Who’s at Fault for a Left-Hand Turn Accident in Indiana?

The following car accident case example depicts a 3-vehicle collision that was a result of one driver making an unsafe left-hand turn.

As seen in the diagram of the Indiana accident report, the collision occurred in Brownsburg, Indiana at the intersection of E County Road 300 N and Ronald Reagan Parkway:

According to a responding officer with the Brownsburg Police Department, the driver of Vehicle 1 (Dodge Charger) stated they had been traveling north on Ronald Reagan Parkway before attempting to turn left and head westbound on CR 300 N.

As the driver of Vehicle 1 continued with their turn they said they noticed Vehicle 2 (Ford Fusion) traveling southbound in the opposite lane of Ronald Reagan. Before Vehicle 1 could complete its turn and get through the intersection, it was struck by Vehicle 2, causing it to spin in the intersection and come to rest facing eastbound CR 300 N.

In their statement to the officer, the driver of Vehicle 1 indicated that they thought Vehicle 2 may have been traveling above the speed limit.

The driver of Vehicle 2 told the officer that they were traveling south on Roanld Reagan Parkway. As Vehicle 2 attempted to travel through the intersection they realized Vehicle 1 failed to yield the right-of-way and turned left in front of them.

With no possible way to avoid a collision, Vehicle 2 struck Vehicle 1. The force of the collision also resulted in Vehicle 2 spinning into Vehicle 3 (Saturn), which had been sitting stationary in the left-hand turn lane of eastbound CR 300 N.

As a result of the collision, all drivers were evaluated by responding medics. In addition to various injuries, the officer estimated the total property damage to be between $25,000-$50,000. Each of the 3 vehicles sustained significant damage, requiring them all to be towed from the accident scene.

Additionally, it should be noted that the accident occurred in the afternoon daylight hours. It had also been raining at the time of the collision, which caused ‘wet surface’ conditions.

The final investigation determined that the driver of Vehicle 1 was liable for the accident. The official cause was ‘failure-to-yield’ while attempting to make a left-hand turn.

Causes of Left-Hand Turn Accidents

Unlike a right-hand turn, the primary reason left-hand turns are considered so risky is because they interrupt the natural flow of traffic for the opposite/oncoming lane(s).

And while failure-to-yield is often the official cause of a left-hand turn car accident, there are a number of potential factors that contribute to the actual collision, such as:

Speeding through the intersection

This happens far too often at our intersections. A driver approaches an intersection traveling at speeds above the posted limit or too fast for conditions. Sometimes this is a result of impatience, as drivers try to beat an intersection light rather than waiting to make a safe turn.

Mistiming the turn

In this scenario, the driver making the left-hand turn believes they have enough time to complete their turn, yet they misjudge the distance of the closing gap between their car and the oncoming vehicle(s).

Driver distractions

Distracted driving is a leading cause of auto accidents involving serious injury and/or death, and the number of collisions that occur because a driver is distracted continues to plague Indiana’s roads, including crashes that involved a left-hand turn.

Blocked or obstructed views

You commonly see this when two drivers in adjacent lanes are attempting to make a left-hand turn at the same time. Instead of waiting behind the turn lane line, one or both vehicles creep into the intersection in an attempt to see around each other. Neither driver is able to fully see all oncoming traffic, which leads to the increased risk for a serious collision.

Driving under the influence

Attorney Boulton has also investigated a number of left-hand turn accidents that concluded with one or more drivers being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

When is a Left-Hand Turn Not the Cause of an Accident?

While it’s much less common, there are instances in which the driver making a left-hand turn is not found liable (or only partially at fault) for the car accident.

The following are two examples of times a driver making a left-hand turn may be cleared of all or some liability:

Disregarding the light – An oncoming driver that is found to have driven through a red light and hit a vehicle attempting to make a left-hand will likely be found liable for the collision.

Excessive speed – If it is proven that an oncoming vehicle was driving above the speed limit, that driver may be found liable for striking the vehicle attempting to make a left-hand turn.

Boulton Law Group has also witnessed a number of less likely culprits that either caused or contributed to a left-hand turn accident, such as people or animals in the roadway, inclement weather, malfunctioning streetlights, and other dangerous road conditions.

Who has the Right-of-Way in Indiana?

Indiana has a number of right-of-way laws designed to protect its drivers and pedestrians. If an investigation determines that a collision occurred because someone failed to yield the right-of-way, it can be expected that all, or the majority of liability, will initially be assigned to that person.

With regard to left-hand turns, Indiana drivers must always yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. Generally, the only time a driver turning left has the right-of-way is when the intersection light displays a green turn arrow.

When attempting to make a left-hand turn in Indiana, drivers must also:

• Use a turn signal – Indiana law states that drivers must put on their turn signal at least 200 hundred feet in advance of the turn.
• Slow down – Too often drivers approach lights at much higher speeds than they should. Always reduce your speed when approaching an intersection before attempting to make a left-hand turn.

Indiana’s right-of-way laws serve as the final authority in left-hand turn accidents; however, it is important to remember that a secondary investigation may sometimes be required to determine the full extent of negligence.

Determining Fault for a Left-Hand Turn Car Accident

In most instances, the Indiana accident report will serve as a primary factor in establishing fault for a left-hand turn collision, but attorney Boulton has also investigated claims in which report details were contradicted by a secondary source, including:

• Witness statements
• Conflicting physical evidence
• Traffic camera footage
• Dangerous road conditions, e.g., obstructions, physical defects

Indiana maintains a comparative fault system, which means that you may still have the right to seek compensation for your injuries if you were no more than 50% at fault for the accident. Keep in mind, however, your final compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault for the accident.

As such, depending on the nature of your injuries, and the evidence that may exist outside of the initial report, it may be determined that a follow-up liability investigation is warranted for a left-hand turn accident.

Injured in a Left-Hand Turn Car Accident?

For 25+ years, Attorney Matt Boulton has been investigating and handling car accident claims on behalf of injured Hoosiers throughout the entire state. Included in these cases are accidents that involved left-hand turn accidents in which a driver was injured after someone failed to yield the right of way.

If you were injured in a left-hand turn accident, we encourage you to reach out to Matt for free and friendly legal advice. There is never a cost to learn more about your rights, and you owe our firm nothing unless we make a recovery on your behalf. This Zero Fee Guarantee promise is part of making sure you Get Treated Like Family.

To speak with Matt direct, call 317-350-2680. If you prefer to write to us, please use our confidential contact form. Matt personally reviews every web contact received at our firm.