by When you’re involved in a crash, the effects always devastate your insurance premiums, license, and health. One common contributing factor in accidents is drivers who turn without signaling or fail to yield the right-of-way to other drivers who have established lines of sight.
U-turn accidents are the leading causes of fatal car accidents; there are approx. 4,300 yearly. Hale Law talks about right of way u-turn; a U-turn is allowed if the driver has their turn signal on and a clear view of their surroundings. Read the factors that determine liability for a U-turn accident.
A U-turn is a sharp left maneuver. To make a U-turn, you must first come to a full stop. Then, you must turn your vehicle around so that it faces in the opposite direction from which you were traveling.
What’s the Legality of the U-Turn
A U-turn is a legal maneuver that a driver must perform safely. If you are approaching an intersection and see no oncoming traffic, you can make a U-turn. However, you cannot make a U-turn if oncoming traffic or signs prohibit U-turns when you are in the middle of the road or if there is no space for a U-turn.
In Florida, a driver making a U-Turn should be the last to make a move; there, they must yield to other drivers’ right of way.
The driver who makes the improper U-turn is liable for any accidents resulting from their turn. However, if both drivers made an improper U-turn, then both would be liable for any resulting accidents.
In some cases, other factors may determine liability for a U-turn accident. For example, if one driver made an improper U-turn and stopped at a red light before proceeding through it. In contrast, another driver who had stopped behind him proceeded through the red light without stopping. Assigning liability to the second driver would be easier because he did not follow traffic laws while making his turn.
It depends. Intersections allow a U-turn; if there is a green arrow light, the driver making a U-turn has the right of way over all other traffic. However, if you’re making a U-turn at a red light and another driver comes up behind you or a pedestrian on a crosswalk, they have the right of way. In this case, you must yield to their vehicle and let them pass.
Was there a Violation of the Other Driver’s Right-of-Way?
If one driver made a legal turn and another ran into them, the second driver is usually at fault. However, this isn’t always the case.
Sometimes the second driver may have been making a legal turn but failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Both drivers are partially at fault for causing an accident in this situation.
Another scenario could occur if both drivers made illegal turns and caused an accident together. In this situation, both parties share equal responsibility for causing an accident and may be sued by each other or their insurance companies for damages caused by their negligence.
What Proves Someone Is at Fault In a U-Turn Accident?
A U-turn accident can be a serious matter as it involves a traffic violation punishable by law. The police may issue a ticket or report it as a criminal offense. If you get involved in such an accident, here are four ways to prove that the other party was at fault:
The law requires drivers to follow traffic signals when turning, regardless of whether a particular intersection has signaled. Even though the contributory negligence law can apply, the facts surrounding a U-turn accident get analyzed to determine whether you’re entitled to compensation. An experienced car accident attorney can help you sort the evidence following an accident and determine your rights.
