Have you been injured in a left-turn accident in Seattle, Washington? Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer can help. Our Seattle left-turn accident lawyers will fight to get you the recovery you deserve. Contact us today at (253) 948-0250 for a free consultation to get started.
These cases often turn on who had the right of way, what the signal showed, and whether the turning driver was distracted or rushed. We move fast to secure intersection video, phone records, witness statements, and crash data, then deal with insurers while you focus on healing. If needed, we’ll take your case to court to pursue full compensation.
How Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After a Left-Turn Accident in Seattle, WA
At Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer, Seattle injury attorneys have over 30 years of combined experience fighting for injury victims. We have successfully secured more than $1 billion in compensation for clients through settlements and court awards.
Our Seattle, WA, team can provide the following services for your car accident case:
- Evaluating your accident and outlining possible legal strategies
- Building a case against the other driver using records and other evidence
- Preparing your claim and negotiating to resolve it
- Taking your case to court if we can’t settle it on fair terms
Left-turn collisions can seriously injure motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Contact Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer and set up a free consultation. Our Seattle auto accident attorney will explain your legal options and how we can protect your rights.
What Are Common Left-Turn Crash Scenarios in Seattle?
Left-turn collisions can occur at intersections or at mid-block driveways, alleys, and parking lots. When they happen at intersections, they typically involve a driver who makes a left turn across the path of another vehicle that’s traveling straight through the intersection.
Left-turn crashes can produce the following outcomes depending on the position and timing of the vehicles involved:
- The vehicle going straight hits the side of the turning vehicle
- The vehicle turning hits the side of the vehicle going straight
- The vehicles collide at an angle or head-on
Mid-block left turns involve different vehicle movements. A driver turning left from a driveway, alley, or parking lot must navigate cross-traffic rather than oncoming traffic. Specifically, the driver must cross the lane of traffic approaching from the left and merge into the lane of traffic approaching from the right.
Collisions involving mid-block left turns often involve a side-impact if the driver pulls out in front of a car approaching from the left. They may also cause an angle or rear-end collision when the turning vehicle is struck while merging into traffic.
What Are Common Causes of Left-Turn Collisions in Seattle, WA?
Left-turn crashes almost always occur when a driver fails to yield. Under Washington law, a driver turning left at an intersection must generally yield to oncoming vehicles with the right of way that are close enough to pose an immediate risk.
The exception to this rule applies at signalized intersections where the turning vehicle has a green arrow signal. In this situation, the turning driver has the right of way, and any drivers going straight must stop.
Similarly, a driver entering a road or highway from a private driveway must yield to approaching traffic before they can merge safely. While these accidents frequently occur when drivers fail to yield, such a failure can have many causes.
Some reasons a driver might fail to yield while making a left turn include:
- Distractions
- Inattention
- Intoxication
- Impatience
- View obstructions
For example, a driver making a left turn might cause a distracted driving accident when they fail to spot an approaching vehicle while trying to read a text.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Left-Turn Accidents in Washington?
The liability for left-turn collisions in Washington is usually determined using the principles of negligence law.
If you’ve been hurt in such an accident, you must establish negligence by showing that the at-fault driver violated one or more traffic laws. For example, a driver who turned left across your path while you had a green light would probably bear the liability for the resulting collision.
What if I’m Being Blamed for a Seattle Left-Turn Accident?
One common defense to negligent left-turn collisions is comparative fault — in other words, claiming that both drivers acted negligently.
For instance, suppose that a driver turns out of a parking lot ahead of you, and you strike the side of their vehicle. Depending on your distance when the driver started the turn, they may argue that you were speeding, which caused them to misjudge the timing.
Since you had the right of way, the other driver would likely bear the bulk of the blame. However, if you were indeed speeding, a court might reduce your compensation in proportion to your share of liability. For example, if you were found to be 20% at fault, you could only recover compensation for 80% of your losses.
Contact Our Seattle Left-Turn Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Left-turn crashes in Seattle almost always result from careless or aggressive driver actions. Contact Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you fight for the compensation you deserve under Washington law. Our left-turn accident attorneys will fight tirelessly to get the compensation you deserve.