Who’s At Fault In Left Turn Accidents In Philadelphia

Car accidents caused by left-hand turns are some of the most serious in the Philadelphia area. A left-hand turn accident occurs when the driver fails to yield to traffic traveling straight and turns left into it. Left-turning vehicles are often involved in T-bone accidents, where they collide with the middle of the other vehicle. Death and devastating injuries are possible outcomes of these accidents. In a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on intersection crashes, a left-handed turn was the leading cause of intersection crashes, accounting for almost 1 out of every 4 of these types of crashes.

Learn more about this serious type of car accident below.

Determining Liability In Left Hand Turn Accidents

If straight-ahead traffic continues through the intersection despite a traffic signal allowing left turns, the fault usually lies with the left-turning driver. Consider Driver 1 waiting at the stoplight to turn left. Driving straight through the intersection, Driver 2 with the green light cannot be seen by the driver. A collision occurs at the intersection between Drivers 1 and 2. The negligence of Driver 1 is evident.

Occasionally, left-turning drivers are not negligent and are not at fault for the accident. Typical examples are intersections controlled by a four-way stop sign. In a left turn accident here, the driver coming straight ahead might have violated a traffic law by failing to stop at the stop sign.

There are four stop signs for all lanes in Driver 1's approach to the intersection. A left turn is signaled by driver 1 and a left turn is made once he stops. A cell phone distracts driver 2 as he approaches the intersection. As they made the turn, they failed to stop and struck Driver 1. There is a liability on the part of driver 2.

Pennsylvania Laws About Left-Hand Turns

Chapter 33 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code contains the rules of the road. As described in Sections 3321, 3322, and 3324, the following methods are used to assess fault in left-hand turn accidents:

• The left-hand lane of the road must be entered by drivers turning left (a left-hand turn cannot be made from the middle lane when a left lane is available).

• It is the driver's responsibility to yield to drivers advancing from the opposite direction at an intersection. In most cases, the person making the left-hand turn is held responsible or negligent for the accident. It is also necessary to yield the right of way if one turns left into a driveway, private road, or alleyway.

• It is mandatory for drivers to use their turn signals when turning. When driving less than 35 mph, the driver must continuously activate their turn signals for at least 100 feet before making a turn. Whenever you exceed 35 mph, you must give the turn signal at least 300 feet in advance.

Left-Hand Turn Exceptions In Philadelphia

• There is no view of an oncoming vehicle. In the event that the driver is justified in believing that he or she can turn safely ahead of the approaching vehicle without risking collision, the driver may make a left-hand turn. It is also the responsibility of the driver from the opposite direction to proceed with caution if the driver does not see anyone coming from the opposite direction due to the design of the road or bad weather.

• The accident was caused by the oncoming vehicle speeding. A driver with the right of way may be negligent if a speeding driver who was a long distance away causes a collision due to a left-hand turn made by the driver having the right of way. Drivers who have the right of way should maintain a speed that allows them to stop within a reasonable distance ahead. As a result of a decision of a Pennsylvania court, a driver making a left-hand turn has the right to assume that a driver coming from the opposite direction outside of his or her field of vision will obey the speed limit when driving out of range.

Compensation For Left Hand Turn Accident Injuries

It may be possible for you to receive financial compensation if your injuries were caused by another driver's negligence. Reach out to a Philadelphia car accident lawyer to discuss your rights. A person's personal injury protection or PIP coverage pays up to $5,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, depending on their state of residence. If your PIP policy limit is exceeded, you may also sue the other driver. Reach out to a Philadelphia car accident lawyer to discuss your rights.

Why Are Left-Hand Turns Dangerous?

When it comes to making a left-hand turn while driving, it can be an extremely dangerous maneuver. A brief period of time is required for making several judgment calls during this type of turn. Among these judgments are how fast oncoming traffic is moving, how long the light has left before it turns red, and whether other drivers are driving safely and following the rules. They can also be dangerous due to:

• Taking a left turn when tired, distracted, or intoxicated is particularly dangerous because left-hand turns require more mental energy than right-hand turns

• The driver must cross at least one lane of traffic when making a left-hand turn

• The flow of traffic can be disrupted by making a left-hand turn

• The view of all traffic lanes may be blocked when a driver makes a left turn

• Left-hand turns are more dangerous than right-hand turns because many drivers accelerate when making them

• Not all drivers use their turn signals when making left-hand turns

• It is necessary for drivers to be aware of three different directions when turning left

Compared to right-hand turns, a left-hand turn requires significant mental and physical effort in addition to quick judgment. When making left-hand turns, drivers are at risk for collisions due to all of the factors listed above.

Common Causes Of Left Hand Turn Accidents

It is common for drivers to fail to comply with Ontario's right-of-way regulations, resulting in left-turn collisions. Drivers making left-hand turns at intersections are not required to wait in any specific place at an intersection under the Highway Traffic Act. However, drivers turning left must ensure that their turn can be made safely. Left-turn collisions can be caused by negligent behaviors such as:

• Oncoming vehicles are misjudged in terms of speed

• The intersection distance was incorrectly calculated

• Turning without signaling

• An obstructed view requires a turn

• Aiming to beat the light or other approaching vehicles