If you are a motorcyclist, there are many times when you may see vehicles ahead of you waiting to turn left. If you are on a two-way road, someone may simply be waiting to turn through your lane so that they can pull into a parking lot or a driveway. If you are approaching an intersection, they may have a flashing yellow light, meaning they can make their left turn when the way is clear.
Even when you know that you have the right of way, be careful to keep an eye on these drivers. One of the most common motorcycle accidents is when someone turns in front of a motorcycle as they execute that left turn. It is important to be a defensive rider, always watching for signs that the driver may turn at an inappropriate time, and being prepared to brake or swerve if necessary.
Avoiding a left-turn accident with a car is difficult
Unfortunately, even if you are aware of the risk, this is a very difficult accident to avoid. For instance, you may not have time to brake to avoid the collision, so swerving is your only option. But you naturally cannot swerve to the left, where the vehicle used to be, or you would ride into oncoming traffic.
However, because the vehicle is turning in front of you and moving toward your right, you also cannot swerve to the right. Doing so just puts you ahead of the turning vehicle, so you may not even avoid a collision.
For this reason, motorcyclists who only have a split second to respond often do not have any good options. A collision feels almost inevitable. If you suffer serious injuries due to another driver’s negligent error, you may deserve significant financial compensation for medical bills and related costs.
