Cruising down the road on a motorcycle can be a relaxing and invigorating experience. What can be a cool ride traveling with the wind in one’s face can turn fatal quickly. Left turn collisions, intersection crashes and intoxicated drivers sharing the road all pose considerable risks to motorcyclists. Bikers may be involved in these accidents through no fault of their own. An enraged or distracted driver may crash into a biker and cause a severe motorcycle accident.
One common type of motorcycle accident that frequently involves motorists is the left turn collision.
A left turn motorcycle collision occurs when a car makes a left-hand turn in front of a motorcycle. When a vehicle makes a sudden, unannounced turn in front of a motorcycle, the biker is left with little time to react and get out of the way. A catastrophic accident is usually the result of a poor driving decision. A motorcycle rider’s injuries can be even worse if he or she is not wearing a helmet.
If you have suffered injuries in a left turn motorcycle collision, then you should get in touch with California motorcycle injury lawyers as soon as possible. California motorcycle injury lawyers can assess your legal claim and provide you with the advice that you need to make an informed decision. Call our lawyers today to receive help for your motorcycle accident claim.
Statistics for Left Turn Collisions
Left-turn accidents account for 36 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. The risk of a left-hand turn accident is high even among four-wheel traffic. More than one half of crossing-path crashes involved left turns, according to the NHTSA. Importantly, the risk of injury for motorcyclists during a left-hand crash is higher in comparison to other motorists because of the vulnerability of the motorcyclist.
Left-turn accidents occur when oncoming motorcycles are not recognized by drivers making a left-turn. Normally, the motorcycle is struck by the turning car as the motorcycle goes straight through the intersection. As any driver knows, the rider going straight through an unregulated intersection or who is going straight through a green light has the right of way. Unfortunately and despite the rules of the road, left-hand accidents occur because the driver simply may not see the motorcyclist. What can motorcyclists do to protect themselves and their right to recovery in left-hand accidents?
Causes of Left Turn Accidents on the Road
Many factors can cause left-turn collisions. It is crucial that motorcycle drivers ride on the road with awareness and caution at all times. Here are some of the causes that can result in left turn accidents on the road:
- Failure to pay attention
- Trying to turn before a light change
- Passing other vehicles
- Driving into an intersection at the wrong time
- Distracted driving due to texting, listening to loud music or conversing with others on a smartphone
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Inability to see stop signs, stop lights or other traffic signals
Those who have been injured in left turn accidents should seek immediate help from California motorcycle accident lawyers. Our lawyers are here to assess the damages of your case and determine all of the factors that may have caused your accident.
Safety precautions
To protect the ability to recover, motorcyclists should start by following the rules of the road. A minority of riders out there have given the community a bad name by making dangerous decisions, such as speeding and by making tight lane changes. Like the reputation of a good attorney concerning bad lawyer jokes, an individual motorcyclist’s acts should not be distorted by the poor decisions of a few. However, the offending driver may try to do just that. Commonly, drivers in left-hand crashes will claim the motorcyclist was at fault because he or she was speeding. The common phrase, “He came outta nowhere!” comes to mind. The motorist may also claim the motorcyclist should have slowed down to help prevent the accident. Frequently, drivers turn too suddenly for the motorcyclist to take evasive action. Motorcyclists who follow the speed limit and other rules of the road neutralize these attempts to shift the blame. Motorcyclists can take other safety measures as well.
As the “Start Seeing Motorcycles” bumper sticker shows, car drivers don’t see motorcyclists. To remedy and guard against not being seen, motorcyclists should make themselves as visible as possible and ride defensively. Motorcyclists should always ride with the headlight on, and they should also wear a light-colored helmet and bright clothing. While it may sound counter-intuitive, motorcyclists should also drive defensively by assuming other vehicles do not see them. By pretending not to be seen, a motorcyclist can put him- or herself in hyper-attentive state of mind where he or she rides with extreme attention. The motorcyclist should ride in the best spot possible by varying speed and land position, cover brake controls to increase reaction time, plan escape routes in order to take evasive action if a driver violates a right-of-way, and ride within his or her limits.
If you have injured in a left-hand accident or another type of motorcycle accident, contact a personal injury experienced in representing motorcycle riders to preserve your right to recovery.
Contact Left Turn Motorcycle Collision Lawyers for Help Today
Feel free to contact our California left turn collision lawyers to set up an initial consultation for a review of your motorcycle accident case today. Our attorneys can address all your questions and concerns. We are glad to assist you in your time of need and will do our best to assess your legal situation. Jimmie Kang Law Firm is proud to be the law firm injured bikers turn to after an accident. We represent riders from across California.
