Who Is at-Fault in a Left-Turn Car Accident?
October 7, 2019 | Motorcycle Accidents
Liability in left-turn car accidents can be challenging to determine, but in most cases, the liable party is the driver that turned. Missouri Traffic Laws state that left-turning drivers must yield to oncoming traffic, who have the right of way.
Common Left-Turn Accidents
Traffic laws vary in every state, but in Missouri, if two vehicles are at an intersection, the turning vehicle is required to yield to other drivers. If an intersection accident occurs, the turning vehicle is at-fault. However, there are some situations where this law does not apply. For example, if two vehicles are traveling from opposite directions, and the oncoming vehicle signals that they are turning, both vehicles have the right of way. Outside of this, left-turn drivers are nearly always at-fault.
The most common left-turn accidents are typically caused by one or more of the following factors:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Severe blindspots
- Poor driver judgment of the other vehicle’s speed or distance
If you are injured in a left-turn car accident, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical treatment. Left-turn collisions are typically sideswipe accidents, which can cause severe injuries, such as head injuries and concussions, whiplash, and traumatic brain injuries.
Missouri Left-Turn Accident Claims
Filing a left-turn accident claim can be overwhelming without knowledge of Missouri’s traffic laws or knowing Missouri’s statute of limitations, but hiring a Missouri Car Accident Lawyer to represent your case guarantees you have someone on your side with adequate knowledge of Missouri’s legal system. The other driver’s insurance company could attempt to pin the blame for the accident on you, but a lawyer can protect you from the other party’s defenses and recover the most compensation for damages.
Missouri uses the law of Pure Comparative Fault. Pure Comparative Fault allows victims to recover compensation for damages that is equal to the amount of fault they had in the accident. If the other party is solely at-fault in an accident, you could recover full compensation for medical expenses, mental and emotional distress, lost wages, and other damages with a valid Missouri left-turn accident claim.
How Can a St. Louis Left-Turn Accident Lawyer Help with My Case?
If you aren’t sure who is at-fault in a left-turn accident but are struggling with medical expenses, lost wages, or other damages, you need to consult a lawyer right away. You could be eligible to bring a left-turn car accident claim in Missouri against the negligent driver and recover a settlement for your damages from the crash.
If you need a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer to represent your case, Christopher Dixon is the leading choice of residents for personal injury claims. Chris Dixon’s aggressive legal efforts have recovered millions in settlements and recoveries for injury claims in Missouri. By choosing the Dixon Injury Firm to represent your St. Louis left-turn accident lawsuit, you can rest assured that our Missouri Left-Turn Accident Attorneys won’t give up until the maximum settlement is recovered.
If you are ready to schedule a free consultation or case review with the Dixon Injury Firm, call (314) 208-2808 (toll-free), or contact our St. Louis Left-Turn Car Accident Lawyers today to discuss your left-turn accident claim.