California law allows drivers to make a U-turn from any left-turn lane where signs do not prohibit it. With that being said, car accidents that occur during a U-turn almost always happen when the turning driver fails to yield the right of way.
Still, the driver proceeding straight may bear at least some of the liability if they also fail to drive with reasonable care.
Regardless of the circumstances, a Vista U-turn car accident lawyer from Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers will evaluate your case. Contact our law office at (619) 344-0360 for a free consultation to discuss your options and rights after a crash in Vista, CA.
How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a U-Turn Car Accident in Vista, CA
Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers was founded in 2012 with the goal of representing accident victims against the people and businesses who injured them. Our Vista car accident attorneys have over 20 years of combined experience battling at-fault parties and their insurers for fair compensation.
After a U-turn accident in Vista, California, our attorneys can help you with the following:
- A free consultation to assess your claim and explain your legal rights
- A compassionate attorney who gets to know you and your goals for your case
- Legal representation by a law firm that has recovered over $40 million for its clients
A U-turn car accident can cause serious injuries, particularly when the collision involves a side impact. Contact Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your U-turn crash and the injury compensation you can seek for it.
How Many U-Turn Accidents Happen in Vista, California?
According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), Vista experienced 289 traffic accidents in 2022 that caused injury or death. Over the past three years, the city has averaged about 284 traffic accidents per year.
Not all of these accidents involved multi-vehicle collisions. The number includes all of the following:
- 6 animal collisions
- 14 pedestrian accidents
- 19 bicycle accidents
- 41 single-vehicle accidents
That leaves a total of 209 multi-vehicle collisions. If you run a query on California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), you will find that Vista had four U-turn accidents in 2022, a number that is slightly higher than average for the city.
Between 2011 and 2022, Vista averaged 3.7 U-turn crashes per year. This might seem small at first, but with only 209 multi-vehicle collisions, U-turn crashes make up about 2% of crashes that occurred in 2022.
Common Causes of U-Turn Car Accidents
Some common causes of U-turn crashes include the following:
Turning Across Path
Most U-turn crashes happen as a driver turns across the path of another vehicle. As its name suggests, a “turning across path” accident occurs when the driver making the U-turn proceeds just as a vehicle approaches it.
A driver might turn in front of an oncoming vehicle for a few reasons, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Misjudging the speed or distance of the oncoming vehicle
- Trying to beat the oncoming vehicle
When a collision happens during a U-turn, the distance between the vehicles will often determine the nature of the collision. If the turning driver completes the turn before the collision, the oncoming driver may hit them in a rear-end collision. If the turning driver is still in the process of turning, the vehicle may strike in a side-impact or angle collision.
The nature of the collision will determine the injuries that the vehicle occupants suffer. Rear-end crashes often produce whiplash injuries, including neck strain, herniated discs, and concussions. Side-impact and angle collisions often cause more serious injuries, including head trauma, chest injuries, and crushing injuries, particularly if one car hits the other car’s door.
Illegal U-Turns
Another common cause of U-turn crashes is when the turning driver makes an illegal U-turn.
Road designers often set up signs banning U-turns in areas prone to the following factors:
- Heavy traffic
- Fast speed limits
- View obstructions
Signs banning U-turns are meant to keep traffic moving and protect drivers from accidents. When drivers disobey these signs, they risk getting hit in a U-turn car accident.
Liability For U-Turn Crashes in Vista, CA
U-turn car accidents almost always occur when a driver fails to yield the right of way. In California, the driver making the U-turn must yield to oncoming traffic. If they proceed before oncoming traffic clears, they will bear the liability for any injuries or deaths that result from the collision.
Still, the oncoming driver can also be liable for a U-turn crash. For example, suppose that a driver ran a red light or stop sign and hit a driver making a U-turn. Under these circumstances, the turning driver is the victim, and the driver who hit them likely bears the liability for the crash.
A Vista car accident lawyer can help you determine liability and protect your right to fair compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Vista U-Turn Car Accident Attorneys
A U-turn crash can produce severe injuries as vehicles collide. Contact Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers at (619) 344-0360 to learn about your right to compensation after a U-turn car accident in Vista, CA.
