Liability Explained in New York Left Hand Turn Accidents: Queens Auto Accident Lawyers
LIABILITY EXPLAINED IN NEW YORK LEFT HAND TURN ACCIDENTS: QUEENS AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYERS
| Mar 18, 2020 | Car Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury |
LEFT HAND TURN ACCIDENTS IN NEW YORK: QUEENS AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYERS EXPLAIN LIABILITY
Intersections are notoriously dangerous places. The New York Legislature has recognized this and placed certain rules on movements at intersections, including a general requirement for all motorists to exercise caution. All motorists must yield to the right-of-way to other vehicles. This is particularly true of vehicles turning left. This is thought to be one of it not the most dangerous maneuver because a vehicle turning left is crossing over the lanes of other vehicles. When a vehicle imprudently attempts to turn left, it can result in serious or fatal New York left hand turn accidents. Our Queens auto accident lawyers explain the liability for these types of turns, how to prove your case, and common injuries.
At COHEN & COHEN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS, P.C. , our experienced Queens auto accident lawyers handle all types of motor vehicle accidents caused by the negligence of another driver which results in serious personal injuries or the wrongful death of an innocent person. Anyone who is injured by a vehicle turning left may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, lost future earnings, medical bills, and other expenses related to the left turn accident. To learn more and how we can help protect your rights to compensation, contact our compassionate and knowledgeable legal team by calling (718) 275-7779.
LIABILITY FOR NEW YORK LEFT HAND TURN ACCIDENTS
A vehicle turning left is almost always at fault for a left hand turn accident. This can be established in one or two legal doctrines under New York law. First, the common-law or judge-made law requires all motorists to use reasonable care under the circumstances in the use or operation of their motor vehicle. This means that all motorists must comply with the right-of-way of other vehicles. It is well-established under the common law that motorists going straight at an intersection have the right-of-way before a vehicle turning left. Therefore, vehicles turning left at an intersection and causing New York left hand turn accidents may be liable for common-law negligence.
Second, the violation of a statute may result in an automatic finding of negligence where the statute was meant to protect a victim from the very harm that occurred. This is known as the doctrine of negligence per se and it is a very important tool for Queens auto accident lawyers to use to help prove a case. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, section 1141 governs vehicles turning left and provides that “[t]he driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield to the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.”
Therefore, any collision caused by a vehicle turning left likely violates this statute. Since this statute is meant to protect people from being injured in motor vehicle accidents when a vehicle turning left cuts in front of them, the doctrine of negligence per se likely applies to help a personal injury victim prove his or her case.
COMMON INJURIES FROM NEW YORK LEFT HAND TURN ACCIDENTS
Left hand turn accidents usually result in serious head-on or t-bone crashes. These are two of the most dangerous types of motor vehicle accidents. Head-on collisions are dangerous because two vehicles traveling in opposite directions have their forward momentum (force) collide against each other. This results in an explosive impact. T-bone collisions are dangerous because one vehicle is being hit on the side where there is less crunch space and protection from impact. All New York auto accidents could result in serious personal injuries including catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
Some of the most common injuries our Queens auto accident lawyers may handle for you include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Nerve injuries such as brachial plexus nerve injuries or facial nerve injuries
- Broken bones
- Back injuries or neck injuries, including disc herniations, disc protrusions, and other damages
- Burns
- Significant scarring
- Need for arthroscopic surgeries, also known as scopes, to the knees, shoulders, hip, elbow, and other parts of the body
- Organ injuries, and
- Many other types of injuries caused by New York left hand turn accidents.
VICTIMS OF NEW YORK LEFT HAND TURN ACCIDENTS SHOULD ASK OUR QUEENS AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYERS FOR HELP
If you or a loved one were seriously injured or if a loved one was wrongfully killed in a New York left hand turn accident, ask our Queens auto accident lawyers how we can begin to protect your rights to compensation today. Unlike other types of lawyers, our personal injury lawyers accept cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that victims and their families do not owe us any money until we recover compensation for them. Learn more about how we can help protect your rights to compensation after a left turn collision by calling (718) 275-7779 for a free case evaluation or use our convenient and easy-to-use contact us box available here.
