Left turns are so dangerous because they require the driver to divert his or her attention to multiple hazards, including other vehicles, traffic lights, blind spots, and more. This type of maneuver is even more difficult when there are circumstances that may amplify the level of danger on the road.
The Hazards of Making Left-Handed Turns
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, left-hand turns are the most dangerous maneuver a driver can make. The reason for this is that they require more attention to multiple elements that drivers must anticipate to operate the vehicle safely.
Left turns are more dangerous than right turns due to:
- Sudden stops: if you are waiting behind another car as you are turning left, you might believe the driver will complete the turn once it is started and avert your eyes to cross traffic. If you do not check to see if the driver in front of you finished the turn, you might rear-end him or her by going forward.
- Inability to judge speed: timing is everything when it comes to making left-turns. This assertion is particularly true when traffic is highly congested. Not gauging the right time to turn can result in a T-bone accident.
- Blind turns: left turns require you to pay attention to traffic coming from both the left and right. However, blind turns make it difficult to accomplish this task since it demands the driver to pay closer attention to unexpected traffic.
- Poor vantage point: if other drivers across the intersection are turning left, it makes it challenging for you to see around them. Drivers sometimes mistakenly believe that the coast is clear when a car is speeding up to beat the light.
- Unfamiliar intersections: we do not realize it, but the familiarity of our daily commute provides you with the experience you need to drive safely. Unfamiliar intersections may have irregularities which you do not know about, thereby creating a hazard.
- Traffic lights: traffic lights set the pace of the signal cycle. However, when yellow lights appear, people race to make it through. Unfortunately, this can result in serious car accident injuries for everyone involved, especially when running a red light.
Vigilance is the cornerstone of safe driving. Therefore, it is vital to prepare yourself through practice, education, and awareness beforehand. Doing so can save your life or someone else’s.
However, other drivers owe you a duty of care when on the roadway. If another person negligently causes your left-turn accident injuries, you can file a claim for compensation related to your financial and physical losses.
Factors That Can Make Left Turns Feel More Dangerous
According to a focus group conducted by the Federal Highway Administration, there are a few factors that can cause left-turn accidents, including:
- Traffic congestion: making a left-handed turn in heavy traffic can equate to long delays. In turn, more aggressive drivers hoping to make it across the intersection may press the gas pedal too quickly.
- Pedestrians in crosswalks: when you are waiting to make a left turn, you might not notice pedestrians and cyclists in your turning path. This situation is attributable to the driver focusing on oncoming traffic.
- Driving at night: the glare of headlights makes it a challenge to gauge the speed at which other motorists are traveling. This scenario is fertile ground for causing a car, truck, or motorcycle accident.
- Environment: hills, blind turns, and other elements can make it challenging to initiate a left-hand turn quickly, especially in congested areas.
- Road conditions: most drivers generally initiate a left-hand turn from the stopped position. In areas battling rainy, icy, or snowy conditions, this can cause drivers to experience reduced visibility or vehicle performance.
- Type of vehicle: smaller vehicles are more difficult to see, which means that other drivers may not notice those who are making left-hand turns. Even bigger vehicles face the issue of having a slower acceleration speed and could miss out on turning fast enough.
Keep in mind that even if these factors affected the other driver, they can still be held responsible for your accident injuries. We all have to have the capacity to drive safely and can choose to take other modes of transportation when necessary. Drivers who choose to ignore this advice may be on the hook for causing you or your loved ones’ harm.
Call Morris Bart, LLC About Your Left-Turn Accident Injuries
There is a limited time on your ability to file a compensation claim related to your accident injuries caused by another driver. Therefore, you should contact a car accident attorney at the Morris Bart law firm as soon as possible. Call our legal team for your free case evaluation today at (800) 537-8185.