When a driver making a right turn strikes you or someone you love, determining fault becomes more complex than in typical collisions. These accidents often involve disputes over who had the right of way, whether proper signals were given, and whether the turning driver checked their blind spots for pedestrians and cyclists.
At Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we understand the confusion and frustration you face when insurance companies dispute liability or minimize your injuries from what they consider a “minor” turning accident.
Our Bakersfield attorneys have handled thousands of right-turn accident cases throughout Kern County, from busy intersections along Ming Avenue to congested parking lots on Stockdale Highway.
We know exactly how to prove negligence when drivers cut across bike lanes, fail to yield at crosswalks, or make illegal wide turns that cause serious injuries. Drawing on extensive experience serving Bakersfield residents, we possess the local knowledge and strategies to maximize your compensation, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
What Is a Right Turn Accident?
A right-turn accident happens when a driver making a right turn collides with another road user. This includes crashes with pedestrians crossing legally, cyclists in bike lanes, or other vehicles already in traffic lanes. These incidents frequently occur at busy Bakersfield intersections, where multiple parties have competing rights of way.
The most common scenarios involve drivers who fail to complete required safety checks before turning. Many accidents happen because turning drivers focus only on oncoming traffic while ignoring crosswalks or bike lanes.
Common right-turn collision types include:
Crosswalk pedestrian strikes:
The driver turns without checking for people crossing legally
Right hook bicycle crashes:
Motorist cuts across the bike lane, striking the cyclist proceeding straight
Multi-lane vehicle sweeps:
Wide turns that swing into adjacent traffic lanes
Backing vehicle collisions:
The driver reversing from a parking space hits a passing pedestrian or cyclist
Who Is at Fault in a Right Turn Accident in California?
California law places specific duties on turning drivers who determine fault in right-turn crashes. The driver who violates Vehicle Code requirements typically bears primary liability. However, California’s pure comparative negligence system means you can still recover damages even if you share some fault.
Your compensation gets reduced only by your percentage of responsibility. In a 20% fault in $100k case, you would receive $80,000. Understanding these fault rules helps protect your right to fair compensation.
Right-On-Red Legal Requirements
California Vehicle Code Section 21453 requires drivers to make a complete stop before the limit line when turning right on a red light.
You must then follow the Pedestrian yield requirement, yielding the right-of-way to all pedestrians and approaching traffic before proceeding. Rolling through without stopping creates automatic liability.
The law defines “complete stop” as wheels completely motionless behind the crosswalk or limit line. Simply slowing down doesn’t satisfy this requirement and establishes negligence in any resulting crash.
Pedestrian Crosswalk Rights
Vehicle Code 21950, the pedestrian right-of-way, gives pedestrians the absolute right-of-way in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. Drivers must yield to any pedestrian who has entered the crosswalk, even if the person appears suddenly. This protection extends to all intersections, whether controlled by signals or not.
The law requires drivers to exercise Due care for pedestrian safety at all times. This means actively looking for people who might enter your path, not just assuming crosswalks are clear.
Proper Lane Positioning for Turns
The right-turn lane rule requires drivers to make right turns as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, subject to the exceptions listed in this section.
Wide turns that cross multiple lanes also violate this statute. Commercial trucks are granted limited exceptions for necessary swing-outs, but passenger vehicles must remain in their designated turning lane.
Bike Lane Merge Rules
Vehicle Code Section 21717 permits drivers to enter bike lanes before making right turns, provided they are within 200 feet of the intersection.
This law recognizes that right turns across bike lanes create dangerous conflicts. Proper merging gives cyclists time to react and prevents “right hook” collisions.
Do Drivers Always Yield When Turning Right?
Yes, turning drivers must always yield right-of-way regardless of the traffic light color. A green light doesn’t override your duty to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or cyclists in bike lanes. You only proceed when your path is completely clear of other road users with superior rights.
Many drivers mistakenly believe green lights give them automatic turning privileges. The law actually requires yielding even during protected green phases if pedestrians or cyclists are present legally.
Common Right Turn Crash Scenarios in Bakersfield
Bakersfield’s busy arterials, such as Ming Avenue and Stockdale Highway, experience frequent right-turn accidents due to heavy traffic and complex intersections. Understanding these patterns helps identify liability and strengthen your case.
Pedestrian Crosswalk Collisions
Most pedestrian crashes occur when drivers perform rolling stops and fail to check for pedestrian traffic. They fail to scan crosswalks before turning, striking people who are legally entering the intersection. These accidents often result in severe injuries due to the vulnerability of pedestrians.
Visibility issues at certain intersections compound this problem. Parked cars, landscaping, or signal equipment can block sightlines between drivers and pedestrians.
Cyclist Right Hook Crashes
“Right hook” accidents occur when drivers turn right without checking bike lanes or their passenger-side mirrors. The cyclist, traveling straight in the bike lane, gets cut off or struck by the turning vehicle. Bakersfield’s expanding bike infrastructure makes these crashes increasingly common.
Many drivers don’t understand that cyclists have equal road rights and must be treated like other vehicles. Assumptions about cyclist speed or presence lead to dangerous turning decisions.
Multi-Lane Turning Conflicts
Drivers making wide right turns often swing into the second lane, striking vehicles proceeding straight. This occurs frequently at intersections with dedicated right-turn lanes, where drivers mistakenly assume they can use multiple lanes.
Commercial vehicles often require wider turns, whereas passenger cars must stay within their designated lane throughout the turning movement.
Truck Off-Tracking Incidents
Large trucks must swing wide to complete right turns due to their length and turning radius. When truck drivers fail to signal properly or check their blind spots, they can cause serious harm to smaller vehicles caught in the turning path.
These accidents often result in catastrophic injuries due to the size disparity between trucks and passenger vehicles.
Uncontrolled Intersection Crashes
At intersections without traffic signals, right-of-way rules become more complex. The first vehicle to arrive and stop generally has priority, but turning vehicles must still yield to straight-through traffic. Confusion about these rules leads to serious collisions.
Critical Evidence in Right Turn Accident Cases
Preserving evidence quickly is essential because much of it disappears within days or hours. Our legal team acts immediately to secure proof before it’s lost or destroyed.
| Evidence Type | Preservation Window | Our Response |
| Traffic cameras | 3-7 days | Immediate preservation letters |
| Business security footage | 7-30 days | Same-day investigation requests |
| Vehicle black box data | Can be overwritten | Spoliation notice within 48 hours |
| Signal timing records | 30-90 days | Formal public records requests |
Police Reports and Witness Statements
Official police reports provide crucial documentation of the accident scene, vehicle positions, and initial fault determinations. Independent witnesses offer unbiased accounts that insurance companies can’t easily dispute.
We locate and interview witnesses immediately, while their memories are still fresh. Delayed witness contact often results in forgotten details or lost contact information.
Video and Photographic Evidence
Traffic cameras at major Bakersfield intersections capture many right-turn accidents on video. We also seek footage from nearby businesses, gas stations, and residential security systems. This visual evidence often provides definitive proof of traffic violations.
Cell phone videos from bystanders can also document the immediate aftermath and the positions of the vehicles. We work quickly to identify and preserve all available footage.
Traffic Signal Data
For disputed red light cases, we obtain traffic signal timing diagrams from the controlling agency. This data shows exactly when the lights changed colors, confirming or disproving driver claims about signal status.
Signal malfunction records can also establish whether equipment problems contributed to the accident. Cities have maintenance obligations that create potential liability.
Vehicle Damage Analysis
The location and severity of vehicle damage tell a story about impact angles, speeds, and fault. Our accident reconstruction experts analyze these patterns to determine the cause of crashes.
Modern vehicles also contain Event Data Recorders that capture speed, braking, and steering inputs before impact. This “black box” data provides objective evidence about driver actions.
Don’t let critical evidence disappear. Contact Kuzyk Law immediately at (661) 583-0388 to preserve proof of fault.
Compensation Available After Right Turn Crashes
California law allows recovery of all damages caused by another driver’s negligence. The full extent of your losses determines your case value, not the insurance company’s initial offers.
Economic Damages
These cover your measurable financial losses from the accident:
Medical expenses:
Emergency room treatment, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, and future care needs
Lost income:
Wages missed during recovery and reduced future earning capacity from permanent injuries
Property damage:
Vehicle repair or replacement costs, personal items destroyed in the crash
Out-of-pocket costs:
Transportation to medical appointments, home modifications for disabilities
Non-Economic Damages
These address your personal suffering and life changes:
Physical pain:
Compensation for ongoing discomfort and suffering from injuries
Emotional distress:
Anxiety, depression, and trauma resulting from the accident experience
Life enjoyment loss:
Inability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed
Relationship impact:
Strain on marriages and family relationships due to injury limitations
Shared Fault and Your Right to Compensation
California’s pure comparative negligence law protects your right to compensation even if you contributed to the accident. Your recovery gets reduced only by your actual percentage of fault, never eliminated.
Insurance companies often exaggerate the victim’s fault to reduce payouts. We fight these tactics by thoroughly investigating the actual cause of your accident and presenting evidence that minimizes your responsibility.
For example, if you were jaywalking but the driver was texting, the driver likely bears the majority of the fault despite your traffic violation. Proper legal representation ensures a fair allocation of fault.
Steps to Take After a Bakersfield Right Turn Accident
Your actions immediately following the crash can significantly impact your legal case and recovery. Stay calm and follow these essential steps:
Call 911 for medical help:
Request paramedics even for seemingly minor injuries, as some conditions develop hours later
Document everything:
Photograph vehicle damage, street conditions, traffic signals, and visible injuries from multiple angles
Gather information:
Collect driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and contact details from all parties involved
Locate witnesses:
Ask bystanders for names and phone numbers before they leave the scene
Avoid recorded statements:
Politely decline to give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal counsel
Seek immediate medical care:
Get a thorough medical evaluation even if you feel fine initially
Contact our legal team:
Call (661) 583-0388 for a free consultation and immediate case protection
How Kuzyk Law Handles Right Turn Accident Cases
Our decades of experience with over 100,000 clients give us unique insight into right-turn accident litigation. We’ve developed proven strategies for maximizing client recoveries in these complex cases.
Immediate Evidence Preservation
We spring into action within hours of your call, sending preservation letters to prevent the destruction of evidence. Our investigators photograph accident scenes, interview witnesses, and secure video footage before it’s lost.
Time is critical in these cases because evidence tends to disappear quickly. Our rapid response often makes the difference between winning and losing your case.
Legal Strategy Development
We analyze applicable Vehicle Code sections and relevant case law to build the strongest possible negligence case. Our attorneys understand how traffic laws interact and which violations establish clear liability.
We also identify all potentially responsible parties, including vehicle owners, employers of commercial drivers, and government entities responsible for road maintenance.
Expert Witness Coordination
Complex cases often require the expertise of accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and economic analysts to establish damages. We maintain relationships with qualified professionals who can strengthen your case.
These experts help translate technical evidence into compelling testimony that judges and juries understand. Their analysis often provides the foundation for successful settlements.
Insurance Negotiation and Trial Preparation
We handle all insurance company communications to protect you from tactics designed to reduce claim values. Our reputation for thorough preparation and trial success motivates insurers to offer fair settlements.
When necessary, we’re fully prepared to take your case to trial. Our courtroom experience ensures you get maximum compensation, whether through settlement or verdict.
Dangerous Bakersfield Right Turn Locations
Certain Bakersfield intersections see disproportionate numbers of right-turn accidents due to design flaws, traffic patterns, or visibility issues:
Ming Avenue and New Stine Road:
Heavy commercial traffic creates complex turning conflicts with multiple lanes and driveways
Stockdale Highway and California Avenue:
High-speed traffic and poor sight lines contribute to serious crashes
Rosedale Highway and Coffee Road:
Shopping center driveways create frequent pedestrian and vehicle conflicts
Panama Lane and Wible Road:
Inadequate lighting and wide intersections make it difficult to see pedestrians and cyclists
If your accident occurred at one of these locations, we will investigate whether known hazards contributed to the crash. Government agencies can be liable for dangerous road conditions they fail to correct.
Right Turn Accident Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Sue If the Driver Had a Green Light?
Yes, you can sue even if the other driver had a green light when turning right. Green lights don’t eliminate the duty to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or check for cyclists in bike lanes before turning.
What If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
You can still recover compensation under California’s comparative negligence law even if you share some fault. Your award gets reduced by your percentage of responsibility, but you’re not barred from recovery entirely.
How Long Do I Have to File a Right Turn Accident Lawsuit?
California imposes a Two-year filing deadline from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, evidence preservation and witness memories fade quickly, so contacting an attorney immediately protects your case.
Contact a Bakersfield Right Turn Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in a right-turn collision, don’t let insurance companies minimize your claim or rush you into inadequate settlements. The experienced team at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers fights for maximum compensation in all types of traffic accidents.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our Bakersfield office offers complimentary consultations, during which we evaluate your case and explain your legal options without any obligation.
Our proven track record includes substantial verdicts and settlements for clients injured in pedestrian accidents, bicycle crashes, motorcycle collisions, and complex vehicle accidents throughout Kern County. We handle every aspect of your case, allowing you to focus on recovery.
You can schedule a free consultation by calling (661) 583-0388 or visiting our office at 5300 California Avenue in Bakersfield. We are here to discuss your case and provide you with strong legal representation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Don’t wait because California’s statute of limitations gives you a short amount of time to protect your rights.
