While making a U-turn is legal in some circumstances under Virginia law, doing so can still be risky, especially when there are other vehicles or pedestrians nearby. U-turns that lead to collisions can result in severe injuries and property damage and are often the fault of the driver attempting the U-turn.
If you’ve been injured in a collision because another driver attempted to execute a U-turn, you have the legal right to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact a Roanoke U-turn accident lawyer at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC. We’d be happy to review your legal options in a free consultation.
Virginia law places some restrictions on U-turns. While U-turns are generally legal at intersections, this isn’t universally true.
Motorists are responsible for executing a U-turn only when permitted by law and when conditions safely allow. They must also yield the right of way. Drivers attempting a U-turn when it’s illegal or unsafe and causing an accident in the process can be held liable for any injuries that result. Contact our Roanoke car accident lawyer today.
In general, U-turn accidents are most often caused by negligence by the driver attempting the maneuver.
While drivers executing U-turns are often at fault in accidents, whether because they were in violation of the law or because they failed to exercise due caution, there are some circumstances in which they may not be at fault:
Ultimately, for a driver making a U-turn to be considered at fault in an accident, they must have failed to take reasonable care in yielding the right of way to other drivers. If you were injured by a driver executing a U-turn, your Roanoke U-turn accident lawyer must establish that the other driver acted negligently, causing the accident and your injuries.
U-turns carry some inherent risk, primarily because they involve crossing over into traffic from the opposite direction. This increases the risk of collisions, such as T-bone accidents, especially when the driver attempting to execute the U-turn miscalculates the distance between themselves and other vehicles.
Another reason U-turns are dangerous is because they involve sharp turns, which can be challenging for drivers to judge and execute if there are space constraints or if they’re driving larger vehicles.
U-turns also pose a risk to bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Drivers may check for oncoming motor vehicle traffic and completely overlook smaller vehicles and those on foot, who are at even greater risk in the event of a collision.
It’s possible to execute a U-turn not only legally but also safely.
If conditions make executing a U-turn challenging, unsafe, or impossible, accept the situation and proceed until a safer opportunity presents itself.
U-turn accidents can lead to a variety of injuries, which may range from minor to catastrophic.
If you’ve been injured in a U-turn accident, first, seek immediate medical care for your injuries. If you believe another driver was at fault, contact a Roanoke U-turn accident lawyer to learn more about your legal options.
Being involved in any kind of car accident is a traumatic experience. When serious injuries occur, the stress of dealing with medical treatment and insurance companies can be a lot to handle.
The steps you take following a U-turn accident can impact your ability to recover compensation.
Car accidents are traumatic, and the physical and emotional effects may last a lifetime. If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver attempting a U-turn, contact Lichtenstein Law Group PLC to speak with a Roanoke U-turn accident attorney. We have decades of experience handling cases like yours and are committed to thoroughly investigating and preparing car accident cases for negotiation or trial. Contact our Roanoke personal injury attorney today.
Reach out to us today to discuss your case in a free consultation.