Left-Turn Accidents Involving Pedestrians
Making a left turn in a vehicle can be a dangerous maneuver. Left turns require an abundance of care. If a left turn is not executed properly and carefully, it can have devastating consequences. An improperly executed left turn can result in an accident. Unfortunately, left-turn accidents can cause severe injuries and even death. This is especially true if the accident involves a pedestrian. When drivers are making a left turn, they usually accelerate. If a pedestrian is hit by a left-turning driver accelerating out of their left turn, they could suffer serious injuries or even die. Often, pedestrians are at risk of being hit by a vehicle making a left turn at intersections.
Common Causes of Left-turn Accidents
The following are some of the common causes of left-turn pedestrian accidents;
- Inexperience: Some left-turn pedestrian accidents happen because of inexperienced drivers. For example, a driver who does not understand the right of way rules may fail to yield the right of way and end up hitting a pedestrian.
- Impatience: A left-turn pedestrian accident can happen if a driver tries to beat the clock and make a left turn before another vehicle reaches the intersection. In such a case, the turning driver may not see a pedestrian crossing and may strike them.
- Visibility: Do not try to make a left-turn by cranking your neck around a car or landscaping. It is safer to turn right and then make a u-turn.
- Inattention: A left-turning driver may be too focused on the vehicles approaching them that they fail to see a pedestrian on the crosswalk. If the driver makes the left turn without noticing the pedestrian, it may result in an accident.
In addition to the above, several factors can increase a pedestrian’s risk of being hit by a left-turning driver. Some of the contributing factors that increase the risk of pedestrians being hit by left-turning drivers include;
- Traffic congestion
- Construction
That said, you should note that motorists have a legal obligation to operate their cars safely. This includes adjusting their driving according to the conditions.
Right of Way
In Florida, if a pedestrian is crossing the road at a marked or unmarked crosswalk, they have the right of way. A marked crosswalk has either painted lines on the pavement or signs. On the other hand, an unmarked crosswalk can be considered as the space at the meeting of intersecting roads. Indeed, there are times when pedestrians are required to yield the right of way to vehicles in Florida. For instance, if a pedestrian is crossing the road at a point where there is no marked or unmarked crosswalk, they must yield the right of way to vehicles.
What To Do After a Left-turn Pedestrian Accident?
If you are a pedestrian who suffered injuries after getting hit by a left-turning driver, or your loved one was hit as a pedestrian by a left-turning driver, you should reach out to a qualified attorney as soon as possible. You may be eligible to recover compensation from the left-turning driver. However, keep in mind that Florida is a comparative negligence state. If you or your loved one was partially responsible for their accident, that will be considered when determining how much compensation should be awarded.
Contact a Parkland Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you are a pedestrian who suffered injuries after being hit by a left-turning driver, or your loved one was hit as a pedestrian by a left-turning driver, contact our Parkland pedestrian accident lawyers at Lyons & Snyder for legal advice.
