Wrongful Left Turn Car Accidents
A driver that makes a left turn in violation of the law, puts everyone on the road at risk. A driver of a vehicle is only allowed to make a left turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and when it is safe to do so. This rule is set forth in Arizona Revised Statute 28-772 which states that a driver “intending to turn to the left shall yield the right of way to a vehicle that is approaching from the opposite direction and that is within the intersection or so close to the intersection as to constitute an immediate hazard.” This means that whenever someone turns left (without a green arrow) and a collision results, the person who attempted the turn is likely at fault.
When someone makes a wrongful left turn, severe injuries may result as the oncoming driver is likely traveling at a moderate to high rate of speed. In some situations, you may not even crash into the vehicle that made the wrongful left turn. Often times, drivers will swerve or take other action to avoid the person making the turn. This movement could cause them to lose control of their vehicles and collide with other vehicles or to drive off the roadway and collide with another object or obstruction. In these situations, the driver who made the left turn is still at fault and responsible for causing the collision.
A wrongful left turn could be due to a driver’s negligence. The driver could have simply thought it was safe to proceed or failed to observe an oncoming vehicle. In other situations, a wrongful left turn car accident could be caused by a driver who is acting recklessly and foolishly.
It is not uncommon for some drivers to try and “jump the light.” This term refers to when two drivers are stopped at red lights across from each other at an intersection. When the light turns green for both drivers, the driver who intends to turn left, does so quickly hoping to beat the other driver to the punch who is proceeding straight. The driver turning left is hoping to clear the intersection and finish his or her left turn before the other vehicle collides with them. This is a dangerous move and one that is made every single day in Scottsdale by aggressive drivers.
A driver who makes a wrongful left turn has also failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. If a driver disregards the safety of others on the road, including you or your loved ones, he or she is responsible for the harm they cause. Our Scottsdale personal injury attorneys will pursue these individuals to see that whoever they have injured are made whole. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury, our attorneys will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve so you can get back to your life as you knew it. If your injuries are such that this is not possible, we will make every effort to see that you have the funds and resources necessary to take on the new challenges and complications that are ahead.
