Left-Hand Turn Motorcycle Accidents

Left-hand turn motorcycle accidents are one of the most common types of motorcycle accidents, with some researchers estimating that as many as 40 percent of all motorcycle accidents occur when a motorcyclist or another driver is making a left-hand turn. When a motorcycle accident occurs during an attempted left-hand turn, either the motorcyclist or the other driver has failed to obey traffic laws and yield to appropriate rights-of-way, and the results can be devastating at even very low speeds due to both the lack of protection motorcyclists have from the elements and the disparity between the weight of a motorcycle versus a passenger vehicle or truck. Because Illinois doesn’t have a helmet law in place, the results of these accidents can be particularly disastrous in the event the motorcycle rider is not wearing a helmet.

Examples of Left-Hand Motorcycle Accidents

Some specific examples of left-hand motorcycle accidents include the following:

• A motorcyclist is riding straight through an intersection when a vehicle driver attempts to make a left-hand turn (and, therefore, fails to obey right-of-way laws).
• A passenger vehicle driver attempts to make a left-hand turn from an improper lane and clips a motorcyclist attempting to pass him (in which case the driver is also failing to obey traffic laws).
• A motorcyclist is attempting a left-hand turn when another driver runs a red light and plows into the cyclist (another instance of the driver failing to obey traffic laws).

It is important to note that other drivers may not hold the sole responsibility of causing left-hand turn motorcycle accidents and that, in some cases, the negligence and/or recklessness in failing to obey traffic laws rests on both the motorcyclist and the other driver.

Left-Hand Turn Motorcycle Accident Injuries

When left-hand turn motorcycle accidents occur, the type of injuries the motorcyclist sustains will depend on a number of factors, some of which include:

• How fast the motorcyclist and the other vehicle was going at the time of the collision
• How the impact occurred (i.e., whether the impact was head-on)
• Whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Some of the most common types of left-hand turn motorcycle accident injuries include:

• Head and brain injuries
• Back, spinal cord and neck injuries
• Cuts and bruises
• Burns
• Loss of limbs

At the law firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C., our experienced Mount Vernon motorcycle accident lawyers have been providing client-centered representation to our Southern Illinois clients since 1950. Our trusted attorneys focus on our clients’ needs, and we do everything we can to help them get the maximum possible compensation for their injuries so they can focus on recovery and moving on with their life. If you or a loved one has sustained any type of injury due to a motorcycle accident, contact us by calling (800)-553-3125 for a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.