The Barnes Firm |
Maggie Karnath
When you are involved in a car accident, your first question is often regarding fault. Did you cause the accident or somehow contribute to it? In some accidents, fault is easy to determine. Other times, not so much. There are many different scenarios which could play out in each unique situation, especially those involving turning vehicles.
What happens in a right turn accident, how do you determine who is a fault? Generally, drivers making a right turn are required to yield to oncoming traffic, so when a driver fails to yield to oncoming traffic, he or she may be at fault.
Determining Fault in a Right Turn Accident
On streets and at intersections, right turns are common, an everyday occurrence for drivers. Even so, right turns require the same degree of attention and caution as every other driving scenario. In every incident, it is crucial to understand right-of-way and the importance of yielding to oncoming traffic. When making a right-hand turn, you should be attentive, but courteous as well, following the prescribed rules of the road. Because making right turns is so common in everyday driving, drivers often proceed without taking the proper precautions. Without those safeguards in place, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers are often injured. These crashes occur when drivers only look for other cars as part of oncoming traffic, and not pedestrians or bicyclists, or underestimate the speed at which oncoming traffic is moving and poor decision-making results.
In an accident, if you were the individual making the right turn, and you failed to yield, you could be deemed at fault. In right hand turns, vehicles on the road you’re turning onto have the right of way, unless there is a stop sign, traffic light which tells them to stop. In other words, you must let the vehicle pass until it is safe to turn, or it is your turn to move into traffic. In some areas, right hand turns are only permitted when there is a green light, and signs verify the fact. If you make a right hand turn on a red signal when you should have waited for the green light, you may be at fault.
Personal Injury and Property Damage
If you were involved in a right turn accident in which the other driver failed to yield the right of way, you should be able to claim damages associated with your accident claim, including property damage and costs related to your injuries. Compensation often included not only medical costs, but lost income, short and long-term care, vocational rehabilitation, household expenses, and pain and suffering. Depending on the extent of your personal injury and property damage in a right turn accident, you may want to discuss your options with an expert car accident lawyer and your physician before settling your claim. Your physician can advise you regarding issues which may not be evident immediately following the accident like whiplash, back and shoulder injuries, concussions, or others.
Contact an Expert Car Accident Attorney at the Barnes Firm
If you have been in a right-turn accident in which you suffered injuries and property damage, a well-qualified personal injury attorney can help you go over the facts and determine the best course of action.
At the Barnes Firm, the expert attorneys will provide you with the information and guidance you need, protect your rights, and help you get any compensation you deserve. Call today for your free consultation at (800) 800-0000.
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Car Accident Lawyers , Right Turn Accident , Right Turn Car Accidents , The Barnes Firm
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