Were you recently hurt in a U-turn car accident in Tampa, Florida? Contact Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers to discuss your legal rights and options. You may have the right to recover compensation for your injuries and suffering. Our experienced Tampa car accident lawyers can help you fight to maximize your financial recovery.
At Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers, we’re known and respected trial attorneys with a demonstrated ability to win big for our clients. We’ve helped our clients win more than $500 million in benefits, settlements, and verdicts.
Put 120+ years of experience behind your fight for compensation after a U-turn accident. Contact our law offices in Tampa, Florida or call (813) 222-8656 to get started. Your first consultation is free.
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How Our Tampa Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You After a U-Turn Car Crash
U-turns can be incredibly dangerous in a city like Tampa, but that doesn’t stop drivers from taking the risk. Unfortunately, too many U-turns result in accidents, injuries, and death. With so many factors at play, it can be tough to figure out what caused a U-turn accident and who’s truly at fault.
That’s where the Tampa car accident attorneys at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers can help. We’ll take care of your personal injury claim so that you can concentrate on getting better.
If you trust our Tampa U-turn car accident lawyers with your case, we will:
- Investigate to pinpoint the cause(s) of your U-turn crash
- Gather evidence – including police reports, video footage, photographs, witness statements, medical records, and more – to prove that you were hurt because someone made an unsafe U-turn
- Bring in experts to provide guidance and insight as we build and value your car accident injury case
- Defend you against claims that you share responsibility or fault for the collision with the turning vehicle
- Handle negotiations with insurance companies and other parties
If you aren’t offered a fair settlement, don’t panic. Our respected Florida trial attorneys will be fully prepared to go to court and argue your case before a jury. We’re persuasive and will be armed with the facts and evidence needed to get you the money you deserve.
Contact our law office serving Tampa, Florida and surrounding areas in Hillsborough County now. We offer a free consultation. Our team is standing by to answer your call 24 hours a day.
Are U-Turns Legal in Florida?
Yes, U-turns are legal in Florida, unless there are signs that specifically prohibit the maneuver.
According to FL Statute § 316.1515, drivers who want to make a U-turn must:
- Yield the right of way to all other traffic,
- Not interfere with traffic when executing the turn, and
- Obey all posted traffic control signs.
This means that the driver making the U-turn needs to look for oncoming traffic, pedestrians who might be in a nearby crosswalk or intersection, and bicyclists traveling on the road.
Only once the coast is entirely clear – meaning that the U-turn will not interfere with anyone else’s use of the road – can the turn be made legally.
How Common Are U-Turn Car Accidents?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U-turns are a factor in roughly 4,300 traffic accidents every year.
U-turns are a risky maneuver. Drivers could choose to change directions by doing something safer, like making safe left turns or turning around in a safer space. But, many choose to make U-turns and contribute to about 11 to 12 avoidable motor vehicle accidents every single day.
What Causes U-Turn Car Crashes?
U-turns happen when drivers:
- Miscalculate the amount of time they have to make the turn
- Fail to look for oncoming traffic before turning
- Fail to look for pedestrians or bicyclists in intersections, at crosswalks, or on the road
- Fail to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic
- Don’t see other motorists making turns at the same time
- Attempt to make a turn from a middle lane or a right lane
- Fail to make a legal U-turn from a designated turning lane (when available)
- Make an illegal U-turn at a red light
- Try to make a U-turn when there’s an obstructed view
U-turn accidents can also happen when oncoming motorists speed up or are distracted, if a vehicle malfunctions or is defective, or when road surfaces are slick.
Who’s Liable For a U-Turn Car Accident in Tampa?
Typically, the driver attempting to turn around will be at fault for the crash. They’re making the dangerous (and unnecessary) maneuver, so they have a heightened responsibility to make the turn safely.
However, there are times when other parties may be at fault or share responsibility.
Potentially liable parties could include:
- Other negligent motorists
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Government agencies, if there are road defects or hazards
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Property owners
It’s important to make sure that your U-turn auto accident is subject to a thorough investigation. This is the only way to ensure that every possible cause is uncovered. Once the cause(s) are established, you will know who’s at fault and liable for your injuries.
Speak With a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer About Your U-Turn Car Accident
You may be entitled to compensation if you’ve been involved in a U-turn car accident in Tampa, Florida. The experienced Tampa car accident attorneys at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers can help you secure maximum damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
If your family member was killed in a fatal U-turn car accident, our wrongful death attorneys can help you seek just compensation for your loss.
Contact our law office in Tampa, FL to learn more about how our top-rated legal team can help. Your first consultation is free, so give us a call to get started now.
