Turning left is one of the most dangerous maneuvers one can make on a road. Taking a left turn requires a judgment call made in just a few seconds and can lead to unfortunate consequences if made unwisely. When these accidents happen, how do you determine fault?
Though drivers making left turns are often liable for accidents, that is not always the case and our lawyers will determine fault by reading police reports, working with crash reconstruction experts, reviewing photos, and interviewing eyewitnesses. For example, if you had the right of way and an oncoming car sped into the intersection while you were turning, you shouldn’t be at fault. Rather, our attorneys could help you file a lawsuit against the other party involved so you could get compensation for the various medical expenses and other damages you incurred.
For a free and confidential case assessment from our Maryland car accident lawyers, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras today at (410) 694-7291.
Are You Automatically at Fault for a Left-Turn Accident in Maryland?
Although the driver making a left turn is typically at fault, this driver is not always the one to blame. If you had a green arrow when turning, the oncoming driver was speeding, the traffic light at the intersection was not properly functioning, or the oncoming driver ran through a stop sign, you might not be at fault for the accident.
Texting and driving contribute to many car accidents each year in Maryland. Drivers who are texting and driving may be unaware of speed limit changes, which can result in a crash if an oncoming driver crosses lanes while making a left turn.
Drivers who are found texting and driving may be liable for the collision, but typically, the liability comes down to the right of way. If the driver going straight is found to be intoxicated, partial liability for the accident can be placed on them.
Furthermore, you might not be liable for a left-turn accident if the approaching vehicle was speeding, ran through a red traffic light, or an unexpected event happened while you were safely turning, leading to the accident.
Car accidents are often complicated, typically requiring further investigation to confirm the true cause and eliminate possible contributing factors. Especially if you have been blamed for an accident after suffering injuries yourself, it may benefit you to have our lawyers review the physical and photographic evidence to see if you have a cause of action.
When is the Driver Making a Left Turn at Fault for an Accident in Maryland?
Most left-turn collisions are caused by drivers trying to turn before lights change, failing to yield the right of way to a driver, having a poor view of the road while turning, failing to signal before making a left turn, misjudging the speed of an oncoming driver, and misjudging the distance across the intersection. If a driver makes a left turn after the light changes to red, they are at fault for the crash.
It is imperative that the driver making a left turn continues with the flow of traffic after turning. If the driver is approaching an intersection, they must abide by the traffic signals to ensure safety for themselves and others on the road.
Drivers who plan to turn left in a neighborhood, street, or intersection with a stop sign must yield the right of way to the driver who is approaching from the other direction. The driver who is performing a left turn at an intersection in Maryland only has the right of way when a green arrow is presented on the traffic light. It is illegal to cut off or stop oncoming traffic to perform a left turn.
In Maryland, drivers who are approaching an intersection to make a left turn must proceed with caution in the far left lane of traffic moving in the same direction.
Along with oncoming traffic, it is also important to look out for pedestrians or cyclists before making a left turn. If there is a crosswalk, the pedestrian or cyclist should have the right of way before you make a left turn.
Left turns when the light is red are only legal in certain situations, including if the driver is turning left from a one-way street to another one-way street. Drivers making a left turn may make a bad call due to the stress of impatient and honking drivers in the rearview mirror.
What if You Assume You Are at Fault for a Left-Turn Accident in Maryland?
If you wrongly assume that you are liable for a recent accident because you were the one making a left turn at the time, you could unintentionally block yourself from recovering compensation because Maryland is a pure contributory negligence state.
In Maryland, victims who share any liability for their injuries are barred from holding other liable parties accountable. So, if you apologize at the scene or assume you are at fault, that could negatively affect your case in the future, even if our Baltimore car accident lawyers and crash reconstruction experts confirm the other driver’s liability. This could leave you on the hook for all expenses from the accident, ranging from property damage costs to medical expenses, which our lawyers will aim to avoid.
Instead of assuming you are at fault, call the police so they can help you document the scene. Make sure to take photos of your vehicle in relation to the other car, as well as any visible property damage or debris left on the road. This can be invaluable to experts as they reconstruct the accident’s sequence of events, which they can do by analyzing photos, eyewitness statements, and police reports.
Who Pays Your Damages in a Left-Turn Accident in Maryland?
Maryland is an at-fault state for car accidents, which means that the driver responsible for the collision is also responsible for covering the victim’s damages. The victim of a crash can seek compensation by suing the driver at fault for the collision with help from our lawyers.
Insurance providers determine the at-fault driver by reviewing video footage, statements made by witnesses, looking at the police report, or other forms of evidence. Your insurance company will most likely call both drivers to piece together what exactly happened in the collision.
To get the most compensation available after a left-turn car accident, victims may file lawsuits against negligent drivers. Our attorneys can prepare claims to file within three years of collisions to avoid missing the statute of limitations. More damages are typically available from lawsuits, like compensation for victims’ non-economic damages. The sooner we prepare and file your claim, the sooner you can recover damages, so do not hesitate to contact us after a serious left-turn accident in Maryland.
Why Should You Determine Fault for a Left-Turn Accident in Maryland?
Nobody is perfect at judging the speed of oncoming traffic or drivers in the surrounding area. It is important to always look out for the speed limit signs on the road and abide by them. Even if you do your best to enter an intersection safely, if another driver comes seemingly out of nowhere, you might be involved in a head-on or T-bone accident, making determining fault and seeking damages paramount.
Left turns are dangerous because the driver who is making a turn faces many potential distractions, including lights, traffic signals, and the actions of nearby drivers.
At a busy intersection at peak times, the driver making the turn is under a lot of pressure not to hold up traffic. Left turns are risky because most drivers accelerate going into a left turn. Furthermore, the wider turning radius of the turn and the acceleration put pedestrians at risk, and the left-hand turn might disrupt the traffic flow.
Moreover, drivers can get confused about using the correct turn lane, and their view may be obstructed by high-sided trucks, buses, or other vehicles. These crashes are usually T-bone or broadside crashes. Drivers and passengers are protected by just a few inches of metal, so they often sustain serious internal injuries, fractures, or permanent injuries.
While left-turn accidents can happen anywhere, some of the most dangerous intersections for these collisions in Baltimore include the intersection of Reisterstown Road and Gwynns Falls Parkway, Jones Falls Expressway and Northern Parkway, and West Cold Spring Lane and Jones Falls Expressway.
Given the severity of injuries associated with left-turn crashes, it’s important to recover as much money as possible for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and hospital bills, which our attorneys can do after determining liability and filing successful lawsuits.
Call Our Lawyers in Maryland About Your Recent Car Accident
For a free and confidential case review from our Aberdeen car accident lawyers, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.