The roadways around DC are not left-turn friendly in many ways. Many lack left-turn lanes and arrows, and some do not allow left turns during rush hour. The speed of oncoming traffic on area roadways sometimes makes it hard to gauge a safe gap in traffic to cross over and complete the turn.
You may be eligible to seek compensation when a negligent driver caused a left-turn car accident in DC, and you were injured. A diligent car accident attorney at Price Benowitz could help you through the complex personal injury claims process.
Left turns, unless directed by a solid green arrow signal, require a driver to judge a safe gap in oncoming traffic in which to cross opposing travel lanes. When an accident occurs between the turning vehicle and the vehicle traveling straight in the opposing lanes, it is often the fault of the left-turning driver, as they are required to yield the right-of-way to vehicles in the opposing travel lane and only cross when there is sufficient space to do so. However, if the vehicle traveling straight on a green light was speeding or otherwise driving recklessly, the driver of that vehicle may be found at fault, as speeding is against the law and makes it impossible for a left-turning driver to accurately judge whether they have time to complete the turn.
Who is at fault matters in car accidents because if a driver causes an accident that injures the occupant of another vehicle, they can be legally responsible for compensating the costs of the injury (both economic and non-economic losses) and the cost of repairing or replacing the other driver’s vehicle. As many people cannot afford such costs out of pocket, the at-fault party’s auto liability insurance coverage often provides the compensation needed by the injured party through the personal injury claims process.
A personal injury claim filed against another driver’s liability coverage can demand coverage of out-of-pocket costs such as medical bills, wage loss, lost earning capacity, property damage, and more. These are known as economic damages. The demand for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or loss of the enjoyment of life, can also be included in the claim.
An experienced car accident lawyer helps those who are injured due to someone else’s negligence to seek compensation by filing the claim, communicating with the at-fault party’s insurance provider, and attempting to engage that provider in a fair settlement for the claim. If the at-fault party’s insurance provider fails to resolve the claim, it can be filed as a personal injury lawsuit so a trial can be held, and a jury can decide matters of liability and compensation. In DC, left-turn car accident claims generally must be filed in court within three years of the accident date.
The legal team at Price Benowitz understands how difficult it can be to understand your legal options and the process of seeking needed compensation while recovering from injuries and trying to get your life back to normal. We provide a free case evaluation to explain the claims process to you and tell you about the services we could provide to help you navigate this process. Contact us today.
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