I was turning left. Whose at fault?

Question

I was in the left turn lane and I pulled out into the intersection about to turn. The traffic light was yellow. I initiated my left turn when the light was just about to change to red. A car in the opposing traffic hit me. If I am in the middle of the intersection, I have no choice but to turn if the light is red. When I was looking at the opposing traffic, it seemed that traffic was slowing down. but the next thing u kno, i was hit by another car. Who is at fault?

Answer 1

Cars in the intersection have right of way over other vehicles regardless of the color of the light; however, you still have to yield right of way to others--you can't just take it.

You need to know what the color of the light was when the other person ENTERED the i/s...if it was yellow, he has right of way that you must yield to. If his light was red, you have right of way over him.

What many fail to understand is although cars turning left have to yield to oncoming traffic, the vehicle code also states once the left turning car has initiated the left turn--oncoming cars must yield to that vehicle. This is somewhat confusing and some argue this section of the code applies when someone like you is in the intersection, the light turns red and you have no other option but to clear the area. Others argue regardless, if the left turning vehicle initiated the turn SAFELY (keyword), oncoming traffic must yield...meaning, don't hit the car turning left, brake, whatever.

To answer your question, it's going to come down to the following: the color of the light the other guy entered on, the point of impact to each vehicle, how many lanes of travel you had cleared, and if the guy was speeding and/or distracted. Some of these things are hard to prove, the others you can't argue with.

Given the limited information, it would appear you both share fault, the amount each person carries is up for debate.

Answer 2

You were turning left. Let me guess when you entered the intersection, the light was green right? The definition of a green light means (proceed with caution) If you enter an intersection and while doing so the light turns yellow...(You are at fault) if a collision occurs. Basically you failed to yield right of way. The vehicle that hit you had the right of way. Now here is the question? Do you think the vehicle that collided with you could have avoided the collision? What could YOU have done to avoid the collision? This accident is likley a combination of fault on both drivers, but unfortunately YOU are the majority at fault.... Depending on what state you live in fault can be applied to both of you. The reason you are majority at fault is because:
1. You were tuning left, and failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
2. light was apparently yellow for the other vehicle, and he could argue he had the right of way.
3. You were in the intersection when unsafe.

Answer 3

If I'm imagining this the right way, it might be both of your faults. If your light was just about to turn red and he was coming from the opposite direction, his light was probably about to turn red also. It sounds like you were both trying to make the light. My fiance and I almost got in an accident in the exact same way, he was turning left like you but he sped up to get into the intersection and turn and the other person in the opposite direction was speeding to get through the intersection straight across. Anyway, it sounds like he was trying to make the light before it turned red, but you had already been waiting in the intersection when it was green and, like you said, had no choice but to turn. In that case, it's his fault that he didn't slow down and stop when the light had been orange. It might be good if you have some witnesses to help you out. I'd say either no one will be found at fault, you both will, or only he will (but doubtful you will be found as the only guilty one). Good luck.

Answer 4

You had entered the intersection on the green, waiting for traffic to clear. You *cannot* legal complete your turn until you are sure everyone is not going to run a red: >> CVC 21801. (a) The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left ... shall yield >> the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are >> close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, >> and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the >> left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety. You were lawfully within the intersetion. The other person did not notice you were still intersection when he got the green signal: >> CVC 21451. (a) A driver facing a circular green signal shall proceed straight >> through ... Any driver ... shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic ... lawfully >> within the intersection.... Basically, the law says the green light does NOT allow you to ram anyone in your way.

Answer 5

If this is a "left turn yield" situation, assuming you are heading north, and the car that struck you is coming south, it would be your fault, as you did not yield to him. Though technically he would have gotten a ticket too for running a yellow, but he would not be "at fault". However, I ain't no cop.

Answer 6

I think you both get tickets for running a red light.

He is at fault as he struck your car and should have been able to maintain control while speeding through the red light.

Answer 7

I say it was both your fault . If I read you right the other driver ran the light. But it is partly your fault for not making sure that every one had stopped at the red light.

Answer 8

i would say yours, unless you can prove that the light was red. in which case he would have ran a red light. if it was still yellow, theres nothing you can do about it.

Answer 9

I don't kno about this but,I think you both should get a ticket for running a red light.!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

LEFT TURN YIELD IS THE LAW.