Most drivers take for granted that they should reach their destinations without incident. Typically, people drive every day with nothing more than occasional scares caused by inattentive or aggressive drivers.
Unfortunately, all it takes is one mistake or an encounter with the wrong person in traffic for a driver’s daily commute to turn into a life-altering experience. The choices that people make in traffic directly contribute to their likelihood of experiencing a collision. For example, those on their way to work or a store might have to perform a traffic maneuver that puts them at risk of a particularly deadly type of collision.
Turning left leaves a vehicle exposed
Driving in the right lane on the road means that right-hand turns are fast and efficient. It also means that left turns can be particularly dangerous. According to research into crashes at intersections, more than 60% of such collisions involve a vehicle turning left.
Many of those crashes are angle collisions. An angle collision occurs when the front end of one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle. Such crashes are the deadliest of all types of collisions according to data analysis provided by the National Safety Council. In other words, every time drivers turn left, they expose themselves and their passengers to significant risk.
Drivers never know when other motorists may not have their attention on the road. They could end up struck by someone who has had too much to drink or who has their phone in their hands. In general, best practices include yielding the right of way when there is any question about the intention of another driver, especially before turning left.
Drivers may also want to plan routes that do not force them to turn left during rush hour or at particularly busy intersections. Of course, even those who do their best to prioritize safety can end up involved in incidents caused by others with less assertive personal safety practices.
Those harmed in preventable car crashes may need to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit or an insurance claim. Drivers who strike those turning left may have been negligent or might have violated traffic statutes. Their mistakes may make them liable for any damages that a crash causes.