13. Improper Turns.

There are thousands of serious car accident every year that are caused by improper turning, which can put a car directly in front of or into the path of an oncoming automobile. That is why the simple oversight of not looking before making a turn is one of the top causes of car accidents and often leads to major personal injuries or traumatic deaths.

From a legal standpoint, our car accident attorneys will tell you that if you are the one who makes the wrong turn, then it will not only cause considerable grief for the families of everyone involved in the auto accident, but quite possibly could be grounds for imprisonment.

Examples of Improper Turns That Can Lead To Car Accidents

Turning when there is a “No Turn on Red” sign at a red light.
Turning at a stop sign or red light without coming to a complete stop or yielding to traffic or pedestrians.
Making a left at a red light where doing so is prohibited.
Turning without signaling, which is also called “Improper Turn Signal Use.”
Turning without having the right-of-way.

Factors Of Improper Turns That Cause Car Accidents

Knowing about the terrain or topography where the car accident occurred is important when determining the cause of a crash. Furthermore, having information that indicates if the responsible party was taking any type of medication or if they were driving drunk could show that their ability to safely operate an automobile was impaired.

In short, these indicators can help to determine if a car accident was caused by improper turning, because the physical features of the road and the abilities of a driver are always called into question when a motorist makes a turn that should not have been made in the first place.

On the other hand, physical terrain and impairment are not always linked to the cause of improper turning. In order to get a driver’s license, all car drivers need to show an instructor from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that they know how to make a proper turn. This should be common knowledge to all licensed motorists, yet many drivers get lazy, relying on their outside mirrors without looking, or make poor decisions while rushing to make a turn.

No matter the cause, the outcome of improper turning is usually not good.

Tips To Avoid Car Accidents Caused By Improper Turns

Turn in one single, smooth motion.
Take your time and slow down. There is no need to rush, especially when making the actual turn.
Do not let other automobile drivers intimidate you into making an unsafe turn by honking their horn or other actions. Only turn when you believe it is safe, not others.
If it is illegal to make your intended turn at a particular spot, look to the road signs as indicators and follow them completely.
Turn on your turn signal at least 100 feet from your intended turn.
Always look for oncoming traffic before turning. Never make a turn without checking to make sure that you have the right-of-way and that there are no other cars for a potential car accident.

Call Our Lawyers If You’ve Been Injured From Improper Turning

Always remember that making the proper turn is usually very easy. Driving safely is not a difficult prospect, but laziness and poor choices can make you turn improperly, causing a serious car accident. If you take care to make sure that you are following the simple rules of the roads, then you are one step closer to arriving home safely.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by improper turning then call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. Since 1992, our San Diego law office has been geared primarily towards auto accident claims. We know how the insurance companies work, so let our insider knowledge help you in your time of need.

Most Recent Blog Post

[caption id="attachment_21715" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: The San Diego Union Tribune"][/caption] Last week, we reported on a car accident in San Diego that resulted out of alleged teen street racing. In new developments, the 18-year-old driver charged with the death of the two teenagers involved in the street racing has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter among four other charges according to reports at the San Diego Union Tribune. The news follows the earlier arrest of another 16-year-old driver that was taken into custody on similar charges. Just shortly after his arraignment, Michael Johnson, the 18-year-old driver of a Volvo S40, said, according to his attorney, that he is not the responsible party in the tragic San Diego accident fatalities that occurred April 4. Accident reports indicate that Johnson was returning from a spring break beach party in La Jolla when he was allegedly involved in a street racing contest with another teen driver – the unidentified 16-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Passat whose name has not been released since he is a minor. According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the two vehicles were zigzagging across lanes at speeds reaching up to a staggering 100 m.p.h. The 16-year-old driver in the Passat lost control over the vehicle, causing the car to flip over several times across multiple lanes of the road. Two passengers, Anthony Foreman, 18, and Jayli Campbell, 16, were thrown from the Passat and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers survived the crash. Charlotte McQuillen, survived the accident although she suffered serious injury as a result of the collision including reports that say the teen will have to recover from traumatic brain injury. Anthoney Taylor, 16, also survived the crash although his injuries are unclear at this time. Johnson did not flee the scene of the accident according to police reports and cooperated with authorities once officers assessed the scene of the collision. The teen has no prior criminal record, although authorities say his vehicle was found containing a small amount of marijuana. Johnson is being charged with intoxicated driving, although his lawyer says there were no field sobriety tests to confirm the teen’s alleged intoxication. Teen driving: reminders for concerned parents Last week, we blogged on actions parents can take to prevent teen car accidents. Tips include:

Sign a parent-teen contract. Download your free contract now.
Enforcing the rules. Every teen driver needs to know that rules are there for a purpose, and when they are broken, consequences will follow.
Have a DUI backup plan. As most parents can attest, there are many instances when teen drivers run into problems that supersede their know-how and maturity. Drinking is one of those problems. In cases of emergency, your teen should have an open-door policy where they feel safe to call you when they need help – such in the case of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are specialists in car accident injury. Every personal injury attorney in our San Diego office works hard to seek maximum recovery for every injured client. Your case is handled without any out-of-pocket costs, so do not hesitate to speak to a San Diego personal injury lawyer today for a free legal evaluation. Call us at 1-800-655-6585.