North Carolina Left-Hand Turn Motorcycle Wrecks

Left-hand turn collisions represent one of the highest risks on the road for North Carolina motorcyclists. Left-turn accidents are dangerous for any driver, but for motorcyclists, injuries are more frequently catastrophic, resulting in physical, emotional, and financial consequences that can last a lifetime.

At Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A., our personal injury attorneys understand how devastating left-turn motorcycle accidents can be for our clients and their families. We are committed to pursuing justice and compensation from the parties at fault. If you are ready to pursue your claim, we are ready to fight for your rights.

Contact us today or call us 24/7 at 919-980-9895 to learn more during a free consultation with a North Carolina motorcycle accident attorney at our law firm. Our office is conveniently located at 3400 Croasdaile Drive, Suite 300, Durham, NC 27705, and we are ready to help you understand your legal options.

Understanding Left-Hand Turn Motorcycle Accidents in North Carolina

A left-turn motorcycle accident typically occurs when a car or truck turns left at an intersection or across a roadway directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. The turning driver often misjudges the speed of oncoming traffic or fails to make an effort to notice the motorcyclist.

In North Carolina, traffic laws require left-turning motorists to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. Drivers who violate these laws and cause motorcycle accidents may bear legal responsibility for the resulting injuries and related losses.

Why Left-Hand Turns Are So Dangerous for Motorcyclists

There are two reasons why vehicles turning left pose such a serious risk to motorcyclists:

• Visibility issues – Motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles, making them less visible to drivers as they turn left, especially when that driver is distracted or careless. In many instances, other motorists will look but not see the motorcyclist and turn directly into their path.
• Misjudging speed and distance – Even when a driver sees a motorcycle, they may wrongly assume it is farther away or moving slower than it actually is. By the time they realize they misjudged, it is often too late.

When car and truck drivers fail to yield to motorcycles, the results can be significantly more devastating than a car-on-car collision because motorcyclists have far less protection than drivers in enclosed vehicles. The elevated risk of severe injuries makes left-hand turn accidents even more dangerous.

Liability in a Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident in North Carolina

Because the right-of-way typically belongs to oncoming traffic, unless a traffic signal or sign says otherwise, the driver making the left turn is usually presumed to be at fault for left-turn accidents. However, exceptions do exist. For example, if the oncoming vehicle was speeding, running a red light, driving at night without lights on, or violating another traffic law, the driver who was turning might not be at fault.

To determine liability, our experienced left-turn motorcycle accident attorneys can take steps such as:

• Gathering police reports
• Interviewing eyewitnesses
• Reviewing traffic camera or dashcam footage
• Analyzing accident scene photos and videos
• Consulting accident reconstruction experts

Our attorneys can also show the full impact of your injuries by gathering medical and financial records that illustrate how your injuries have impacted your daily life, mental health, and financial well-being.

Determining liability is crucial for any successful left-turn motorcycle accident case, but it is even more essential in North Carolina than in some other states. That is because North Carolina applies the contributory negligence rule to motorcycle accidents and other negligence cases. The rule means that if someone is even 1 percent at fault for the wreck, they are barred from recovering compensation.

How a Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

It is essential to work with a skilled left-turn motorcycle accident attorney from Kornbluth Ginsberg.

Our lawyers can help by:

• Offering legal guidance – Before pursuing a claim, it is important to understand your legal rights and options. Our attorneys are ready to listen to your story, review your case, ask some key questions, and then outline the best path forward.
• Investigating the accident – Determining how the accident happened and who could be responsible for it is crucial for establishing liability. From there, our attorneys can begin obtaining the evidence needed to build a strong case and prove that the other party is responsible for your injuries and related losses.
• Calculating compensation – Determining the true value of your claim is complicated, and it is easy to leave money on the table if you do not work with an experienced attorney. Our lawyers will leave no stone unturned when calculating the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses.
• Handling communications – Insurance companies often attempt to protect their profits by weakening or outright denying claims. Putting all communications with them in the hands of our experienced lawyers can help defend against those tactics.
• Negotiating and litigating – When it is time to negotiate a settlement, our attorneys will aggressively advocate for your best interests from a position of strength and preparedness. If insurance companies refuse to agree to a fair settlement for your serious injuries, our attorneys can file a lawsuit and take your claim to court.

What Is the Most Common Cause of Motorcycle Accidents?

Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

However, unsafe turns, particularly left turns, are the most common reason for motorcycle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, in one recent year, 44 percent of all fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes in the United States occurred when the motorcycle was proceeding straight, passing, or overtaking, and the other vehicle was turning left.

How to Safely Turn Left on a Motorcycle and What Other Drivers Should Know

Avoiding North Carolina left-hand turn motorcycle wrecks begins with an awareness of the risks involved with every left turn. Here are some tips for motorcyclists and other drivers in these dangerous situations.

Motorcyclists

Whenever you are operating a motorcycle, be sure to:

• Approach all intersections with caution.
• Wear bright or reflective clothing to increase visibility.
• Use your headlight at all times.
• Adjust your lane position to be more visible to oncoming traffic.

Other Drivers

Whenever you get behind the wheel, protect yourself and others by making sure to:

• Always check twice before turning left.
• Use turn signals well in advance.
• Avoid distractions, especially at intersections.
• Remember that motorcycles are often moving faster than they appear to be.

Contact Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A., After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident

The team of personal injury attorneys at Kornbluth Ginsberg has extensive experience protecting the rights of people injured in North Carolina left-hand turn motorcycle wrecks. We stand ready to fight for the justice and fair compensation you deserve while you focus on recovery.

Contact us today or call us 24/7 at 919-980-9895 for a free consultation with our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys.