Left Turn Accidents

One of the most common types of motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles is a left turn accident. This situation occurs when a motorcyclist is driving straight, but a car in the oncoming lane is trying to make a left turn and turns into the motorcyclist. The injuries that result from a left turn accident include broken bones, traumatic head injuries including closed head trauma, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, loss of function, or death. Because a motorcyclist is not enclosed inside another structure, the motorcyclist's body bears the full brunt of the collision. In many cases, a motorcyclist that is involved a serious left turn accident will never be able to enjoy motorcycling again. The experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorneys of Sharifi Firm, APC understand motorcycle culture, the severity of injuries arising from motorcycle accidents and have a commitment to recovering compensation on behalf of accident victims.

In California, a car or truck that is making a left turn is usually liable to a motorcycle driving straight in the other direction. There are some exceptions, such as when a motorcyclist is going too fast, or ran a red light or stop sign. A car or truck making a left turn has a duty to wait until it can safely complete the turn before moving in front of oncoming traffic. The driver that does not wait until it's safe and collides with a motorcyclist breaches its duties and causes the accident. Insurers may try to pin the blame on the motorcyclist by arguing that the motorcycle was speeding or didn't come to a complete stop. However, in many left turn accident cases, the main issue will be how much the damages are.

There are two types of compensatory damages in California: special damages and general damages. Special damages are documented, tangible damages like medical bills, cost of household services, lost wages and lost earning ability, physical therapy, and vocational rehabilitation. General damages are intangible damages like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment that are subject to the varying sympathies of the jury.

How a case is presented can make a big difference to the damages that are awarded. Inexperienced attorneys may focus only on special damages, on those damages that are supported by documentation. An experienced attorney will fully explore all the ways in which a motorcyclist's life has been changed due to injuries arising out of a left turn accident.

For example, a severely injured motorcyclist may never ride a bike again. He may have nightmares about the accident. He may have young children that used to rely on him to coach their softball team and due to pain in his legs, he may no longer be able to do that. He may have enjoyed other extreme sports, such as mountain climbing or hang-gliding, but due to his injuries, he can no longer use his legs to their full capacity for those types of activities. Due to his pain, he may suffer depression, which causes his wife to lose a supportive partner, and in addition to his damages for mental anguish, his wife may be entitled to loss of consortium. The jury must consider all these factors when determining the amount of the award.

Our experienced Los Angeles attorneys are skilled at presenting a persuasive case on behalf of motorcyclists who were seriously injured in left turn accidents and other types of motorcycle accidents. We represent motorcycle accident victims trying to recover their damages in Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, and Temecula. Contact us at (866) 422-7222 or via our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation with an attorney.