Left-turn collisions are among the most dangerous crashes involving motorcycles. A driver turning left may misjudge the motorcycle’s speed, fail to see the rider, or assume there is enough time to complete the turn.
For the motorcyclist, there may be very little time to react.
Unlike someone inside a passenger vehicle, a motorcyclist has far less protection when another vehicle crosses their path. A collision can throw the rider from the motorcycle and result in serious or catastrophic injuries.
How Left-Turn Motorcycle Accidents Happen
A typical left-turn crash occurs when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction attempts to turn across the motorcycle’s path.
The driver may:
- Fail to see the motorcycle approaching
- Misjudge the motorcycle’s speed
- Turn without yielding
- Become distracted by a phone or another activity
- Look in the wrong direction before turning
- Attempt to beat an approaching motorcycle through an intersection
- Have an obstructed view of the roadway
These crashes can happen at intersections, driveways, parking lots, and other locations where vehicles cross the path of motorcycles.
Why Drivers May Not See Motorcycles
Motorcycles are smaller than passenger vehicles, which can make them more difficult to recognize in traffic.
A driver may look toward an approaching motorcycle but fail to properly register its presence. This is sometimes referred to as motorcycle conspicuity, meaning how easily a motorcycle is noticed by other road users.
That does not excuse an unsafe turn.
Drivers still have a responsibility to pay attention to surrounding traffic and yield when required.
What Happens When a Motorcycle Hits a Turning Car?
The consequences can be severe.
A motorcyclist may collide directly with the vehicle, strike the side of the car, or be thrown onto the pavement. In some crashes, the rider may slide into another vehicle or fixed object.
Potential injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken legs and arms
- Pelvic fractures
- Road rash
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Amputation
- Permanent disability
Even when a rider wears protective equipment, the force of a collision can cause devastating injuries.
Who May Be Responsible?
The driver who turns left may be responsible if their negligence caused the collision.
However, determining liability requires examining the circumstances of the crash.
Evidence may include the police report, witness statements, photographs, traffic-camera footage, vehicle damage, motorcycle damage, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses.
The location of the vehicles after impact can also provide useful information about how the collision occurred.
What If the Driver Blames the Motorcyclist?
Motorcycle crashes sometimes lead to disputes about speed or visibility.
A driver may claim that the motorcycle was traveling too fast or that the rider appeared suddenly. Those statements should be evaluated against the available evidence.
Witness accounts, vehicle damage, roadway measurements, video footage, and other evidence may help determine what actually happened.
Alabama’s contributory negligence rules can make disputes over fault particularly important. An injured motorcyclist should therefore avoid assuming that an insurance company’s version of events is automatically correct.
Serious Motorcycle Injuries Can Affect Your Future
The effects of a motorcycle collision may continue long after the accident scene has been cleared.
A spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or severe fracture can require hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. Some victims may be unable to return to the same occupation or may need assistance with everyday activities.
The financial impact can therefore extend beyond immediate medical bills.
Talk to a Birmingham Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If a driver’s left turn caused your motorcycle crash, understanding how the collision occurred can be essential to protecting your rights.
Shaun Capps Injury Law represents people injured in motorcycle accidents in Birmingham and throughout Alabama. An attorney can investigate the crash, examine available evidence, and help determine whether another driver’s negligence caused your injuries.