compensation. Left-turn crashes are among the most common types of multi-vehicle wrecks. Here, our Stockton car accident attorney offers an in-depth guide to left-turn crashes in California.
Highway Crash Analysis: Left-Turn Collisions
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a comprehensive analysis of multi-vehicle accidents. The federal agency determined that the overwhelming majority of multi-car crashes are caused primarily by driver error. In approximately 1 in 5 multi-vehicle accidents studied by the NHTSA, the fundamental error involved a left turn.
Left turns have the potential to be risky. Unlike most right turns, a significant share of left turns requires the turning driver to cross through a lane of oncoming traffic. Unprotected left turns are especially risky. Broadly defined, an unprotected left turn is one in which the oncoming vehicle(s) has the right-of-way—meaning the driver who is turning left should yield to them.
Every Motor Vehicle Collision Requires a Thorough Investigation
Most left-turn crashes involve unprotected left-turns. These are the left-turns where no red light, stop sign, or another type of traffic signal provides the driver who is making the turn with the right-of-way. As left-turning drivers are expected to yield at unprotected left turns, they are generally more likely to be legally at fault for these types of crashes.
California does not automatically assign fault to the turning driver in a left-turn accident case, even if it was an unprotected left turn. All motor vehicle crashes in California require an in-depth, thorough investigation to determine exactly what happened. Fault (and liability) will be distributed proportionally, consistent with each party’s share of the blame for the crash.
Recovering Financial Compensation After a Left-Turn Accident in California
Following a left-turn accident in Central California, it is imperative that you have the knowledge and resources that you need to protect your financial interests. Injured victims need compensation to pay bills and support the people they care about. At Redkey Gordon Law Corp, we fight tirelessly to help injured victims maximize their settlement or verdict. In a left-turn accident injury case, you may be entitled to recover money damages for:
- Automobile repairs;
- Ambulance costs;
- Emergency room care;
- Hospital bills;
- Other medical expenses;
- Lost wages;
- Loss of earning power;
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental Distress;
- Scarring;
- Disability; and
- Wrongful death.
Contact Our Stockton Auto Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
At Redkey Gordon Law Corp, our Stockton car accident attorney fights aggressively to hold insurance companies accountable for paying claims. We have helped injured victims secure more than $25 million in personal injury damages. Call us today or send us a direct message for a no-cost, no-commitment care review. We represent car accident victims throughout San Joaquin County, including in Stockton, Tracy, Lodi, and Manteca.