Have you recently been involved in a left-turn Jacksonville car accident? Sometimes even the most routine actions on the road can cause an accident. In many cases, these events are unavoidable. While there is nothing you can do in those certain situations, you do have some control over how you approach the aftermath.
Because left-turn accidents are often costly, you may have concerns about making ends meet following your collision. The legal team at Anidjar & Levine can advise you on the best legal options so you can set some of those concerns aside. Our consultations are free, and we do not collect payment unless you receive a settlement. Call us today.
Left-Turn Car Accidents in Jacksonville, Florida
Each week as drivers we make dozens of turns driving to and from work, home, running errands, etc. But few of us realize that some maneuvers carry more inherent risks than others. In a 2010 study, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reported that 36 percent of automobile accidents occur at intersections.
Of that 36 percent, 480,000 occurred during a left turn. The reason for the high frequency of left-turn accidents is that drivers have more decisions to make when turning left compared to other maneuvers.
Left turns lower a driver’s margin for error as well if they misjudge an oncoming cars’ distance or speed. Left turns also leave you at risk for T-bone accidents, which most commonly occur while attempting left turns.
Determining Liability in Jacksonville Left-Turn Accidents
In most cases, the driver making a left turn must yield the right-of-way to oncoming vehicles. This requirement is in Florida Statute 316.22 , “ The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, or vehicles lawfully passing on the left of the turning vehicle, which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.”
Therefore, assuming the oncoming driver followed the rules of the road, the driver making the left will be the one at fault. However, this is not a strict rule. There are instances when the driver that made a left turn is not at fault. Let our legal team investigate your claim and help determine who is at fault and how to procede.
When the Driver Making a Left Turn is not at fault
Like we said earlier, if the oncoming driver follows the rules of the road, the driver making a left will be liable for the accident. However, we know that this is not always the case. Drivers coming from ahead can make errors or drive recklessly just like drivers making left turns. The following is a list of instances when the driver making a left could not be at fault:
- If the oncoming driver ran a red light
- If the oncoming driver was speeding
- If the driver turning left is hit by another vehicle from behind
- If the oncoming driver was driving drunk
- If the oncoming driver was driving with his or her headlights off at night
- If construction obstructed the left-turning driver’s line of sight
Like most personal injury cases, liability and fault depend on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Accurately evaluating how your accident occurs influences who is ultimately considered liable for your Jacksonville car accident. And this has a direct effect on your damages. Determining which party was at fault in car accidents directly impacts your settlement. And in many ways affects how much you can collect in a settlement.
Collectable in Damages in a Jacksonville Left-Turn Accident Claim
Our legal team can help you determine how much you may be able to collect after your left-turn accident. These damages include but are not limited to:
Medical damages
Medical damages encompass everything from ambulance bills, hospital stays, and therapy appointments. In more severe accidents, you may collect damages for the cost of long-term medical expenses. This type of damage also includes the cost of wheelchairs, in-home care and more.
Property damage
Left-hand turn accidents often result in the most significant damage to your vehicle. Your car could require serious time in the repair shop or may even be declared a total loss. Either way, you should not be on the hook for these damages if you were not at fault.
Lost wages
After medical damages, lost wages probably represent the highest financial loss for left-turn accident victims. In some cases, your accident may be so severe that you cannot work or must change careers. In either case, we will seek damages covering the difference in your expected earnings.
Call a Jacksonville Left-Turn Attorney Today
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you navigate a left turn accident claim. We work hard to fight for the compensation you deserve. Don’t wait until it is too late to recover your damages, call us for a free case consultation.
We Can Help.
