Left Turn Collisions

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, left turn collisions make up 36% of fatal motorcycle crashes. The risk of injury for a motorcyclist is greater in comparison to the risks for automobile and truck drivers, due to the motorcyclist's lack of protection. Even when wearing a helmet, a motorcyclist is very vulnerable to the impact of a larger vehicle. If you are a motorcyclist who was injured in a left turn collision, the chances are that your injuries require significant medical care and time off work. Let Knoxville motorcycle accident attorney Mark C. Hartsoe assert your right to compensation.

Drivers of larger vehicles often fail to notice smaller vehicles like motorcycles. Left turn collisions may occur because an automobile driver turning left fails to yield to a motorcyclist driving straight through an intersection. Riders going straight through uncontrolled intersections or who have a green light have the right of way, except in rare circumstances. Unfortunately, many drivers do not look closely to see a motorcyclist approaching. The results may be deadly.

A driver who fails to yield to a motorcyclist who has the right of way is likely to be found negligent. As a rider, you will need to establish the other driver’s duty of care (to drive safely), a breach of duty (a careless or unsafe action), causation (you were injured in the crash), and damages (medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life, etc.). Drivers in Tennessee and elsewhere must obey the “rules of the road” safety standards. These safety rules are found in driver manuals and are codified in Tennessee statutes and local ordinances.

Damages in a left turn collision may be substantial. If you establish liability, you may recover compensation for both economic and noneconomic losses, including medical bills, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of activities, and pain and suffering.

However, Tennessee has codified a universal helmet law at Tennessee Code section 55-9-302. If a victim fails to wear a helmet and sustains head or brain injuries, the issue of comparative fault is likely to come into play. An insurance defense attorney is likely to argue that a failure to follow the universal helmet law is negligent and that the victim’s damages should be reduced accordingly. Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault rule, such that if you are 49% or less at fault, you may be able to recover an amount of compensation from which is subtracted an amount equal to your degree of fault. However, if a jury finds that you were 50% or more at fault, you will be fully barred from recovering damages. As a result, you should enlist an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who will be able to anticipate and rebut allegations of comparative fault.

A motorcyclist's injuries after a left turn collision may be devastating or even fatal. Some people may be biased against riders, so it is especially important to secure an attorney who understands motorcycle culture and knows how crucial it is for a person with serious injuries to pursue compensation. If you have been injured or lost a loved one, Knoxville motorcycle accident lawyer Mark C. Hartsoe can represent you in a lawsuit for compensation so that you can focus on your recovery. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision lawyer. We represent injured people throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.