Texas Accident & Injury News
Late last month, one woman was killed and another man seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision occurring in Tyler, Texas. According to a recent news report, the driver of a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage was traveling southbound on State Highway 110. As the driver of the Mitsubishi began making a left turn, a Toyota Sienna was traveling northbound on the same road. The driver of the Toyota was unable to avoid the collision, crashing into the passenger side of the Mitsubishi.
The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 44-year-old woman from Tyler, was taken to UT Health East Texas but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the Toyota was taken to nearby Christus Trinity Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler. At the time of the article’s publication, he was is in stable condition.
While every traffic maneuver presents some level of risk, some are more dangerous than others. For a few reasons, left-hand turns are among the most dangerous.
First, when turning left, a driver needs to cross oncoming traffic. Anytime a vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic, the risk of a head-on collision is present. And depending on the intersection, the driver’s line-of-sight may be obscured, making it harder to detect oncoming vehicles.
Second, when crossing oncoming traffic, most motorists have a difficult time assessing the speed of approaching vehicles. Drivers are generally pretty good at determining how fast cars traveling in the same direction are going. However, it is much harder to gauge how fast an oncoming car is approaching. This can lead motorists to think they have more time to complete a turn than they do in reality.
Finally, left turns present some confusing right-of-way rules. For the most part, the rules of the road are intuitive. However, when it comes to left-hand turns, that isn’t always the case. Drivers waiting to make a left turn at an intersection may believe they have the right of way as soon as the light turns yellow.
Carabin Shaw is a local car accident law firm representing individuals and families in cases stemming from all types of Texas motor vehicle collisions. For nearly three decades, the firm’s compassionate and knowledgeable personal injury and wrongful death lawyers have provided accident victims with high-quality legal representation. Carabin Shaw attorneys recognize that this is undoubtedly an extremely challenging time and do everything they can to make the process as easy as possible on accident victims. Carabin Shaw offers all prospective clients a free consultation and can be reached on our website or call 24/7. Contact us today.
Main Office: 875 E Ashby Pl #1100, San Antonio, TX 78212
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