I Was Involved in a Virginia Car Accident While I Was Making a Left Turn, but I Don’t Think It Was My Fault – Do I Have a Case?

Being involved in a left-hand turn accident can be a very difficult case to prove, especially if you were the driver making the left turn. Because traffic laws dictate that a driver making a left turn rarely has the right of way, any accident that occurs is typically the fault of the driver making the left-hand turn.

Typically, a driver is forced to wait to make a left turn until the turn can be completed safely, without interfering with oncoming traffic. If a pedestrian suddenly decides to cross the road, or another situation arises that prevents you from completing the turn, liability still lies with the driver turning. This is because the driver has a responsibility to wait until the turn could be completed, which means that there should have been enough time to turn safely even in the event of an unexpected event.

That does not mean that you are always at fault regardless of the situation, however. Gross negligence on the part of the driver traveling straight through an intersection can have an impact on your ability to prove that liability belongs with that driver. If a driver traveling at excessive speeds or a driver running a red light hits you while you are making a left turn, your case suddenly gains much more strength.

This is the type of accident that requires an experienced and thorough attorney to help you prove your lack of fault. The D.C., Virginia, and Maryland car accident lawyers at Lewis & Tompkins will work with you to ensure that the insurance companies understand exactly what happened in your accident, and why you are not to blame. Contact them today at 202-296-0666 for a free consultation.