Does Turning Left or Right Change Liability After an Arizona Car Accident?

TL;DR: Yes. Whether a driver was turning left or right can play an important role in determining liability after an Arizona car accident. Left-turning drivers generally must yield to oncoming traffic when it presents an immediate hazard, while drivers making right turns must follow traffic signals, yield when required, and watch for pedestrians and other road users. However, the turning driver is not automatically at fault. Arizona’s comparative negligence rules allow fault to be divided among the people who contributed to an accident.

When an accident happens at an intersection, one of the first questions may be: Who had the right of way?

The answer can depend heavily on what each driver was doing immediately before the collision. A driver making a left turn may have different responsibilities than someone making a right turn. Traffic signals, lane position, approaching vehicles, pedestrians, speed, and other circumstances can all affect the liability analysis.

If you were injured in a left-turn or right-turn accident in Arizona, understanding these rules can help you determine what happened and whether another driver’s negligence may have contributed to your injuries.

Are Left-Turn Accidents Different From Right-Turn Accidents in Arizona?

Yes. Although either type of turn can result in an accident, Arizona law imposes specific requirements on drivers depending on the maneuver they are making.

Under A.R.S. § 28-772, a driver intending to turn left at an intersection must yield to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction when that vehicle is already in the intersection or is close enough to constitute an immediate hazard.
Arizona law also regulates how turns should be made.

Under A.R.S. § 28-751, right turns generally must be approached and made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. Left turns generally must be approached from the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available and completed in accordance with the statute and applicable traffic controls.

These rules can become important evidence when determining whether a driver’s actions contributed to a collision.

Who Is Usually at Fault in a Left-Turn Accident in Arizona?

A driver making an unprotected left turn across oncoming traffic has a duty to yield when approaching traffic presents an immediate hazard.

For example, imagine Driver A is traveling straight through an intersection with a green light. Driver B, approaching from the opposite direction, attempts to turn left across Driver A’s path. If Driver B turns when Driver A is too close for the maneuver to be completed safely, Driver B may bear significant responsibility for the resulting collision.

But that does not mean the left-turning driver is automatically responsible for every accident.

Other factors could change the analysis.

The oncoming driver may have:

• Been speeding
• Run a red light
• Entered the intersection illegally
• Driven while distracted
• Changed lanes unexpectedly
• Failed to take reasonable action to avoid the collision

Determining fault requires examining what both drivers were doing rather than simply assuming that the person making the left turn caused the crash.

Is the Driver Making a Left Turn Always at Fault?

No.

The left-turn rule is important, but liability in an Arizona car accident is based on the circumstances surrounding the collision.
lass=”yoast-text-mark” />>Consider an accident in which a driver begins a left turn when the road appears clear, but another vehicle enters the intersection against a red light. The fact that one vehicle was turning left does not necessarily make that driver responsible.

Similarly, excessive speed can matter. A driver judging whether there is enough time to turn may make that decision based on the reasonable expectation that approaching motorists are traveling at or near a lawful speed.
Evidence may therefore be critical in determining exactly what happened.

What About a Protected Left Turn?

A green arrow can significantly change the right-of-way analysis.

Under A.R.S. § 28-645, a driver facing a green arrow may cautiously enter the intersection to make the indicated movement. The driver must still yield to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

If a driver making a protected left turn is struck by someone who ran a red light, for example, evidence showing the signal sequence may become especially important.

Traffic camera footage, witness statements, dash cam recordings, and electronic vehicle data can sometimes help establish which driver had the appropriate signal.

Who Is at Fault in a Right-Turn Accident in Arizona?

Right turns can appear straightforward, but they can create several potential conflicts.

A right-turn accident might happen when a driver:

• Turns from an improper lane
• Fails to yield to a pedestrian
• Turns on red without yielding
• Ignores a “No Turn on Red” sign
• Swings too far into another lane
• Turns into the path of another road user
• Fails to notice a bicyclist or pedestrian before beginning the turn

Arizona law generally requires a right turn to be approached and made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or roadway edge, subject to exceptions such as certain large vehicles.

Whether the turning driver is liable will depend on how the turn was made and what other drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists were doing at the time.

Can You Turn Right on Red in Arizona?

Generally, yes, unless a sign prohibits it.

However, a red light does not give a driver permission to simply roll through the intersection.
Under A.R.S. § 28-645, a driver facing a steady red signal must stop. After stopping, the driver may generally make a right turn unless prohibited by a sign, but must yield to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal.

This means a driver who turns right on red and collides with a vehicle that had the right of way may be found negligent. The same issue can arise when a driver focuses entirely on approaching cars from the left and fails to notice a pedestrian in the crosswalk.

Do Turning Drivers Have to Yield to Pedestrians?

Drivers making either right or left turns need to account for pedestrians lawfully using the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.
A green traffic signal does not necessarily mean a turning driver has an unrestricted right to proceed. Arizona’s traffic-signal statute requires turning traffic to yield to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or adjacent crosswalk in the circumstances described by the statute.

Pedestrian accidents can be particularly serious because a person on foot has little physical protection from the impact of a vehicle. When a pedestrian is hit by a turning vehicle, an investigation may examine the traffic signal, pedestrian signal, crosswalk markings, driver visibility, vehicle speed, and whether either party was distracted.

What If a Turning Vehicle Hits a Bicyclist?

Accidents involving bicycles can raise additional questions about lane position, right of way, visibility, and how the driver performed the turn.

For example, a motorist preparing for a right turn may fail to notice a bicyclist traveling nearby. A left-turning motorist may also misjudge the distance or speed of an approaching cyclist.

Evidence such as surveillance footage, vehicle damage, witness accounts, roadway markings, and the location of the impact can help reconstruct what occurred.

Does Failing to Use a Turn Signal Affect Liability?

It can.

A driver’s turn signal communicates an intended maneuver to other road users. When a driver makes a sudden turn without adequate warning, other motorists may have less time to respond.

Failure to signal does not automatically establish liability for an accident. However, it may become one piece of evidence used to determine whether the driver acted reasonably and whether the driver’s actions contributed to the crash.
Investigators may also look at lane changes, braking, vehicle position, traffic controls, speed, and witness testimony.

Can Both Drivers Be at Fault for an Arizona Turning Accident?

Yes.

Arizona follows a comparative negligence system. Under A.R.S. § 12-2505, a claimant’s damages can generally be reduced in proportion to the claimant’s degree of fault when comparative negligence applies.

Suppose, for example, that a left-turning driver failed to yield but the approaching driver was also speeding. Depending on the evidence, fault could potentially be allocated between them.

If an injured person had $100,000 in recoverable damages but was found 20% responsible for the accident, comparative fault could reduce that person’s recovery by 20%, subject to the particular facts and legal issues involved.

This is one reason an insurance company’s initial statement about who caused an accident should not necessarily be treated as the final word.

What Evidence Can Establish Fault in a Turning Accident?

Turning accidents can happen within seconds, and the drivers involved may have very different accounts of what occurred.

Useful evidence may include:

• Police accident reports
• Dash cam footage
• Traffic or surveillance camera footage
• Photographs and videos from the scene
• Vehicle damage
• Skid marks and debris
• Witness statements
• Traffic signal information
• Cell phone records when distraction is an issue
• Vehicle event data
• Medical records documenting accident-related injuries

The location of the vehicle damage can also help explain the mechanics of a collision. For example, damage to the side of a turning vehicle may tell a different story than a direct rear-end impact. Because some forms of evidence can disappear or be overwritten, gathering relevant information soon after a serious accident may be important.

What Should You Do After a Left- or Right-Turn Accident?

After an Arizona intersection accident, prioritize your safety and medical needs. Depending on the circumstances, useful steps can include reporting the accident, obtaining medical attention, photographing the scene and vehicle damage, exchanging required information, identifying witnesses, and preserving any available dash cam footage.

Be cautious about making assumptions regarding fault before all of the evidence has been reviewed.

An insurance adjuster may ask for a statement about exactly how the accident occurred. If the crash caused significant injuries or there is a dispute over liability, consider speaking with an attorney before providing detailed recorded statements or accepting a settlement.

How an Arizona Car Accident Attorney Can Help

Liability after a turning accident is not always obvious.

An attorney can investigate issues such as:

• Which driver had the right of way
• Whether the turn was legally and safely executed
• What the traffic signals showed
• Whether a driver was speeding
• Whether either driver was distracted
• Whether pedestrians or cyclists were involved
• Whether surveillance or dash cam footage exists
• Whether multiple parties share responsibility
• How comparative negligence could affect compensation

A lawyer can also communicate with insurance companies and help document damages resulting from the accident.

Injured in a Turning Accident? Contact the Law Offices of Sonja Duckstein

Whether you were hit by a driver making an unsafe left turn, struck by someone turning right on red, or injured in an intersection collision where fault is disputed, the details of the turn can have a major impact on your claim.

At the Law Offices of Sonja Duckstein, we help injured people understand their rights after Arizona car accidents and evaluate the evidence.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Arizona, contact the Law Offices of Sonja Duckstein to discuss your situation and learn more about your legal options.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The outcome of any claim depends on its specific facts and applicable law.