Unsafe Left Turn Motorcycle Accident

Riding can be fun but also dangerous due to unsafe left turns made by drivers. You may be driving safely when a car suddenly turns into your path, putting you in danger. Dozens of motorcyclists have died in Las Vegas, and many were killed by drivers who failed to yield when making left turns. Nevada law requires drivers to let oncoming traffic pass before turning left. However, many ignore this rule.

Tourists unfamiliar with the roads and heavy congestion, combined with intense desert heat, only add to the danger. You deserve accountability and compensation if a reckless driver caused your crash. At Dallas Horton & Associates, we know your unique challenges as a rider. We will strive to secure your rights and ensure monetary compensation for your recovery.

Let us look at what unsafe left-turn motorcycle accidents entail.

Why Left Turns Are Especially Dangerous

All left turns pose serious dangers for motorcycle users. However, the risks are compounded even more at intersections because of the volume of traffic, road designs, and human errors. Accident statistics reveal that left turns are the leading cause of collisions between motorcyclists and motor vehicles. Crashes of this type could happen when drivers fail to yield to oncoming traffic, including motorcycles.

Left turns can be very dangerous, especially on busy roads. This is because the design of many roads is unsafe. Wide, multi-lane roads could have speed limits that are too high. A vehicle making a left turn might need to cross several opposing lanes, causing possible misjudgment. For bike riders, this type of intersection poses deadly risks. According to NHTSA, almost 42% of fatal vehicle-motorcycle crashes at intersections occur when another vehicle makes a left turn into the path of the motorcycle. This is especially true with heavy traffic volume and in cities.

Visibility is another primary concern. Because of their smaller overall size and lower profile, it can be easy to miss seeing motorcycles, especially in traffic. Drivers may fail to notice you because they are distracted or blocked by billboards, sun glare, or other visual clutter. Moreover, factors like road construction and poorly designed roads make it harder to be seen by other drivers.

Road layouts and signal timing contribute to the danger. Drivers must think and act quickly because there are no dedicated turning arrows, and many green lights are short. Moreover, the construction of roads and abrupt changes to road patterns increase the complexity of turns, which makes them dangerous. Many drivers speed, run yellow lights and ignore blind spots. This escalates the risk to you as a motorcyclist.

Negligence among drivers is a constant concern. Most drivers you encounter daily, tourists, local commuters, or rideshare drivers, take unnecessary risks. When a driver does not see you or misjudges your speed, dangerous accidents can occur and cause life-altering injuries.

Severity of Left-Turn Motorcycle Crashes

Crashes involving motorcycles in Las Vegas can be some of the worst. This is because there is a combination of the conditions in the area and the vulnerable nature of riders.

The crash dynamics are the reason they are severe. A T-bone or sharp-angle accident can occur when a vehicle turns left into a motorcycle’s path. This crash struck the motorcycle’s side. Motorcycle riders are not protected by a shell, a no-crumble zone, airbags, or a steel frame present in vehicles. An impact from a car with 45 to 55 mph speeds significantly affects the rider's body.

Injuries from these crashes are often catastrophic. While helmets must be worn, they cannot always stop severe traumatic brain injuries, broken backs, or ruptured organs. A common left-turn accident can throw a rider around 20 to 50 feet from his/her motorcycle, colliding with the ground or another vehicle, which can cause even more damage.

Local conditions contribute to the severity of left-turn motorcycle crashes. The high-speed nature of roads means a motorcycle and vehicle can exceed 80 mph at impact. Drivers unfamiliar with the wide lanes and turn signals often misjudge the gaps in traffic. Furthermore, drivers can miss a motorcycle’s narrow profile, particularly in sun glare or if you are surrounded by flashing lights. The construction zone's debris and uneven conditions increase your chances of a bone-crushing slide if you get ejected. These crashes amplify the destructive impact at more than 40 mph.

Drivers often look but fail to see riders, which is exacerbated by constant distraction. Therefore, for every second that passes, the reaction time of the driver diminishes. A driver either brakes too late or does not brake at all. This turns what could have been a survivable impact into a fatal one. Many drivers that are either drunk or tired from rideshare driving also lead to the odds tilting towards catastrophic consequences.

For riders, left-turn crash outcomes can be unpredictable. It could result in a shattered limb, while a direct hit could be fatal.

Common Injuries Seen in Motorcycle Accidents

In Las Vegas, a motorcycle rider can suffer various serious, often life-altering injuries in a left-hand turn collision. The city’s environment, including its heavy traffic, dry climate, and unpredictable drivers, increases the severity of these collisions. Each time a car miscalculates a turn into your path, you are at risk of facing any of the following injuries:

Road Rash

Road rash ranks among the most common and painful outcomes. When a car makes a left turn and strikes you, you can easily be thrown across hot asphalt at almost 40 to 50 mph. If you are not wearing protective gear, you can shred your skin down to the muscle or even the bone.

Ongoing construction zones increase the risk of falling onto a rough or uneven surface, which can worsen road rash injuries. Without immediate medical care, infection sets in quickly. In more severe cases, you may need skin grafts to recover.

Fractures

Fractures often accompany these accidents. Your legs, arms, ribs, or collarbone could break due to a direct impact caused by a car or a bad fall. Your pelvis can also often break any time you are hit at an angle or you are pinned between the bike and the road. High-speed accidents usually cause compound fractures, where the bone breaks through the skin.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A traumatic brain injury can also occur even with a helmet law in place. The helmet can reduce the impact but does not eliminate the danger. You could suffer a concussion, skull fracture, or internal bleeding if your head strikes the asphalt, a windshield, or the hood of a car.

Distracted driving and chaotic lighting increase the risk of high-speed crashes. These crashes then violently shake the brain, thus resulting in TBIs.

Spine Injuries

Your spine also absorbs significant trauma during a crash. If you are struck directly on the side or are thrown over the handlebars, it can break your vertebrae or rupture your spinal discs. Your spinal cord could be damaged, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis. You could sustain these injuries when you are caught between a vehicle making a turn, another car from the other direction, or a static object like a building.

Internal Injuries

Injuries that are not immediately visible can be just as fatal. Fast car crashes can rupture your spleen, puncture your lung, or tear your liver. When a car's frame hits your body, it can create internal bleeding, though it might not look so bad. First responders know how quickly these injuries can progress, often making the difference between life and death.

Loss of Limbs

In the most extreme cases, you could lose a limb. An arm getting torn up by debris in a high-speed slide or a leg pinned under a car could require surgical amputation to save your life. Las Vegas's road conditions, especially around construction zones, can worsen the effects of a motorcycle crash. These injuries can be devastating.

Soft Tissue Injuries

It is possible to suffer soft tissue injuries. Even if you did not sustain broken bones or head trauma, these injuries can still derail your life. You could suffer torn ligaments, sprains, or deep muscle damage as you brace for impact or twist through the air. These injuries could seem small, but they could require months for rehabilitation, especially when your shoulders or knees are injured.

What To Do Immediately After A Dangerous Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident

The steps you take after an accident can protect your health, legal rights, and ability to recover damages. You should take the following steps:

• Safety first — It is important to protect yourself first. If possible, get out of traffic with your motorcycle so you are not hit again. The roads can be busy, and you could suffer the consequences of a secondary collision. Turn on hazard lights if possible. If you are hurt and cannot move, remain at the scene and wait for the EMTs.

• Seek medical attention — Call 911 or ask someone to do it, even if injuries seem minor. Furthermore, medical records linking injuries to the accident help with an insurance or legal claim.

• Report the accident to police — Nevada law (NRS 484E.030) requires reporting a crash involving injury or death. Also, if it damages property worth over $750, that should be reported. The police or the DMV must be notified within 10 days. Later, get a copy of that police report because it is a determining factor in ascertaining fault.

• File with the Nevada DMV — If the accident involves injury, death, or property damage of over $750 and the police do not file a report, or if you are uninsured, you must submit a Nevada DMV Report of Traffic Crash (Form SR-1) within 10 days. You can get it from the Nevada DMV offices. Make sure to mention the date, place, and the parties involved.

• Gather evidence — If possible, take a picture of your motorcycle, the other vehicle, skid marks, road conditions, and your injuries. Ask the other driver for their name, phone number, insurance, and license plate. Don't forget to note the witnesses’ names and numbers, too.

• Do not admit fault — Do not apologize. If you apologize, it could be taken to mean that you take the blame for the accident, which may negatively affect your case later.

• Preserve the evidence — Hold on to your damaged gear, like a helmet or jacket, and do not repair the motorcycle until insurers or investigators look at it. These can prove the crash’s impact and your damages.

Determining Fault Under Nevada Law

Figuring out who is at fault for a motorcycle accident from a left turn involves analyzing the state’s traffic laws, underlying facts, and comparative negligence principles.

Nevada operates on a “fault-based” system regarding motor vehicle accidents. This means the party responsible for causing the accident will be responsible for any damages, including injury and property damage. The starting point is NRS 484B.253, which provides the rules for vehicles turning left at an intersection. A left-turning driver must give way to other oncoming motorists and pedestrians so close that they could collide with the car turning left. Motorcyclists riding straight through an intersection have the right of way. A vehicle turning left must yield unless traffic signals, like a green arrow, indicate otherwise.

Most of the time, if a driver makes an unsafe left turn and hits a motorcycle that has the right of way, the driver turning left is presumed at fault. Usually, a driver fails to yield because he/she:

• Misjudges the speed or distance of the motorcycle

• Fails to see the bike because it is less conspicuous

Per NRS 484B.603, motorists should observe all traffic, including motorcycle riders, to ensure their turn is safe.

However, fault is not always straightforward. According to NRS 41.141, Nevada applies a modified comparative negligence rule. If the motorcyclist was at fault to any degree, the compensation they receive will be reduced by that assigned percentage of fault. For example, the rider could receive 80% of the damages if the comparing negligence evaluation assigns them a 20% at-fault status and the turning driver 80%.

If, as the rider, you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any compensation.

Evidence plays a critical role in determining fault. Evidence, including police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and skid marks, can help establish who had the right of way and whether either party acted negligently. For example, if the driver failed to use their signal before turning, which is illegal under NRS 484B.413, or if he/she turned when it was unsafe. On the other hand, if the motorcyclist was weaving in and out of traffic or his/her bike lacked proper lighting at night, this could shift some of the blame to the rider.

Pursuing a Claim for Compensation After Being Involved in a Left Turn Motorcycle Accident

Dealing with insurance companies after a left-turn motorcycle accident is hardly easy. However, knowing some rules and what to expect helps.

Nevada law provides that the driver at fault for a motorcycle accident, like crashing into an oncoming motorcycle when making a left turn, is responsible for compensating the other party. After a crash, you will file a claim with the other driver’s insurer. What you should know, however, is that Nevada’s bare minimum liability coverage is only:

• $25,000 per person

• $50,000 per accident for injuries

• $20,000 for property damage

Biker’s injuries usually exceed these limits, especially during surgery, ICU stay, and longer rehab. If this happens to you, you may have to pursue the driver’s assets or your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage if you have it.

Before you understand the proper value of your case, insurers quickly make you an offer far below what you deserve. They could offer you a $10,000 check when your losses could be $50,000. Though you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit per NRS 11.190, insurers depend on delay fatigue in these situations. You should report the accident to your insurer within 10 days and try to obtain a police report as fast as possible. Indicators of fault, like failure to yield, reinforce your claim.

Expect insurers to challenge your story. Bikers must pay attention to their speed and usage of their lighting and helmets. This will be a focus of the insurer’s assessment of your claim. Insurers will also check whether you were lane-splitting. This is legal under NRS 486.351. However, it is considered controversial. Their goal? To shift blame according to Nevada’s comparative negligence law, NRS 41.141. You will not receive compensation if they convince the court that you were 51% or more at fault. Therefore, when giving recorded statements, be short, factual, and do not admit fault.

Your medical costs are your biggest asset in negotiations. Keep track of every cost, including:

• Visits to the ER

• MRI

• Drugs

• Loss of income

• Therapy and more

Before settling, ensure you add up not only present bills but also future bills. Insurance companies will not acknowledge pain and suffering unless you back it up with documentation or your lawyer helps you present your case.

Your insurance can be a lifeline. Even if Nevada does not mandate underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) or MedPay, they can prove pivotal when the liable driver is underinsured or uninsured, for example, a tourist in a rental car. MedPay can pay initial bills, regardless of who caused the accident. If your bike is totalled, collision coverage comes in handy. If not, you will haggle with their adjuster about your bike’s value.

Ultimately, be wary of insurers' common tricks and tactics, including being slow to respond, blanket denials, or misleading final offers. Fight with objective evidence like photographs, witness statements, and dashcam videos. If they go too far, you can file a complaint with the Nevada Insurance Commissioner or even a bad faith claim under NRS 686A.310.

Filing a Lawsuit After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Crash

When negotiations with the insurance company stall or the other side denies fault, filing a lawsuit is your best option for receiving a fair settlement. It is especially common in serious motorcycle crash cases, where injuries are catastrophic, and the insurers refuse to pay what your claim is worth.

You can consider the following steps if you decide to pursue a lawsuit:

Decide If a Lawsuit Makes Sense

Under a fault-based insurance system, a left-turning driver will usually be liable for a crash. If the insurer offers much lower than your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, you may have to file suit if your fault does not exceed 50%.

Work Within the Statute of Limitations

You have two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit per NRS 11.190(4)(e). If you miss that window, your claim dies. Start early because building a solid case takes time.

Hire an Attorney Who Knows Motorcycle Cases

Motorcycle injury cases involve various technical issues, including accident reconstruction and the determination of long-term medical treatment. A personal injury attorney who handles motorcycle accidents will handle everything from filing to negotiations. They work on contingency, so you do not pay them unless you win.

File the Lawsuit

If your case is valued at over $15,000, you will file your case in the District Court. The defendant will be named in your complaint along with possibly his/her employer’s name, details of the defendant’s negligence, and damages. Once your complaint is filed, you will serve the defendant(s) and await their response, usually within 21 days.

Build the Case in Discovery

Discovery is where both sides gather evidence. You will share documents, provide sworn statements, and respond to written inquiries. The opposing party will point out your faults, but your lawyer will use pictures, witness statements, medical records, and other evidence to show the driver was at fault.

You Can Negotiate

Most lawsuits settle before trial. After discovery, your lawyer will send the insurance company the hard facts. This includes your surgeries, missed work, lost wages, and ongoing treatment. You could benefit from mediation, especially in cases where the defendant’s coverage is insufficient, and you need to explore underinsured motorist options.

Proceed to Trial if Needed

If no deal is reached, you will present your case in court. You have to show evidence:

• That the at-fault party is liable for your injuries and damages

• Of the full extent of your injuries

Do not be surprised if the defense claims you share liability, like speeding or lane-splitting.

If the jury decides you are 51% at fault or more, you recover nothing. That is why a solid, evidence-backed case is key. Gather evidence immediately after the crash. Do not speak to the insurer alone. Let your lawyer do it. Track every injury and every expense. Make sure to check the limits on the other driver’s insurance. You may have to lean on your policy if theirs is insufficient.

Find a Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

A driver’s reckless left turn can instantly wreck your life, especially if you are on a motorcycle. However, you do not have to go through this alone. If an unsafe left turn in Las Vegas led to your injuries in a motorcycle accident, justice may be within your reach.

At Dallas Horton & Associates, we understand entirely that motorcyclists face unique dangers, along with insurers who try to use this to avoid paying motorcycle riders what is rightfully theirs. Our lawyers will help you be compensated for your medical bills, lost wages, and the pain and suffering. We take on the legal burden so you can focus on healing.

Contact us at 702-820-5917 today for a free consultation. We can help you rebuild after the crash while protecting your rights.