Left-turn crashes in Queens can change lives forever. These wrecks cause serious injuries and major vehicle damage. About 22% of all traffic accidents in New York City involve a left-turning vehicle.
At Davidoff Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we help victims of left-turn accidents. Our team knows the challenges these cases bring. We fight to protect your rights after such painful events.
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Our Queens Left-Turn Accident Lawyer Defends Your Rights
For over 15 years, we at Davidoff Law have helped victims of left-turn accidents in Queens. Our law firm has won millions for clients hurt in these crashes. We know how to prove fault in left-turn collisions and recover compensation for severe injuries.
Our success comes from putting clients first. When you work with us, you're not just a case number. We listen to how your injuries affect your daily life and work. This helps us fight for what you truly deserve after car accident injuries.
After a left-hand turn accident, having legal help makes a big difference. Without a lawyer, you might take a small settlement that won't cover your medical bills and lost wages. We stand between you and insurance companies that want to pay you less. Our personal injury lawyers know exactly how to handle these cases.
Understanding Left-Turn Accidents in Queens
Left-turn accidents happen when a driver turning left crosses into another vehicle's path or hits a pedestrian accident victim. These crashes make up nearly 25% of all serious accidents in our area. The impact often hits vehicles from the side, where there's less protection.
These wrecks are so dangerous because the turning vehicle crosses many lanes of traffic. Plus, Queens has busy intersections with poor visibility, increasing the risk of accidents. Left-turn crashes often cause broken bones, neck injuries, and catastrophic injuries that change lives. T-bone collisions are especially common in these situations. New York traffic laws place strict requirements on drivers making left turns.
Common Causes of Left-Turn Accidents at Intersection Collisions
Left-turn accidents at intersections happen for several key reasons:
- Failure to yield to oncoming traffic. New York traffic law requires drivers making left turns to yield to vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Many drivers ignore or misunderstand this basic rule.
- Misjudging speed and distance. Drivers often can't accurately gauge how fast an approaching vehicle is traveling. A car that seems far enough away may be moving much faster than expected, leaving too little time to complete the turn safely.
- Distracted driving. Checking phones, adjusting radio controls, or talking to passengers diverts attention at critical moments. A distracted driver might miss a red light change or fail to notice a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
- Poor visibility conditions. Bad weather, parked vehicles, construction barriers, and poorly designed intersections can all block clear views of oncoming traffic.
- Improper signaling. Some drivers fail to signal their intentions properly, leaving others unable to anticipate their movements.
These factors combine to make intersection collisions particularly dangerous and common throughout Queens.
The Dangers of Left-Turn Accidents Near Construction Sites
Construction sites create extra risks for drivers making left turns. These areas have changed traffic patterns and lane closures. When making a left turn in these zones, drivers face higher risks of crashes with other vehicles or workers.
Construction areas often have limited visibility from equipment and barriers. These make it harder to see oncoming vehicles when turning left. The mix of changed traffic flow and poor sight lines near construction sites leads to serious left-turn accidents.
Determining Liability in Queens Left-Turn Accidents
Finding who's at fault in a left-turn accident takes careful work. Under New York law, the driver making the left turn usually must yield to oncoming traffic. This often places blame on the turning driver.
Yet fault isn't always clear-cut. Many factors can shift blame between drivers or third parties. Our team reviews all proof, from traffic camera footage to witness statements. We know that proper fault-finding affects how much money you can get.
Who's at Fault in a Left-Turn Car Accident?
New York traffic laws clearly place a duty on drivers who make left turns. The turning driver must yield to all oncoming traffic. This means waiting until it's fully safe before crossing lanes. When a vehicle intending to turn left fails to yield, it creates an immediate hazard.
In most left-turn vehicle accidents, the turning driver bears the blame. If you turned left and got hit by a New York vehicle coming from the opposite direction, the law usually says you should have yielded. One driver is often clearly at fault in these situations.
Yet sometimes, the other driver shares or bears full blame. If that driver ran a stop sign, was speeding, or was distracted, this can shift fault. If the other driver broke traffic laws, you may not be fully at fault, even as the turning driver. In a personal injury case like this, having a lawyer to prove these facts is crucial.
Challenges in Determining Liability for Left-Turn Collisions
Getting evidence presents big challenges in these cases. The accident scene changes quickly as vehicles move. Without fast action, key proof like skid marks can vanish. This makes quick work vital to prove negligence correctly.
Conflicting stories often muddle these cases. Each driver usually thinks they have the right of way. Without neutral witnesses, proving fault becomes harder. Insurance companies use these gray areas to pay less. Our experience with these wrecks helps us show what really happened.
Filing a Car Accident Claim After a Left-Turn Collision
Filing a claim after a left-turn crash requires specific steps. New York uses no-fault insurance rules. This means you first seek coverage from your personal injury protection, no matter who caused the crash.
Filing quickly matters greatly. Evidence fades, witnesses forget details, and time limits apply. We guide you through each step to ensure nothing gets missed. From dealing with insurance to gathering accident reports, we handle the hard parts.
Essential Steps After Your Left-Turn Accident
After a left turn accident, taking the right actions can protect both your health and legal rights. Here are the critical steps to follow:
- Seek medical care immediately. Even if you feel fine, some injuries don't show symptoms right away. Prompt medical attention creates records linking your injuries to the crash, which is essential for your car accident claim.
- Call the police. An official police report provides an objective account of the accident and often includes the officer's assessment of what happened.
- Document the accident scene. Take photos of all vehicles, their positions, and traffic signs. Check if the crash happened at a red light or stop sign.
- Gather witness information. Collect names and contact details from anyone who saw the accident happen.
- Exchange information. Get the other driver's name, contact information, license number, and insurance details.
- Report to your insurance company. Notify your insurer about the crash, but stick to basic facts. Don't discuss fault or describe injuries in detail. New York's no-fault insurance and personal injury protection coverage will help with initial medical expenses.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer. Let us handle communications with insurance adjusters after your initial report to protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
Dealing with Insurance Adjusters After Your Accident
Insurance adjusters use many tricks to pay less for claims. They might offer quick, small settlements before you know how badly you're hurt. They may ask for recorded statements, hoping you'll say something harmful. Some even check your social media for posts they can use against you.
Protect yourself by letting us talk to insurance adjusters. We know their tactics. Never accept an offer without asking us first. Don't sign medical releases giving insurers access to your health history. With our team handling these talks, you'll avoid traps that reduce your payment.
Damages You May Recover After a Left-Turn Accident
After a left-turn accident, you may qualify for various types of payment. These fall into two main groups: economic damages and non-economic damages. Each covers different ways the crash has hurt your life.
Economic Damages in Left-Turn Accident Cases
Economic damages cover all money losses from the accident. These include current and future medical expenses from ER visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and therapy. You shouldn't have to pay these medical bills yourself when someone else caused your injuries. Keeping all medical records helps us calculate these costs.
Lost wages form another big part of economic damages. If your injuries caused you to miss work, you deserve payment for these losses. We work with experts to figure out not just what you've already lost but also future earnings your injuries might prevent. Property damage to your vehicle is also included. The cost to repair or replace one vehicle can be substantial, especially in serious t-bone collisions.
Non-Economic Damages You May Be Entitled To
Pain and suffering payments address the physical pain and emotional distress from your injuries. Daily pain from broken bones or other trauma deserves more than just treatment costs. Emotional distress like anxiety and trauma also deserves payment.
Your injuries might stop you from enjoying life as before. If you can't play with your children or do your favorite activities, these losses deserve payment. At Davidoff Law, we help put a value on these personal losses. We tell your full story to ensure these real impacts get the proper value.
How Our Queens Left-Turn Accident Lawyer Can Help
Legal help gives victims a big edge when seeking fair payment. Our accident lawyers level the playing field against insurance companies. We have deep experience with left-turn accident cases.
We handle all parts of your case, from investigation to settlement talks. This lets you focus on what matters most—getting better. Our knowledge of New York laws helps us spot issues others might miss.
Building a Strong Car Accident Claim
Our investigation is thorough. We visit accident scenes, talk to witnesses, review police reports, and study traffic patterns. We look for traffic camera footage that might have captured the incident. For complex cases, we work with experts who can show how the crash happened and help prove negligence.
We build strong cases by collecting crucial evidence—medical records documenting your injuries, employment records showing lost wages, and details about vehicles involved in the crash. When needed, we bring in experts to testify about your future needs and determine if a vehicle intending to turn properly was hit by a distracted driver. Our thorough approach creates claims that insurance companies must take seriously.
Negotiating Maximum Compensation for Your Injuries
We negotiate strongly with insurance companies. Our reputation for preparing every case for trial gives us leverage. Insurance companies know we won't take unfair offers when we seek compensation for our clients.
If fair compensation isn't possible through settlement, we're ready for court. Our courtroom skills allow us to present complex evidence clearly. While most cases settle before trial, our willingness to go to court often leads to better offers.
The difference between accepting an early offer and getting proper compensation can be huge. We've helped many victims obtain compensation after left-turn accidents, including cases where the crash seemed like a simple rear-end collision but actually had complex liability issues.
FAQs
Who is usually at fault in a left-turn accident?
The driver making the left turn typically bears fault. New York law requires yielding to oncoming traffic. But fault can shift if the other driver sped, ran a light, or drove while distracted.
What if both drivers share fault in a left-turn collision?
New York follows "pure comparative negligence" rules. You can still get money even if you are partially at fault. Your award gets reduced by your fault percentage. If you're 20% responsible, you'll receive 80% of the total damages.
How long do I have to file a claim after a left-turn accident in Queens?
You generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, no-fault claims must be filed within 30 days. Claims against government entities need a Notice of Claim within 90 days.
Can I still recover damages if I am partially at fault?
Yes. New York's comparative negligence system allows recovery even if you share the blame. Your payment gets reduced based on the percentage of fault you have.
What makes left-turn accidents different from other types of collisions?
Left-turn accidents often involve side impacts, which can cause worse injuries due to less protection. They also involve complex right-of-way rules and usually create a presumption against the turning driver.
Contact a Queens Left-Turn Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you've been hurt in a left-turn accident, call Davidoff Law today. Our legal team will review your case and explain your options during a free consultation. We'll go through your accident reports and help determine the best way forward. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Call us to schedule your free consultation. We help clients throughout Queens, Nassau County, and Suffolk County with motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and all types of vehicle accidents. Whether your crash involved one vehicle or multiple cars, let our law firm fight for your financial recovery while you focus on healing. We're committed to helping you recover fair compensation for all your losses.
