Maison Law advocates on behalf of U-turn motorcycle accident victims. If you or a loved one has been injured in a U-turn motorcycle accident in California, the legality of the maneuver can play a crucial role in your ability to recover compensation. Our firm will aggressively pursue complete financial compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and to reach the best possible outcome for your motorcycle accident claim.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a California U-Turn Accident?
U-turn accidents in California happen more often than you think. According to the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation, U-turn accidents are one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents in the United States. This is due to how unexpected U-turns can be for a motorcyclist traveling at a high speed. Oftentimes, the U-turn is performed illegally, making the driver completely liable for the accident.
To prove liability in a U-turn motorcycle accident, it is recommended to partner with a personal injury attorney. With legal representation, an attorney can maximize your compensation by holding the liable party’s insurance responsible for the following:
- Medical expenses, including medical procedures, medical equipment, ambulance rides, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering, which covers the mental stress and trauma you’ve endured as a result of the accident
- Permanent disfigurement or scarring
Are U-Turns Legal in California?
U-turns are when a driver makes a 180-degree turn onto a road that goes in the opposite direction. It is a common and legal maneuver in California that most drivers will perform from time to time if they’ve realized they’re going the wrong way or they need to turn back to get something they’ve left behind. However, there are illegal U-turns. U-turns performed illegally present risk to other drivers, especially fast-moving motorcyclists whom most motorists fail to see before turning into the opposite land of traffic. According to the California Vehicle Code 22102, a U-turn is illegal when:
- There is no U-turn sign
- At a railroad crossing
- In a business district
- On a one-way street
- In front of a fire station driveway or parking lot
- On a divided highway where there are double yellow lines or strips of land down the center
A U-turn in California is LEGAL when:
- Across a double line
- In a residential area while other cars are not within 200 feet
- At an intersection during a green light as long as there are no signs indicating otherwise
- On a highway if a divider opening is provided for turns and U-turns
Holding Careless Drivers for California U-Turn Motorcycle Accidents Liable
In California, most U-turn motorcycle accidents occur because a turning vehicle is not mindful of a quickly approaching motorcyclist. With minimal padding, these accidents can lead to severe injuries such as fractures, broken bones, whiplash, and even death, all while vehicle drivers remain unharmed.
Drivers who make careless U-turns in front of motorcyclists can be held legally responsible under California Vehicle Code section 21801. The statute covers motorcyclists from drivers who are planning to complete a U-turn on a highway but fail to yield the right-of-way to approaching traffic. Drivers making the U-turn must exercise a “duty of care” to other drivers until it is reasonably safe to do so.
If you can establish a violation of section 21801, you may be able to establish another driver’s carelessness or “Negligence Per Se” and recover damages. Negligence Per Se means the driver broke the law, which directly caused your injuries. Illegal U-turns typically come with citations, which will make proving “Negligence Per Se” fairly easy in court if your lawsuit goes to trial. Proving Negligence Per Se is much easier than proving negligence.
Proving negligence usually involves an investigation to obtain video footage or witness statements. Sometimes there is no available evidence and your case becomes one person’s word over another. For this reason, it is important to report your accident to law enforcement the moment it happens and speak with a reputable accident attorney about your legal options.
When are U-Turns Illegal?
California Law addresses when U-turns can and cannot be made. While some places may seem like an accessible spot to make a U-turn, you might be violating the law if you attempt to change directions in these areas. U-turns are prohibited in the following spaces:
- Controlled intersections: drivers in California are not allowed to make U-turns at intersections with traffic control devices unless they do not have signs that prohibit them.
- Business districts: drivers going through business districts are not allowed to make U-turns at controlled intersections of business districts unless they do so from the left-most lane. This is covered in California Vehicle Code 22102.
- Residential districts: drivers may not make U-turns in residential districts unless vehicles that are approaching from the opposite direction are at least 200 feet away.
- Firestation driveways or parking lots: drivers may not use the driveways and parking lots of fire stations for the purpose of turning their vehicle around to drive in the opposite direction.
- Highways: To make a U-turn on a highway, you must have an unobstructed view before doing so. It is illegal for drivers to make U-turns on highways unless they can see for a minimum of 200 feet in both directions.
Contact a California U-Turn Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
At Maison Law, we help motorcycle accident victims recover compensation if they’ve suffered injuries as a result of another motorist’s careless actions. We advocate on behalf of motorcyclists and their families across Southern, Central, and Northern California. If you’ve been injured by a driver who made an illegal U-turn, contact Maison Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to discuss your situation and provide you with legal options to hold the liable party responsible.
