Left-Turn Motorcycle Accidents and Failure to Yield

Has a loved one been seriously injured or killed in a Texas motorcycle accident caused by another driver’s failure to yield?

When it comes to motorcycle-vs-car accidents, statistics show that a staggering 42% of collisions are caused by drivers of passenger cars making left turns across traffic.

Motorcyclists have every right to use our roads just as much as other drivers, and it’s extremely regrettable that so many riders lose their lives due to the negligence of inattentive drivers. While motorcycles may be smaller than passenger cars, every driver knows to yield to oncoming traffic when making an unprotected left turn, and to always look twice for motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists are more-vulnerable to catastrophic injuries due to the inherent lack of collision protection their vehicles provide, and as such, should be afforded more consideration by all drivers.

Motorists who fail to yield at a left turn are not necessarily trying to cause an accident, but any unsafe actions taken behind the wheel do have consequences.

It’s important to understand that even if police decline to file criminal charges against the at-fault driver, they may still be held liable for their actions through a personal injury or wrongful death claim filed by the injured victim (or the family of the deceased). Civil claims and lawsuits are handled completely separately from criminal matters, and you have every right to pursue a civil claim against the negligent party.

If you would like to speak to us (for free) about your case and the options available to you and your family, please call us toll-free at (214) 617-1886. We’re happy to explain the process moving forward, give our advice, and explain how we may be able to help. If you decide to have us investigate your claim, we’ll do so for free. In fact, we only collect a fee when and if we put money in your pocket, so there’s no financial risk in having us help with your case.

Failure to yield when turning left across traffic.

As stated above, an estimated 42 percent of all motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles were caused by drivers making unprotected left turns across opposing lanes of traffic (i.e., when facing a solid green light or flashing yellow left turn arrow). Because these accidents tend to occur by surprise when the motorcyclist is traveling at normal speed, collisions are often catastrophic or fatal to the rider. The driver of the car that caused the accident, on the other hand, is likely to only suffer minor injuries.

It doesn’t matter if the at-fault driver “never saw the motorcyclist because of a blind spot” or that “their vehicle was not on eye level with the motorcyclist” because every driver knows to never cross opposing lanes of traffic unless they are certain that it is clear and safe to do so. If they pulled into the path of another driver, they obviously did not (or could not) know whether it was safe to turn. This is a prime example of negligence.

The purpose of filing a claim or lawsuit.

Having an attorney file a claim on your behalf not only helps your family seek the justice the victim deserves, but also allows you to recover money damages that will go toward paying medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and any related expenses. If your child, spouse or parent was killed in the crash, not only can you seek the compensation they would have recieved in a personal injury claim (had they survived), you likely also have a valid wrongful death claim.

Through a wrongful death claim, you can also seek compensation for the losses that you and your family are expected to suffer as a result of their death. This can include things such as loss of income or financial support; loss of consortium/companionship; loss of care, counsel, guidance, or support; mental anguish; and more.

Additionally, lawsuits often result in significant safety changes. If it’s determined that the intersection where the crash took place was inherently unsafe or lacked appropriate safety features, your claim may directly result in enhancements being made to prevent other similar types of accident from occurring in the future. You’d be surprised by how many lawsuits actually help prevent future accidents!

The insurance company is not going to help you.

Insurance companies are known to play dirty when it comes to motorcycle accident claims. Due to the public’s perception of motorcycle riders as risk takers, you should expect the insurance adjuster to try and put part of the blame on the victim by default. Even worse, many adjusters will pretend to be on your side, stringing you along before suddenly telling you that they’re contesting liability.

They may overlook the facts of the crash report and insinuate that the victim was inattentive, not riding at an acceptable speed, had adequate time to react but didn’t, or should have worn or done something to make themselves more visible. It shouldn’t be your responsibility to fight every ridiculous argument made by the insurance company, and that’s where we can help.

Experienced Texas motorcycle accident attorneys.

If you contact us and explain the details of your case, we’ll investigate the whole matter for no cost. If it looks like a case we can help you with, we’ll offer our assistance on a no-win, no-fee basis. Under no circumstances will we ever ask you to pay us a penny out of pocket; we only earn a fee if and when we win your case.

Once you hire us, you will no longer need to talk to the insurance company. We will begin working on your case immediately, and handle all communication moving forward while you focus on what’s important. We promise to use every resource available to handle your case as effectively and efficiently as possible, and no final decisions will be made without your express approval.

With nearly three decades worth of experience handling motorcycle accidents in Dallas, Texas, you can trust us to handle your claim with care and compassion. Call us today at (214) 617-1886 or send us an email. We look forward to helping you.