• FreeAdvice has a new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our Terms of Service and use of cookies.

left turn lanes

Accident - Bankruptcy - Criminal Law / DUI - Business - Consumer - Employment - Family - Immigration - Real Estate - Tax - Traffic - Wills   Please click a topic or scroll down for more.

P

poorcar

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NH
A car is in the travel lane with a 2nd car in front of them turning right. The car pulls out crossing a solid white line into a left turn only lane to continue straight ahead (not turning). The car hits a third car that had stopped at a cross street then proceeded to cross the road. The third car had assumed the first car had to wait for the 2nd car to complete its turn before continuing forward. Did the first car violate any traffic law?
 


Zigner

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
poorcar said:
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NH
A car is in the travel lane with a 2nd car in front of them turning right. The car pulls out crossing a solid white line into a left turn only lane to continue straight ahead (not turning). The car hits a third car that had stopped at a cross street then proceeded to cross the road. The third car had assumed the first car had to wait for the 2nd car to complete its turn before continuing forward. Did the first car violate any traffic law?
Click to expand...
Yes, but so did car #3. Car #3 is supposed to assure that the path is clear before entering the intersection.
 
E

ecmst12

Senior Member
Actually the first car probably did NOT violate any laws, they were legally passing on the left, the car which was making a right turn. Accident is definitely the 3rd car's fault. Never make assumptions about what another car might do - watch what they DO do.
 
Zigner

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
ecmst12 said:
Actually the first car probably did NOT violate any laws, they were legally passing on the left, the car which was making a right turn. Accident is definitely the 3rd car's fault. Never make assumptions about what another car might do - watch what they DO do.
Click to expand...
The car entered a left-turn only lane and proceeded straight through the intersection. That is not legal.
 
P

poorcar

Junior Member
Car #1 pulled up behind car #2 (less than a car length) stopped, then pulled out from behind car #2 into the left turn only lane. Car # 3 was already past the travel lane about half way across the intersection when car #1 pulled out.
 
A

Adalaide78

Member
Left turn only lanes are only for left turns. This should be pretty clear and not need an explination. Using a turn only lane to pass another car is obviously illegal, you can tell by they way they call it a "turn only" lane. In your second post you make it perfectly clear that car #3 would have made it safely across the intersection had car #1 not illegally entered the other lane.
 
Last edited:
E

ecmst12

Senior Member
Well car 3 still had the duty to yield to ALL traffic going straight. So that car is still at fault. Perhaps slightly mitigated by the improper lane use.
 
P

poorcar

Junior Member
How do you yield to a car that could not proceed straight because of a turning car in front of them and passes illegaly by using the turn only lane to proceed?
 
Zigner

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
poorcar said:
How do you yield to a car that could not proceed straight because of a turning car in front of them and passes illegaly by using the turn only lane to proceed?
Click to expand...
Your story doesn't make sense. If the car was 1/2 way through the intersection before the other car even STARTED his illegal pass (from a full stop), then there's no way the collision would have occurred. Once you take in to account the "fudge factor" that you've built in to your story (trying to improve your claim of innocence), then it is clear.
 
P

poorcar

Junior Member
The car that pulled out had about 1car length to travel. I believe the term is they "gunned it". Car three was a standard which was in 2nd by the middle of the intersection.
 
Zigner

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
poorcar said:
The car that pulled out had about 1car length to travel. I believe the term is they "gunned it". Car three was a standard which was in 2nd by the middle of the intersection.
Click to expand...
Still not making sense...I think that the car that was proceeding straight more than likely "missed" the car coming from the side, which is why he didn't yield.
 
V

VeronicaLodge

Senior Member
Adalaide78 said:
Left turn only lanes are only for left turns. This should be pretty clear and not need an explination. Using a turn only lane to pass another car is obviously illegal, you can tell by they way they call it a "turn only" lane. In your second post you make it perfectly clear that car #3 would have made it safely across the intersection had car #1 not illegally entered the other lane.
Click to expand...
not perfectly clear #3 would have made it, lets pretend that car #1Actually went into the left turn lane AND turned left, car #3 who did not have the right away would have still been hit as it tried to finish whatever it was doing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Find the Right Lawyer for Your Legal Issue!

Fast, Free, and Confidential
data-ad-format="auto">
Top