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As a motorcycle rider in Florida, you can only do so much to protect yourself. Even if you follow the rules of the road and stay focused on the task at hand, you can still find yourself in danger due to factors beyond your control. When this happens—and when you get seriously injured in an accident as a result—hiring an experienced Fort Myers accident attorney is critical for making sure you seek the full compensation you deserve.

One of the most common dangerous scenarios for motorcycle riders involves a driver turning left in front of them. When a driver turns left unexpectedly in front of a motorcycle rider, the rider will often be helpless to avoid a serious accident. Swerving in an attempt to avoid the car often isn’t an option—as this will mean either pulling into traffic or running off the side of the road. As a result, the rider will need to choose between going down (which is also extremely dangerous) or bracing for a head-on collision.

Why Drivers Turn Left in Front of Motorcycles

This raises an important question: If turning left in front of an approaching motorcycle is so dangerous, why do so many people do it? The simple answer is that people drive negligently. Drivers are not always as careful as they should be, and when they drive negligently, they often put others in harm’s way.

Several errors and negligent actions behind the wheel can cause drivers to turn left in front of approaching motorcycle riders. For example, some of the most common factors involved in these motorcycle accidents include:

• Misjudging the Motorcycle’s Speed and Distance – Many drivers have trouble accurately judging the speed and distance of approaching motorcycles. But this is not an excuse for turning left in front of a motorcycle when a driver needs to yield the right of way.
• Reckless Driving – Sometimes, drivers properly judge the speed of oncoming motorcycles and choose to turn in front of them anyway. While they might think that they can make their turn in time, this often is not the case. Alternatively, they may expect motorcycle riders to go around them—not realizing that this simply is not possible.
• Distracted Driving – Distracted driving is a leading cause of all types of collisions between cars and motorcycles, left-turn accidents included. If a driver is distracted by a passenger, a road sign, or his or her phone, the driver might not see an approaching motorcycle rider until it is too late.
• Careless Driving – Along with distracted driving, careless driving can lead to left-turn accidents involving motorcycles as well. If a driver simply is not being as prudent as he or she should be behind the wheel, this can be enough to cause a life-altering or life-threatening collision.
• Turning Left Without a Clear View – At some intersections, drivers attempting to turn left have very limited visibility. For example, this is often the case when a car directly in front of them is waiting to turn left from the opposite direction. While drivers should wait until they have adequate visibility to cross in front of oncoming traffic, many choose not to do so.
• Limited Visibility at Night – Drivers often have difficulty identifying motorcycles and judging their speed at night. But, while this may be the case, this also is not an excuse for causing an accident.
• Running a Red Light – Drivers who get impatient waiting for their turn at a controlled intersection may choose to run the light well after it turns red. If they do so when a motorcycle is approaching from the opposite direction, they may leave the rider helpless to avoid a serious collision.

Again, these are just some of the most common factors. From driver fatigue to drug and alcohol intoxication, numerous other factors can lead to left-turn accidents involving motorcycles as well. When you need to seek appropriate compensation, the key is to work with an experienced Fort Myers accident attorney who can examine the evidence to determine exactly what happened and why.

Common Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident Scenarios

These factors (among others) can lead to left-turn motorcycle accidents in a wide range of scenarios. If you were involved in a collision with a driver who turned left in front of you unexpectedly in any of the following situations, you should schedule a free consultation with a Fort Myers accident attorney promptly:

• Accidents at Intersections with Traffic Signals or Stop Signs – At intersections controlled by traffic signals, turning left with anything other than a green arrow has the potential to be dangerous if the driver is not fully aware of his or her surroundings. Running stop signs is a frequent cause of left-turn accidents involving motorcycles as well.
• Accidents at Uncontrolled Intersections – Uncontrolled intersections can also be dangerous locations for motorcycle riders. Particularly when motorcycle riders are traveling at speed, a negligent driver attempting to cross in front of them can leave them with no way to avoid serious injuries.
• Accidents Involving Drivers Pulling Into Driveways – Left-turn accidents involving motorcycles also frequently occur in front of driveways. Whether a driver is not paying attention when pulling out or is anxious to get home, driveway-related accidents are a serious risk for motorcycle riders as well.

Here, too, these are just examples. Drivers can (and do) make bad decisions in all types of scenarios. No matter what happened, if you were involved in a collision with a car that turned left in front of you, you should speak with a Fort Myers accident lawyer about your legal rights as soon as possible.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Fort Myers Accident Attorney Randall L. Spivey

Do you need to know more about asserting your legal rights after a motorcycle accident involving a car that turned left in front of you (or a loved one) in Florida? If so, we invite you to contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. for a free consultation with Fort Myers accident attorney Randall L. Spivey. To speak with Mr. Spivey in confidence as soon as possible, call 239-337-7483 or statewide call 888-477-4839 or contact us online at Spiveylaw.com.

Randall L. Spivey is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar Association.  Only 1% of the lawyers in Florida are Board Certified in Civil Trial Law. While all lawyers are allowed to advertise, only certified attorneys are allowed to identify themselves as "Florida Bar Board Certified," as a "specialist" in this area of law. Certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida.