Making left turns across traffic is a dangerous maneuver but a common one that drivers make daily. When accidents occur, though, it is usually the fault of the driver turning left.
While the driver turning left is typically at fault, it is important to review your case to determine the exact cause of your left-turn accident. In some cases, you were turning left, and another driver’s negligence caused you to crash. After being injured, it is critical to speak with our attorneys to start your case as soon as possible, as victims only have one year to file a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee.
If you were injured in a left turn accident, our Tennessee car accident attorneys can help you prove that the other driver is at fault for your injuries. For a free case consultation, contact Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
Common Ways a Driver Can Be at Fault for a Left Turn Accident in Tennessee
Negligent drivers can be at fault for a left-turn accident in Tennessee in numerous ways. That being said, certain examples of careless driving are more likely to result in a left-turn accident than others. How your left-turn accident occurred will significantly impact the legal strategies used to prove the other driver was at fault for your injuries. Our Tennessee personal injury lawyers can help you determine who was at fault in your left-turn accident and file a lawsuit to recover your damages.
Failure to Stop at Red Lights
All drivers in Tennessee are required to follow the state and local traffic laws, which include observing legal traffic lights. Unfortunately, many left-turn accidents occur when drivers run a red light. These accidents tend to happen when drivers are waiting to turn left at a green light, then quickly make the left after the light turns red. Others are more blatant, potentially ending with a reckless driver causing a head-on collision. Injuries from a left-turn accident of this kind could be devastating as victims rarely expect a driver to turn into their lane of travel when they have the green light.
Failure to Yield the Right of Way
Many left-turn accidents are caused when a driver fails to yield the right of way to another person sharing the road. The most typical scenario involves collisions between cars since few left turns can be made without cutting across traffic but failing to yield the right of way could also have been the cause of your injuries if you were on a motorcycle, bicycle or struck as a pedestrian. While drivers should double-check before making a left turn and stop if they see an approaching vehicle, they can be held liable for their negligence if they do not and cause an accident.
Driving While Distracted
Distracted driving has naturally caused more and more left-turn accidents as technology is used more today in cars. For instance, many left-turn accidents occur because drivers are texting, talking, or checking social media on their cell phones while trying to make the turn. Drivers could also become distracted at a crucial moment by their GPSs. Of course, left-turn accidents can also be caused by more traditional negligent conduct, like drinking or eating while driving or by getting distracted by other passengers. Our personal injury lawyers can help you gather evidence if the driver that injured you was distracted when they caused your injuries.
Speeding
Speeding drivers can also be at fault for left-turn accidents in Tennessee. Speeding drivers can cause devasting injuries attempting to make a left turn too quickly. The faster a driver goes, the less time they will have to evaluate the road and properly judge whether they can make the turn before oncoming traffic makes it there. If a driver makes the wrong calculation, they can cause severe damage to other drivers who have the right of way.
Tailgating
Of course, injuries can occur while trying to make a left turn if you were being tailgated at the time. As most drivers know, tailgating occurs when the driver behind you is following too closely. As you slow to make a left turn, the other driver might be too close to stop before striking you. Our Clarksville personal injury lawyers can help you prove fault in your case if you were injured by a tailgating driver or in any other kind of left-turn accident.
What Evidence Can I Use to Prove Who is at Fault for My Left-Turn Car Accident?
There tends to be a presumption that the driver making the left turn is at fault since they are the ones cutting across the normal flow of traffic and thus have the duty to stop and yield the right of way. However, you will need more evidence to prove that the other driver caused your accident decisively.
Cameras from nearby businesses, homes, or traffic lights could have recorded your accident. Other footage from cell phones and dashcams could have also captured the accident.
If surveillance footage does not exist, eyewitnesses might be able to provide testimony about the accident. If your left-turn accident occurred at a busy intersection or road, there could be several witnesses willing to offer help. We know speaking to witnesses can be difficult, so our firm can reach out to them on your behalf to ensure their testimony is used to prove fault in your case.
Time Limit to File Your Left-Turn Car Accident Lawsuit in Tennessee
In Tennessee, victims have a set amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations. According to T.C.A. § 28-3-104, you will only have one year from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit for injuries sustained in a left-turn accident. This is one of the shortest time limits in the country, so it is critical to get your case started as soon as possible.
Proving fault in a left-turn accident requires gathering evidence to show how the other driver caused the accident. Some evidence can be obtained quickly, but other forms could be trickier to collect. Once your lawsuit is filed, though, there is no limit on the time to resolve your case. Our Nashville personal injury attorneys can carefully review your claim and get the evidence you need to prove that the other driver was at fault for your accident.
Our Attorneys Can Help
If you were hurt in a left turn accident caused by another driver, our Knoxville car accident attorneys can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable. Call us at Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free review of your case.
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