A left-turn collision can leave you with painful injuries, medical bills, and disputes over who had the right of way. The other driver’s insurer may already be challenging your account of what happened. At Sweet James, a left hand turn accident lawyer in Los Angeles can help you assess fault, insurance coverage, and potential compensation.
We can review the evidence and explain your options after a collision. We are available 24/7 to receive calls from prospective clients and offer assistance in Spanish, making it easier for people to reach out after an injury. To discuss your situation, contact our Los Angeles car accident lawyer today for a free consultation.
Who Has the Right of Way in Left-Turn Crashes in Los Angeles?
California Vehicle Code section 21801 generally requires drivers turning left to yield to approaching traffic when it is close enough to pose a hazard. If another vehicle crossed your path, the evidence must show whether the turning driver yielded as required.
The law also addresses when an approaching driver must yield to a left-turning vehicle that has yielded and signaled as required. Vehicle positions, timing, distance, and turn signals can all affect how the rule applies.
Traffic signals also affect right of way. A green light does not make an unprotected left turn automatically safe, and pedestrians or signal violations may affect liability. A California car accident lawyer from Sweet James can assess how these rules apply to your collision.
Can You Recover Compensation if You Were Turning Left?
Making a left turn does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. An approaching driver may have been speeding, running a red light, or driving while distracted. However, those actions do not excuse an unsafe turn.
California follows pure comparative negligence. If you share responsibility for the collision, your recoverable damages are generally reduced by your percentage of fault. You may still recover compensation even when you are partly responsible.
For example, if your damages total $100,000 and you are found 20% at fault, your recovery would generally be reduced to $80,000. Insurers may dispute fault percentages, particularly when drivers disagree about the traffic signal or sequence of events. A car accident lawyer can review the evidence to assess fault and identify potential sources of compensation.
Evidence That Can Clarify a Left-Turn Collision in Los Angeles
Nearby businesses, homes, or dashcams may have recorded the collision. Some recordings are overwritten quickly, and not every camera saves footage. Identifying potential sources early may help preserve useful evidence.
Photographs can document vehicle damage, lane markings, skid marks, sight obstructions, and final vehicle positions. Witnesses may clarify which vehicle moved first or whether a driver entered the intersection against a signal. Collect their names and contact details when possible.
At Sweet James, our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers can assess whether vehicle data, traffic signal records, or accident reconstruction may help resolve disputed facts. These sources are not always available, and some records require formal requests. Comparing physical evidence with witness accounts may help establish how the collision occurred.
What to Do After a Left-Turn Accident
Prioritize safety and medical attention after a collision. Call 911 when necessary, and do not enter moving traffic to photograph the scene. If it is safe, exchange the required details with the other driver and describe events accurately without guessing about fault.
Seek medical care even if your symptoms initially seem manageable. Some injuries become more noticeable hours or days later. Follow your provider’s recommendations and keep records of appointments, prescriptions, treatment, and expenses.
Notify your insurer and check reporting duties. California generally requires an SR-1 report within 10 days for crashes involving injury, death, or over $1,000 in property damage. Injury or fatal crashes generally require police notification within 24 hours unless already reported. Seek legal advice before giving recorded statements or signing releases.
What Compensation May Be Available?
Depending on the evidence, a left-hand turn accident attorney in Los Angeles can help you pursue economic damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Future treatment costs may also be recoverable when supported by evidence. Keep bills, wage records, and repair estimates to document your losses.
You may also seek non-economic damages for pain, emotional distress, and reduced enjoyment of life. California law restricts recovery in certain circumstances, including for some uninsured vehicle owners and drivers, subject to exceptions. The damages available depend on the facts and applicable law.
There is no standard settlement amount for a left-turn accident. Injury severity, recovery time, fault allocation, available insurance, and supporting evidence can affect the value of a claim. Outstanding bills, reimbursement rights, and the terms of a proposed release may also affect what you receive.
California Deadlines and Insurance Issues
Many California personal injury lawsuits have a two-year filing deadline from the injury date. Claims against public entities generally require an administrative claim within six months of accrual, although exceptions may apply. Different rules can affect the deadline, so do not assume these periods apply to every case.
Insurance negotiations generally do not pause the deadline to file a lawsuit. Policy notice requirements and evidence preservation may require action much sooner. If a government vehicle, roadway condition, minor child, or delayed discovery is involved, the applicable timeline may differ.
Coverage may include the other driver’s liability insurance and your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, where applicable. Policy limits and exclusions vary. At Sweet James, our Los Angeles left-hand turn accident attorneys can review your options before you settle or release a claim.
Experience and Results That Matter
Our attorneys have over 25 years of experience helping injury victims. Sweet James has recovered over $1 billion for clients and has taken more than 500 cases to trial, reflecting our experience representing people injured through the negligence of others.
Talk With Our Los Angeles Left-Hand-Turn Accident Lawyers About Your Next Steps
You do not have to accept an insurer’s initial assessment of fault without reviewing the available evidence. Understanding the right-of-way rules, documenting your injuries, and meeting applicable deadlines can help you make informed decisions.
Our founding attorney, James Bergener, previously represented insurance carriers in personal injury matters. That experience gives us insight into how insurers assess and defend claims. We use the available evidence to evaluate disputed liability and potential sources of recovery.
At Sweet James, we can discuss your options in a free consultation. Our team can review your circumstances and explain possible next steps. Bring any crash report, photographs, insurance correspondence, or medical records you already have.
