Failure to Use Turn Signals

The use of a turn signal is one of the most basic rules that people are taught when learning to drive a car. However, it is also one of the most ignored safety precautions when drivers maneuver in traffic. Failing to use turn signals when changing lanes or making a turn can cause a serious collision, especially on a crowded road. The Miami car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can assist victims who have been injured when a driver failed to use his or her turn signal. Careless drivers can cause severe harm to others on the road, and they should be held financially liable to their victims. We are ready to help you vigorously assert your right to compensation.

Using a turn signal helps other drivers, pedestrians, or bicyclists know what a driver intends to do, allowing them to plan and maneuver accordingly. Without this indication, sudden turns or lane changes become dangerous as other vehicles stop suddenly, swerve as a reaction, or otherwise change course to accommodate an unsignaling car. In 2012, the Society of Safety Engineers reported that drivers failed to use a signal 25 percent of the time when turning, and 45 percent of the time when switching lanes. This report also found that if turn signals were used, between one and two million car accidents could have been avoided. Injuries sustained in these types of accidents may include broken bones, fractures, whiplash, and even serious spinal cord or brain injuries.

People who have been involved in an accident caused by a driver’s failure to use a turn signal may seek to hold that driver liable by filing a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence. Drivers owe all users of the road a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would behave under similar circumstances. This duty extends to a vehicle’s passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and anyone else who might foreseeably be affected by the driver’s conduct. Someone who fails to use his or her turn signal when maneuvering through traffic, and causes an accident and injuries as a result, likely will be deemed to be negligent. This is because a reasonable driver probably would comply with the rules on using signals.

Once liability is established, a victim usually can recover damages for property damage, medical expenses, lost earning capacity, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other costs and losses arising from the crash. Other factors, including a victim’s own negligence, may be considered in these types of cases. However, careless actions by the victim do not bar the recovery of damages in Florida. Since the state uses a pure comparative fault rule, a victim still may receive compensation that is proportionate to the defendant’s degree of fault. This means that even if an injured victim is found to be 40 percent responsible for the crash, he or she can potentially still recover up to 60 percent of the damages.

Personal injury claims must be filed within four years from the date of the accident, and avoiding any delay in making sure that evidence is gathered may be vital to preserving your rights.

Failing to adhere to the most basic safety precautions on the road can lead to devastating injuries. The Miami motor vehicle collisions at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon help car accident victims pursue the compensation that they deserve. We also represent injured individuals in Miami, West Palm Beach, and other cities throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. Call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.