Who Is At Fault in a Left-Turn Collision in Florida?

Left-turn accidents are extremely common in Florida. When drivers turn left, state law requires them to yield to oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, not all drivers follow this rule. If a driver turns left and hits another vehicle, the left-turning driver is often – though not always – at fault. 

Left-turn collisions can cause severe injuries and property damage, leading to expensive medical bills and other preventable losses. If you have suffered injuries in a left-turn crash in Florida, you could be entitled to compensation from the at-fault driver. Understanding fault in left-hand turn scenarios can help you know what to expect when filing your claim.

Is the Left-Turn Driver Always At Fault in an Accident?

It’s a common misconception that the driver making the left-hand turn is always at fault in a left-turn accident. While this is often the case, it isn’t always true. We must examine the circumstances of each collision to determine who is liable for a left-hand turn wreck.

For example, if a driver making a left-hand turn fails to yield to oncoming traffic, they are likely at fault for a following accident. However, determining fault might be more difficult if another driver was speeding or running a red light when the accident occurred.

This is why working with an experienced car accident lawyer is essential after a left-turn accident in Florida. Your attorney can demand a fair recovery on your behalf by investigating the crash and developing evidence of liability.

Must a Left-Turn Driver Yield the Right of Way at an Intersection with No Traffic Signs or Signals?

When a driver approaches an intersection without signals intending to turn left, they must yield the right of way to other vehicles traveling straight through or coming from the right. However, drivers turning left at an intersection without traffic signs or signals can go through the intersection if they can complete their turn before other traffic arrives.

When Is the Left-Turn Driver Not Liable for the Accident?

Left-turning drivers typically must yield the right of way to other vehicles and may bear responsibility for an accident when they don’t. However, drivers turning left may not be liable for a collision under certain circumstances. For example, a left-turning driver may not be at fault when:

• Another driver runs a red light or stop sign
• A driver in front of a left-turning driver suddenly stops in the middle of the intersection
• A driver was speeding through the intersection, not giving the left-turning driver enough time to react
• A driver approaching an intersection improperly signals their intentions, such as failing to signal a turn or signaling when intending to travel straight through the intersection

Is a Driver Making a Left-Hand Turn Required to Yield to Traffic?

Florida law requires drivers to yield to oncoming traffic when making left-hand turns. This means drivers must always wait until it’s safe to make left-hand turns, even if they have green lights. Failure to yield to oncoming traffic is a common cause of left-turn collisions. It’s also a traffic violation that can result in a ticket and points against your driver’s license.

What Makes Left-Hand Turns More Dangerous?

Left-hand turns are more dangerous than other types of turns for several reasons:

1. Drivers making left-hand turns must often cross multiple lanes of traffic, meaning there are more opportunities for collisions with oncoming motorists.
2. Left-turning motorists must look for gaps in traffic before turning, so they might not pay enough attention to hazards such as oncoming pedestrians or cyclists.
3. Left-hand turns often require drivers to make split-second decisions, which can be especially difficult for inexperienced, drowsy, or impaired drivers.

What Are Some Common Injuries from a Left-Turn Crash?

Left-turn collisions can cause various injuries, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to life-threatening trauma. Some of the most common injuries from left-turn crashes include:

• Whiplash – Whiplash is a common injury in car accidents that happens when the force of the impact suddenly jerks the head back and forth. This condition commonly causes neck pain, headaches, and other debilitating symptoms.
• Broken bones – The force of a car accident can easily break bones upon impact, leading to painful fractures that sometimes require surgery to heal.
• Spinal cord injuries – Spinal cord injuries can cause life-altering partial or total paralysis.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) – TBIs can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage with long-term effects on a person’s cognitive and physical abilities.
• Herniated discs – The force of a left-turn collision can cause spinal discs to herniate. Spinal discs have an inner jelly-like substance encased in a hard outer shell. Tears in the outer shell can cause the inner tissue to leak, putting pressure on the nerve bundles that exit the spinal column.
• Neck and back injuries – A left-turn car crash can inflict various neck and back injuries, including whiplash, sprains, strains, and tears, as the head and neck jerk back and forth or side to side in a crash.
• Internal organ damage – A left-turn collision can cause internal organ injuries and bleeding. The force of a crash can inflict significant trauma on internal organs. Seat belts and airbags can also damage internal organs in the chest or abdomen.
• Death – Left-turn accidents can involve violent collisions between vehicles that result in life-threatening injuries, including cervical spinal cord injuries, severe traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding.

If you got hurt in a left-turn collision in Florida, you should seek medical attention immediately – even if you do not feel seriously injured. Injuries like whiplash might not immediately show symptoms. But they can still be severe, so it’s best to seek prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Is There a Proper Way to Make a Left Turn?

When making a left-hand turn, you should follow these steps to reduce your risk of being involved in a left-turn collision:

• Signal your intention to turn – Use your turn signal to let other drivers know you plan to turn left well before the maneuver.
• Move into the left-turn lane – If there is a designated left-turn lane, move into it to prepare to make your turn. If there is no left-turn lane, move as close to the centerline as possible and wait for a gap in traffic.
• Check for oncoming traffic – Before turning, check for oncoming traffic from all directions.
• Yield to oncoming traffic – If you see oncoming traffic with the right of way, wait until it is safe to make your turn. Never try to rush your turn or cut in front of oncoming road users.
• Complete your turn – Once you know it is safe, execute the left-hand turn and merge into the appropriate lane of traffic.

Following these steps reduces your risk of being involved in a left-turn collision accident. However, accidents can still happen. If you suffer injuries in a left-turn crash, contact a Florida car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

How Do You Prove the Other Driver Was At Fault for the Accident?

Whether you get hit by a left-turning driver or get into a crash while turning left, you can prove liability for the accident by relying on various types of evidence, including:

• Police accident reports
• Citation and arrest records
• Eyewitness testimony
• Accident scene photos and videos
• Surveillance camera, traffic camera, or dashcam footage
• Driver cell phone records
• Post-accident vehicle inspections
• Vehicle black box data
• Accident reconstruction expert reports and testimony

You may prove that the other driver is responsible for the car crash by showing that they violated traffic laws, such as not stopping at an intersection, yielding the right of way, or signaling before turning left.

Does Florida Set a Time Limit for Filing a Left-Turn Car Accident Injury Lawsuit?

Under Florida’s statute of limitations for accident claims, you typically have two years after a left-turn collision to file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver. However, you can best protect your rights by speaking with a car accident attorney as soon as possible to ensure you can file your claim on time. Otherwise, you may lose the right to hold an at-fault driver accountable if you file your lawsuit after the deadline.

Contacting an attorney right away offers other benefits, as well. Critical evidence in car accidents, such as the vehicles, skid marks, road and weather conditions, and proof of your injuries, may change, deteriorate, be moved, or disappear after the crash. Failure to secure this evidence can compromise the strength of your injury claim. Having an attorney handling your claim from the outset can help to preserve this critical evidence.

What Types of Compensation Are Available for My Damages?

In a left-turn accident claim, you may have the right to recover compensation for financial or personal losses you suffer as a result of your injuries. Your financial recovery can compensate you for:

• All past, ongoing, and anticipated future medical expenses
• Costs associated with long-term disability care
• Home health service
• Childcare and housekeeping costs
• Costs of renovations to install disability accommodations
• Lost income, including reduced wages if you must switch to part-time or light-duty work
• Lost future earning capacity if your injuries disable you
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment and quality of life
• Property damage, including repairs to or replacement of your vehicle

How Can a Florida Left-Hand Turn Accident Attorney Near Me Help Establish Fault?

Hiring legal counsel for a left-hand turn accident can benefit you by allowing you to focus on your treatment and recovery. At the same time, your attorney can handle the details of investigating and pursuing insurance claims for your left-turn accident injuries. Your attorney can help you hold parties liable for the accident accountable for losses by:

• Thoroughly investigating the crash to recover evidence necessary to build your case
• Reviewing the evidence to identify all potentially liable parties
• Working with accident reconstruction experts as needed to piece together what happened in the crash
• Evaluating your options for recovering compensation for your injury expenses and losses, including filing PIP claims or pursuing an injury case against an at-fault driver
• Documenting your injuries and losses to determine what total compensation looks like in your case
• Filing your personal injury claims and dealing with insurance adjusters on your behalf to take the stress of the claims process off your shoulders
• Vigorously pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries and losses, whether by negotiating a settlement with the at-fault driver and their insurance company or by taking your claims to court to demand justice

What Happens If I Am Partially Responsible for the Accident?

In Florida, you could still file a car accident claim against another party if you were partially responsible for a left-turn accident. However, the amount of money you can get for your claim will vary depending on the percentage of fault you contributed to the accident. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can help you avoid losing money due to partial fault for an accident by uncovering useful evidence and crafting a strong legal strategy for your claim.

Contact a Florida Car Accident Lawyer

If you suffer injuries in a left-turn collision in Florida, you need help from an experienced car accident lawyer who can pursue fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

The Tampa injury lawyers at Zervos & Calta, PLLC have extensive experience representing clients in car accident cases, including those that involve left-turn collisions. We understand the challenges you are facing, and we’re here to demand the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how a Florida car accident lawyer with our firm can help you.

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About the Author

Angela Zervos
Angela has spent more than 20 years of her legal career fighting for personal injury victims – and against big insurance companies. As a true trial lawyer, she takes on a wide variety of personal injury claims, including those involving motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, medical malpractice, traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death. Prior to starting her own law practice, Angela secured more than $80 million in settlements and jury verdicts for her clients – a 90 percent success rate since 2002. Her efforts on behalf of her clients have resulted in numerous accolades. For example, Angela maintains a “Superb” 10.0 rating from AVVO, an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and she is ranked among the Top 100 civil trial lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Zervos & Calta, PLLC serves the entire Tampa Bay area – including Pinellas County, Pasco County, Hernando County, and Hillsborough County – from offices in Tarpon Springs, Spring Hill, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg.