Who is Liable In a Florida Left Turn Car Accident

Florida driving law clearly states that, if an intersection does not have a dedicated left-turn signal, a driver should wait until the flow of oncoming traffic breaks before attempting to make a lefthand turn. This puts anyone who needs to make a left at the mercy of oncoming vehicles. Considering Florida’s notoriously heavy traffic and gridlocked roadways, this can sometimes leave drivers waiting for an opening between vehicles that isn’t coming anytime soon. Despite this, Florida law says that oncoming traffic has the right of way, so if an accident is caused by you making a lefthand turn then it has to be your fault, right?  

Left Turn Car Crashes Are Common

Various studies have shown that making a left turn is a leading cause of automobile accidents in the United States. One car accident study that focused on collisions that took place while a driver was crossing an intersection or turning found that 61% of the accidents analyzed involved lefthand turns. Only 3% of these accidents involved righthand turns. A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined that more than 20% of all collisions nationwide involved a driver attempting to make a lefthand turn at an intersection. 

Left on a Yellow In Florida

Florida driving law says that a car making a left at an intersection has to yield the right of way to oncoming cars that have a green light unless the turning vehicle has a green arrow. So, if you make a left and cause a crash,  you will most likely be held responsible unless another driver was negligent or operating their vehicle in a way that was not legal or appropriate.

Impacts on Seeking Recovery from the Other Party 

 For purposes of the apportionment of fault, Florida follows the pure comparative fault rule.  This means that, even if you are partially to blame for the crash that injured you, you could still receive financial compensation from the other driver for whatever portion of the fault was not yours. 

As with every kind of personal injury case, the endless number of variables makes your claim unique. Someone with a case that sounds very similar to yours could end up with a very different outcome than what you should expect. This is just one of the many reasons why hiring a skilled attorney is beneficial to your Florida personal injury claim. 

Your attorney will know the most thorough and efficient way of collecting vital evidence that proves you were not at fault for the accident. Establishing this fact is essential to the success of your Tampa personal injury case.

If you have sustained injuries during any kind of accident that was caused by another person’s negligence or carelessness, there is evidence out there that will substantiate your claim. A reputable personal injury attorney from Fulgencio Law will be able to help you. Call us at (813) 463-0123 to schedule your free Tampa personal injury consultation today.