There are over 374,000 car accidents each year in Florida with 160,000 resulting in serious injury. That’s 1,026 crashes every day.
We know that certain types of driving are more likely to result in a crash, like speeding, drunk or impaired driving, and distracted driving. But what about left hand turns? Are they dangerous? Are they the cause of a lot of accidents?
According to the Washington Post, 53% of crossing-path crashes involve left hand turns while just 5.7% involve right turns. That’s ten times the number of crashes from that maneuver, and left hand turns are three times more likely to cause a fatal pedestrian accident.
This is the reason why delivery giant UPS has its trucks rarely make left hand turns. They have also found that avoiding left hand turns saves fuel.
When a driver is turning left there is a need to view, perceive and process more information in the brain.
In addition to watching down the road, the driver must determine what oncoming traffic is approaching, the closing speed, the availability to get the car across all lanes of traffic and into the perpendicular lane to the left, and avoid pedestrians, objects and cars, all while maintaining a green light (if controlled by a traffic control device).
The driver also has to be able to perceive pedestrians that may be crossing the road (generally having the right-of-way) as well as bicyclists. This makes left-hand turns much more dangerous.
Left Hand Turn Accidents – WHO IS AT FAULT?
The law requires that the driver wanting to make a left-hand turn must wait until they can safely cross and do so without creating a danger or obstruction.
Sometimes drivers make a left and there is traffic in the lane they are entering and they remain blocking the original oncoming lanes.
It is generally assumed that the driver who turns left against oncoming traffic is at fault in a crash. That’s because the car traveling in a straight direction generally has the right of way, as does a vehicle turning right. Florida’s law on left turns reads as follows:
Fla Statute 316.122 Vehicle turning left.—The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, or vehicles lawfully passing on the left of the turning vehicle, which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard. A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
But there are always exceptions to the rule.
Exceptions to the rule:
There are exceptions to the rule that the left-hand turn driver is at fault. There is no one-size-fits-all in traffic or car accidents, there may be circumstances when the oncoming car or another vehicle is the actual cause of a left-hand turn crash.
It is important for you to speak with an experienced and respected trial lawyer who represents injured people. There are a lot of complexities involved in car crash litigation, investigation and development of these cases.
Act quickly because evidence is destroyed, witnesses disappear, and the insurance companies working for the other driver will already have their team out trying to make their case.
There is a lot of electronic evidence that can be lost or overwritten (traffic and security video, electronic data recording and “black box” data in vehicles) if it is not immediately preserved.
Contact someone who has a history of obtaining substantial verdicts and settlements in car crash cases so you can preserve your rights before it is too late. You can often obtain a recovery even if you have contributed to the crash if there is also fault on the part of the other driver.
That’s why Florida adopted the comparative negligence standard because it is recognized that in many accidents both parties have some fault.
Left-hand turns are statistically one of the most dangerous driving maneuvers. According to the Washington Post, 53% of crossing-path crashes involve left turns, compared to just 5.7% for right turns. This high rate is due to the complexity of the maneuver—drivers must assess oncoming traffic, estimate speeds, navigate multiple lanes, and watch for pedestrians or cyclists. These cognitive demands increase the risk of error, making left-hand turns a major contributor to traffic collisions and fatal pedestrian accidents. In Florida, such turns require extra caution and legal awareness due to the common assumption of fault placed on the turning driver.
In Florida, the driver making the left-hand turn is generally presumed to be at fault if a collision occurs. Florida Statute 316.122 mandates that a vehicle turning left must yield the right-of-way to any oncoming traffic that poses an immediate hazard. This includes vehicles approaching straight through an intersection or turning right. However, this presumption is rebuttable, meaning other contributing factors—such as speeding by the other driver or traffic signal violations—can shift or share liability. Understanding these legal nuances is critical when building a case after a left-turn crash in Florida.
Yes, Florida law allows for exceptions where the left-turn driver may not be entirely at fault. For instance, if the oncoming vehicle was speeding or ran a red light, the turning driver might not be held fully liable. Other exceptions include situations where the intersection has a protected left-turn signal, or when an unexpected obstruction—like a pedestrian or animal—forces a sudden maneuver. These factors can either reduce the left-turn driver’s liability or shift fault entirely. Florida uses a “comparative negligence” standard, meaning fault is apportioned between parties, and damages are adjusted accordingly based on each driver’s contribution to the accident.
Speeding can significantly impact fault in a left-turn accident. When the oncoming vehicle exceeds the speed limit, it reduces the amount of time the turning driver has to assess and complete the turn safely. For example, a car traveling at 65 mph instead of 40 mph covers a football field in 3.15 seconds instead of 5.17 seconds. This difference can mean the turning driver has two fewer seconds to cross safely. If speeding is proven, it may result in partial or full liability for the oncoming driver, affecting compensation through Florida’s comparative negligence rules.
Comparative negligence is a legal principle in Florida that allows fault to be shared between parties involved in a car accident. If both the left-turning driver and the oncoming driver contributed to the crash, each is assigned a percentage of fault. For instance, if the turning driver is 40% at fault and the oncoming driver is 60%, the turning driver can still recover 60% of the total damages. This system recognizes the complexity of real-world driving situations and enables injured parties to recover compensation even if they were partially responsible for the crash.
After a left-turn accident, act quickly to protect your legal rights. First, ensure everyone’s safety and call emergency services. Document the scene with photos and gather contact information from witnesses. Seek medical attention—even for minor symptoms—and request a copy of the police report. It’s essential to consult a skilled car accident lawyer promptly. Key evidence, like surveillance video or vehicle black box data, can be lost if not preserved early. Insurance companies often move fast to build their defense, so retaining a lawyer with experience in left-turn crashes ensures you’re not at a disadvantage.
Leighton Panoff Law, P.A. is uniquely equipped to handle left-turn accident cases in Florida. Led by board-certified personal injury trial lawyer John Leighton, the firm brings deep experience in proving liability and maximizing compensation, even in complex scenarios involving comparative negligence. Their legal team acts swiftly to preserve critical evidence, investigate accident scenes, and counter insurance defense strategies. If you’ve been injured in a left-hand turn collision—regardless of perceived fault—contact Leighton Panoff Law for a consultation. Their proven success in car crash litigation helps ensure your rights are protected and your recovery is prioritized.
A nationally-recognized trial lawyer who handles catastrophic injury and death cases. He manages Leighton Law, P.A. trial lawyers, with offices in Miami and Orlando, Florida. He is President of The National Crime Victim Bar Association, author of the 2-volume textbook,Litigating Premises Security Cases, and past Chairman of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s Motor Vehicle, Highway & Premises Liability Section. Having won some of the largest verdicts in Florida history, Mr. Leighton is listed inThe Best Lawyers in America (14 years), “Top Lawyers” in the South Florida Legal Guide (15 years), Top 100 Florida SuperLawyer™ and Florida SuperLawyers (14 years), “Orlando Legal Elite” by Orlando Style magazine, and FloridaTrend magazine “Florida Legal Elite