Left Turn Car Accidents in Brevard County
Making left turns leave drivers making the turn vulnerable, and also puts people approaching the intersection at risk. According to numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), left turns are a leading cause of car accidents. Approximately 22 percent of all vehicle collisions are the result of left turns; more than half of all intersection and cross-path collisions are caused by people making left turns.
Attorney Stephen G. Charpentier has helped countless clients in the Melbourne, FL area after they’ve been struck in left turn auto collisions. The legal team at Charpentier Law Firm, P.A. would like to consider some common causes of left turn crashes. Be sure to schedule a legal consultation with our team to discuss your case and how we can prove legal liability in your crash.
Unguarded Left Turns
Unguarded left turns mean that while left turns are permitted at an intersection or crossing, there are no signals or signs than stop oncoming traffic while you make that turn. Drivers must note all oncoming and perpendicular traffic to ensure that a crash does not happen.
Traffic Signal Malfunctions
On the note of unguarded left turns, sometimes the danger is the result of a traffic signal malfunction. When traffic lights go down in a blackout, drivers must treat the intersection like a four-way stop. If a signal simply malfunctions and funnels traffic through into a dangerous situation, accidents are likely to occur.
Making Illegal Left Turns
On some streets, making a left turn is prohibited. This is typically noted with a street sign. Left turns in these situations could put you and others at risk, or at the very least disrupt the flow of traffic in a significant way.
Reckless Drivers
Apart from disregarding signs and traffic signals, there are many other reckless behaviors that motorists may engage in while making left turns. These actions include:
- Speeding
- Not yielding the right of way
- Cutting others off
- Tailgating
- Failure to signal
- Turning from the wrong lane
- Drunk driving
Recklessness must never be tolerated while on the road.
Driver Inattention
There are many sources of distraction that could affect safety while making a left turn. Some examples include eating while driving, reaching for an object in the backseat, or rubbernecking. Cellphone use is one of the major distraction dangers for motorists today, especially as it can take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel.
Other Factors Contributing to Left Turn Collisions
In addition to the above, some other factors that may contribute to left turn crashes may include:
- Bad weather
- Poor road conditions
- Vehicle defects
These factors could affect issues of liability in a crash. Your attorney can assess these matters during a legal consultation.
Dangers to Pedestrians and Bicyclists
People in cars and trucks aren’t the only potential victims in a left turn accident. Bicyclists and pedestrians could be struck by drivers making left turns. This is a major danger if a driver is speeding to make the turn or to avoid a crash with oncoming traffic. The injuries sustained by bicyclists and pedestrians in these kinds of crashes may be catastrophic.
Contact Our Brevard County Auto Accident Lawyers
For more information about your legal rights and options following a motor vehicle accident, be sure to contact a car crash and auto collision lawyer in Brevard County. The team at Charpentier Law Firm is here to help. You can reach us by phone at 321-308-8020.
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IN BREVARD COUNTY
Over the past 40-plus years of helping Brevard County's injured and mistreated, our firm has obtained some $65 million in recoveries on behalf of our clients, highlighted by an $15.5 million product liability award.
The team at Charpentier Law Firm has the negotiation skills to reach favorable settlements in many cases, but also has the experience and perseverance to try a case to verdict whenever it is in the best interests of our clients. Our history of success illustrates our dedication to our clients and their pursuit of justice. Our personal injury attorneys in Melbourne, Titusville, and Cocoa are proud to offer superior legal representation to victims and their families throughout Brevard County and Central Florida.