Hurt in a car or truck crash?
Leave your name and phone. We call back today, in English or Spanish. The consultation is free and confidential.
Free consultation · English y Español · No fees or costs unless we win
California’s left-turn rule
A California driver turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles that are close enough to be a hazard (Vehicle Code 21801). In plain terms, the turning driver has to wait until there is enough room to finish the turn safely. If they misjudge the gap and an oncoming car hits them, they usually carry most of the blame.
Turning drivers must also yield to people in crosswalks. A driver focused on the oncoming lane may not see a pedestrian until it is too late. If you were walking when a turning car hit you, read hit in a crosswalk for the rules that protect people on foot. Tell the police exactly where you were standing.
When the oncoming driver shares the blame
The oncoming driver can share fault if they were speeding, ran a red light, were on a phone, or had no lights on at night. A turning driver who started the turn on a green arrow is in a very different position from one who turned on a plain green. Signal timing and video often decide these disputes.
California uses pure comparative fault. Each person’s share of fault reduces their damages in proportion, but it does not bar recovery (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.). So even if you were the one turning, you may have a claim if the other driver was going far too fast. The answer depends on the facts; a lawyer can check.
Motorcycles are often hit by left-turning cars because drivers misjudge their speed or do not see them. If you were riding, our page on lane-splitting crashes explains how fault is judged for riders. Riders are smaller and harder to see, but the turning driver still has to yield. Helmet cameras, witness accounts and damage to the bike often show how fast the rider was really going.
Free accident case review
Tell us what happened. We will tell you plainly whether there is a case and what to do next. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Evidence that settles left-turn disputes
Left-turn crashes often come down to whose story holds up. The police report is a good start, and the agency must release it to a driver involved or an injured person (Vehicle Code 20012). Our guide on getting a police report in California walks through the request. Read it closely for mistakes.
Video from traffic cameras, businesses, and other drivers’ dashcams can show the signal and each car’s speed. The cars’ own data may record speed and braking in the seconds before impact. Witnesses at the corner are valuable because they saw the light. Collect names and numbers at the scene if you can.
What to do now
Get medical care right away. Left-turn crashes often hit the side of a car, where there is little protection, and injuries can be serious. Tell your doctor exactly how the crash happened and keep every appointment. Keep receipts for medical costs, rides and car rentals, and write down the claim number from each insurer.
Take photos of both cars, the intersection and the signals. Write down the names and phone numbers of witnesses. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before you talk to a lawyer. Adjusters may ask what color the light was in a way that boxes you in.
Deadline to file
Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). A lawsuit for damage to your car generally must be filed within three years (Code of Civil Procedure 338). If a city vehicle was involved, or a broken signal played a part, a much shorter claim deadline can apply.
Do not wait until the deadline is close. Signal records and video get harder to find with time. Call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959 or use the form, and we can start gathering the evidence. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. We can also talk with you about your medical care and the insurers.
Common questions
Is the left-turning driver always at fault?
Not always. A driver turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles close enough to be a hazard, so the turning driver is often at fault. If the oncoming driver was speeding or ran a red light, fault can be shared, and each driver’s recovery is reduced by their share.
Who is at fault if I turned left on a yellow light?
It depends on the timing and the other driver’s speed. You still had to yield to oncoming cars that were close enough to be a hazard. If the oncoming driver sped up to beat a red, they may share fault. Video and witnesses are often the deciding evidence.
Can I still get paid if I was turning left when I got hit?
Possibly. California’s pure comparative fault rule lets you recover even if you share fault, reduced by your share. If the oncoming driver was going far over the limit or ran a red light, you may have a real claim. A lawyer can review the evidence.
How do I prove the other driver ran the light?
Look for traffic and business cameras, dashcam footage, witnesses at the corner, and signal timing records. The police report may also record statements from both drivers. Move fast, because many cameras record over their footage within days or weeks.
Ask a question
Not ready to call? Write your question and someone on our team will answer. No cost, no commitment.
Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Car accident not my fault: what to do · Car accident not my fault: do I call my insurance? · Do I pay my deductible if the accident wasn’t my fault? · Will my insurance rates go up if I wasn’t at fault? · What to do after a car accident in California · All car and truck accident questions
Sources
Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.