Left turns are some of the most dangerous maneuvers drivers must make. Since the U.S. drives on the right side of the road, turning left on an ordinary two-way road requires crossing at least one lane of traffic. Drivers who time their turns poorly may get hit in a side-impact or head-on collision.
At Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our St. Louis left-turn accident lawyers assist people who have been injured in these accidents. We have decades of experience and have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation.
Call our law office in St. Louis, Missouri at (314) 932-1066 , today for a free consultation.
How Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After A Left-Turn Accident In St. Louis, MO
Our St. Louis car accident attorney will support you by providing the following services if you have been injured:
- Evaluating your legal claim based on your accident and injuries
- Preparing your case and filing an insurance claim
- Hiring expert witnesses, as needed
- Working to settle your case without resorting to a lawsuit
- Taking your case to court if we cannot reach a fair settlement
Due to the speed and angles involved, left-turn accidents in St. Louis, Missouri, can result in serious injuries. Contact Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a St. Louis personal injury lawyer to discuss your injuries and how we can pursue compensation for the resulting costs and losses.
Common Causes Of Left-Turn Car Accidents In St. Louis
According to Table 1.6 of the Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium, the most common type of collision to cause injury or death was an angle collision. These crashes occur at intersections when drivers collide in any direction other than front-to-front or front-to-rear.
Not all of these crashes involve left turns. Some may have involved right turns or two vehicles traveling perpendicular to each other. However, these numbers illustrate the serious outcomes that can result from left-turn and other intersection collisions.
Left-turn car accidents typically occur in two situations. First, a driver may turn left at an intersection or mid-block across the path of an oncoming vehicle. The driver fails to wait for a large enough gap. As a result, the approaching vehicle strikes them head-on or at an angle.
Second, a driver may turn left into cross-traffic. For example, a driver may be at a stop sign on a road that crosses a highway. The driver in this situation must wait for a gap in traffic to turn onto the intersecting road. If they fail to do so, they can get hit from either the left or the right in a side-impact or rear-end collision.
What Driving Behaviors Are Commonly Associated With Left-Turn Accidents?
Left-turn accidents can happen for the following reasons:
- Impatient or aggressive driving
- Distracted or inattentive driving
- Misjudging the speed or distance of an approaching vehicle
- Failing to spot a pedestrian or bicyclist in a crosswalk
The turning driver is responsible for ensuring they can maneuver safely. When they fail to do so, they risk causing a car accident.
How A St. Louis Left-Turn Accident Lawyer Proves Liability
All drivers must follow the right-of-way rules. These rules determine when a driver must wait for other vehicles. When they proceed instead of yielding, they can cause a collision.
Fault for car accidents falls on the negligent driver. Negligence often involves a traffic rule violation. Missouri traffic laws require any driver making a left turn to yield to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is so close “as to constitute an immediate hazard.”
The fact that a crash happened is almost enough to prove that the turning driver caused it. In other words, left-turn crashes occur when the approaching car is too close for the driver to turn safely, and the collision proves the gap was too small.
However, in certain circumstances, the fault may fall, at least partially, on the driver traveling straight. For example, if the driver going straight accelerated to make a yellow light, they might bear some of the responsibility for the crash. Likewise, a driver who ran a red light or stop sign and hit a vehicle turning left would bear the liability for the collision.
Contact Our St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
Left-turn car accidents in St. Louis can leave victims with long-term or permanent disabilities. Our experienced St. Louis left-turn accident attorneys have recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of our clients, and we’re prepared to fight for maximum compensation for you, too.
Contact Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn about your right to seek compensation for the sake of your health and financial security.
