Left-Turn Motorcycle Crashes
Left-turn collisions cause more than 40% of fatal multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents. Drivers who fail to yield to oncoming motorcycles are almost always at fault.
Key Takeaways
- 40%+ of fatal crashes: Left-turn collisions are the deadliest type of motorcycle accident
- Driver almost always at fault: Turning vehicles must yield to oncoming traffic
- "Didn't see you" is no defense: Failure to look properly is negligence
Why Left-Turn Crashes Are So Deadly for Motorcyclists
When a car turns left into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, the geometry of the collision is devastating. The motorcycle strikes the side of the car—or the car strikes the motorcycle broadside—at full approach speed. Unlike car-to-car collisions where crumple zones and airbags absorb impact, the motorcyclist takes the full force directly.
The majority of these crashes happen at intersections when a driver is turning left across oncoming traffic. The driver either fails to see the approaching motorcycle entirely, or misjudges its speed and distance. Both failures are negligence.
42%
of multi-vehicle motorcycle fatalities involve left-turning vehicles
77%
of left-turn crash drivers say "I didn't see the motorcycle"
2.3 sec
average time between when driver "looks" and impact occurs
How Drivers Fail Motorcyclists
Left-turn drivers fail motorcyclists in predictable ways. Each failure type creates clear liability:
"Looked But Didn't See" (LBDS)
The brain filters small, unexpected objects. Drivers scan for cars, not motorcycles. But legal duty doesn't depend on what you 'saw'—it depends on what you should have seen with proper care.
Speed/Distance Misjudgment
Motorcycles appear smaller and farther away than cars. Drivers underestimate how quickly the bike is approaching, assuming they have time to complete the turn before it arrives.
Distraction
Phone use, GPS, passengers, eating—drivers turning left are often multitasking instead of focusing on the critical task of yielding to oncoming traffic.
Impatience
Drivers waiting to turn left become frustrated with traffic delays and eventually take a gap that isn't safe—often right as a motorcycle approaches at highway speed.
Proving the Driver Was at Fault
Oklahoma law requires drivers turning left to yield to oncoming traffic until it is safe. Under 47 O.S. § 11-401, failure to yield is a traffic violation—and a violation that causes injury creates automatic negligence (negligence per se).
Legal Standard: Duty to Yield
"The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left within an intersection... shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard."
— 47 O.S. § 11-401(a)
Evidence We Use to Prove Fault:
Critical Evidence That Wins Left-Turn Cases
Time is your enemy. Evidence disappears quickly. Here's what we do immediately:
Send preservation letters
Demand the driver and their insurance preserve cell phone data, vehicle black box data, and dashcam footage.
Subpoena traffic cameras
Most cities overwrite traffic camera footage within 7-30 days. We send legal demands immediately.
Canvas for witnesses
Other drivers, pedestrians, and business employees who saw the crash. Memories fade—we interview fast.
Document the scene
Photograph sight lines, signal timing, road markings, and any obstructions that affected the driver's view.
Hire accident reconstruction
Mathematical analysis of speed, distance, and reaction times based on physical evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Left-Turn Crash Victim? Get Justice.
The driver who failed to yield must answer for your injuries. We prove fault with objective evidence and fight for maximum compensation.
No Fee Unless We Win
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