Houston Left Turn Car Accidents Lawyer
Accidents caused by turning vehicles are some of the most common and serious crashes in Texas. Left turn car accidents are particularly complex, because either driver can be at fault depending upon the circumstances.
Talking with an experienced car accident lawyer is the best way to protect your legal rights if you or someone else was hurt in an auto accident in Houston.
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, our legal team has a combined 45-year track record of success. We are dedicated to helping accident victims recover fair compensation for their injuries.
Our injury lawyers review your car accident case for free, so contact our car accident lawyers near you in Houston at (713) 500-5000 today to speak with an experienced lawyer.
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Hurt in a Houston, TX Left Turn Accident? Here’s How Our Attorneys Can Help
Texas law governing left hand turns may seem extremely simple. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 545.152, a vehicle turning left must generally yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. Under Section 545.101, drivers must also:
- Approach the turn from the lane furthest to the left that is lawfully available
- After leaving the intersection, turn into a lane lawfully available for travel moving in the vehicle’s direction
Despite these rules, car wrecks can happen in the blink of an eye. You may not be completely sure what caused your accident. Most auto accident victims have questions about the cause of the accident, such as:
- Did you turn left on a green arrow?
- Was an oncoming driver speeding while you made the turn?
- Was another driver distracted, turning in front of your car without seeing you?
The experienced personal injury lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers in Houston can help. We know how to get you the fair compensation you deserve if you were hurt in an accident. We also know that insurance companies commonly use tactics designed to pay you less than you deserve. This is why we prepare every case as though we will argue before a judge and jury.
To do this, our lawyers can:
- Locate any video footage of your accident, including traffic cam footage
- Subpoena phone records to determine whether the at-fault driver was texting or using their phone
- Obtain the testimony of any witnesses to the accident
- Obtain breathalyzer reports to determine whether the other driver was intoxicated behind the while
- Visit the scene of the accident and conduct our own investigation
- Analyze data at the scene, including debris, vehicle skid marks and more
- Work with accident reconstruction experts to gain evidence as to who or what caused the accident
The fight to win fair compensation after a left turn accident is not one you have to bear alone. Our Houston car accident lawyers put in the time and energy to negotiate with the insurance companies and win the fair compensation you need.
Going to court to pursue your right to compensation for serious injuries is something most people would rather avoid. When your injuries are severe, pursuing your right to compensation from a negligent driver might be your only option. Our left turn accident lawyers in Houston will make sure you have all information needed to understand your legal rights.
We fight to discover what caused your accident to get you the fair compensation you need to move forward.
Houston Car Accident Statistics
Most drivers make an effort to drive safely to prevent accidents. Despite this, Houston is one of the most congested cities in the country when it comes to traffic, ranked behind only ten other U.S. cities in 2019.
According to Texas DOT statistics, there were more than 113,000 car accidents in the Houston area in 2019 alone—more than double that of the Texas county with the next highest crash count. In 2019, 731 people in Texas were killed in accidents in intersections, presumably where at least one vehicle was making a turn.
Car accident victims have the right to pursue financial compensation for serious injuries caused by another driver.
Common Causes of Houston Left Turn Accidents
Common causes of left turn accidents in Houston include:
- Failure to yield
- Failure to turn from the farthest left lane
- Turning left on a red arrow or running a red light
- Failure to stop at a stop sign before turning
- Drug and alcohol use
- Distracted driving
- Passenger negligence
- Fatigued driving
- Accidents in parking lots
- Misjudging the speed of another driver
- Making a sudden turn without signaling
- Rear-end accidents where another driver crashes into the vehicle making the left turn
- Left turn accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians
While it is important to call the police and file a formal report of the accident, that report is not always conclusive. Law enforcement officers often do not have sufficient time to conduct a full investigation.
Our injury lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers have the resources needed to find out what really caused your accident.
Common Injuries Sustained by Left Turn Accident Victims
Many victims of serious car accidents leave the scene with injuries that dramatically impact their lives. Drivers turning left always run the risk of being T-boned by a driver speeding toward them. Injuries sustained in these accidents can be severe and require an extended recovery period.
Common injuries sustained by left-turn accident victims include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Other head and neck injuries, including whiplash
- Amputations
- Seat belt injuries
- Airbag injuries
- Severe burns
- Broken bones
- Puncture wounds
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Some accident injuries can be permanent. You might have to train for a new job or modify your lifestyle. Our lawyers are committed to getting the fair compensation you need to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
Time is Limited to File Your Claim in Texas
Texas only gives you two years to file a lawsuit to get compensation if you were hurt in a left turn accident.
In reality, most accident victims never have to go to court. Our accident lawyers have the skills needed to resolve many cases outside the courtroom. However, it is necessary to file your insurance claims within the timeframes that may be mandated by the insurance company.
Texas Modified Comparative Fault Laws
Multiple drivers can sometimes share the blame for an accident. In Texas, you don’t lose your right to compensation because you were partly to blame for an accident unless you were mostly to blame. In other words, you can win financial compensation if you were less than 51% to blame for the accident.
This system is called “modified comparative negligence” or proportionate responsibility. For example, if you failed to yield to an oncoming vehicle, but that vehicle was speeding, both drivers might share in the blame. Each driver is responsible for their share of the damages, so that:
- If you were 10% to blame for the accident and recovered $100,000 in damages,
- You would be entitled to keep $90,000 of the damages (90%), as reduced by your 10% fault
If your case proceeds to trial, a judge or jury will assign a percentage of fault to each driver based on your lawyer’s arguments. Often, however, our injury lawyers use the evidence we uncover to reach an agreement prior to trial.
Getting Fair Compensation After a Houston Left Turn Accident
Every accident claim is different. Understandably, injuries impact different people in different ways. We work closely with you to develop a claim for compensation designed to fully account for your injuries.
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we work with you to learn how the injury affects your everyday life. Every detail counts in reaching a compensation award that is fair. Fair compensation in an car crash case may include:
- Past and future medical costs
- Physical therapy and rehab
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Loss of your future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Property damage
- Loss of your loved one’s company or financial support
You might think that the insurance company will be willing to pay a fair settlement because the other driver was clearly at fault. Even when fault is relatively clear, insurance adjusters often try to settle your claim for less than you deserve. That’s why you need a skilled lawyer to look out for your best interests.
The accident and injury lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers know how to build a strong case in support of your right to compensation. Insurance companies are much more likely to accept a solid claim backed by hard evidence and expert testimony. Contact our law firm today to learn more about how we can advocate for you.
Call an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer in Houston for a Free Consultation Today
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers our injury lawyers are dedicated to preparing a trial-ready case for every client. That means preparing a claim based on facts, the evidence we have collected, and a solid understanding of the laws in Texas. We aren’t afraid to go up against the insurance company to protect your future.
To learn more about how we can help recover the financial compensation you need, call our experienced left-turn accidents lawyers in Houston, Texas today. The call is free, so there’s no risk in speaking with a lawyer about your options.