Two Motorcyclists Die After Being Hit by a Van Making Left Turn
A motorcycle accident in Florida resulted in the death of a 31-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman. The accident occurred when the motorcycle was hit by a van that was traveling in the opposite direction. The driver of the van hit the motorcycle while he was attempting to make a left turn through an intersection. The front of the motorcycle was hit by the van and the two passengers were ejected from their Harley-Davidson. Both of the riders died at the scene. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, neither of the motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at the time of the injury. The driver of the van was wearing a seat belt and only sustained minor injuries.
What does Florida law say about turning left at an intersection?
Florida law creates some specific duties that must be followed when you are turning left at an intersection. For example, the driver of the vehicle turning left must approach the intersection in the furthest left lane that is available. This means that you cannot make a left turn out of the center or right lane; you must switch to the furthest left lane that you can before you get to the intersection and begin making your turn. The Florida statute also makes a special reference to the rights of bicycles to use the lanes in the road. According to the statute, a bicycle is entitled to the full use of the lane from which a turn can legally be made. This means that if you are driving and there is a bicycle on the road, you must allow the bicyclist full use of the lane that he is occupying. If you need to pass the bicycle, make sure there is another lane available for you to use to make sure that you do not encroach on the bicyclist’s proper use of his lane.
Who is at fault when an accident occurs during a left turn?
Generally, the person driving the car that is making the left turn will be liable for a collision with a car that is traveling in the opposite direction. Even though the person making the left turn will almost always be considered at fault, there are a few exceptions where a court would determine that the other driver is at fault. For example, the other driver will be considered at fault if he was doing well over the speed limit at the time of the collision. The car going straight will also be found at fault if the accident occurred after he drove through a red light. Finally, there is another unusual scenario where the car turning left will not be at fault if the situation was safe when the car initiated the left turn, but something changed which caused the car to slow down or stop.
If you have been involved in a car or motorcycle accident, someone else was at fault, and you would like to seek compensation for your injuries, contact the experienced West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys at Pike & Lustig, LLP for a consultation.
