Drivers making a U-turn to change direction must be exceptionally cautious when doing so.
Auto accident lawyers representing car accident cases find U-turn accidents to be common, especially when a U-turn is attempted in a place where it should not be made.
Determining who is at fault can be challenging since there are many factors that auto accident attorneys must take into consideration to accurately do so.
Where Was The U-Turn Made?
A main consideration made by auto accident law firms when determining fault after a U-turn accident is where the U-turn was made.
Was it made in a legal spot where U-turns are permitted?
U-turns are allowed in Texas when made at U-turn lanes specifically designed for this purpose and at most green lights and intersections when turning to the left.
Yet some green lights and intersections may be labeled with No U-Turn signs, prohibiting the turn at that location.
Auto accident lawyers stress that anyone making a U-turn in a prohibited spot and being involved in an accident will usually be the one named at fault since they should not have made the turn there.
Which Vehicle Had The Right-of-Way?
When accidents happen during legal U-turns, auto accident attorneys must investigate further to determine how it occurred by first figuring out which vehicle had the right of way.
When a driver makes a U-turn, it is their responsibility to yield to all other oncoming traffic that is already traveling on the roadway, leaving themselves enough time and space to complete the turn safely according to auto accident law firms.
If they cross in front of oncoming traffic too closely and it leads to them being hit, the driver performing the U-turn is still frequently at fault even though someone else hit them.
Fault Is Not Always Clear
With that said, auto accident lawyers stress that this does not always mean a U-turn driver is automatically at fault.
Auto accident attorneys advise that the fault may actually lie with the oncoming driver if they did something that caused the crash when the U-turn driver had yielded and also left themselves enough time and space to complete the turn safely.
For example, if another driver entered the road from a different point and had the duty to yield to the U-turn driver as they completed their turn and they did not, the fault could lie with them.
Adding All This Up
Texas U-turn accidents can be tricky and confusing, especially when involving more than two cars should one car get pushed into other traffic.
In the effort of correctly determining who is at fault, drivers involved in these accidents should seek the assistance of experienced auto accident law firms that have dealt with U-turn accident cases before and can accurately interpret law and evidence to reveal which driver is truly responsible for the crash.