Injured in a right turn accident in Fresno, CA? Contact the top Fresno right turn accident lawyer to seek justice and compensation.
Right turn crashes in Fresno happen at the same intersections every week. Shaw and Blackstone, Shields and First, the Highway 99 on-ramps at Clinton and Tulare, these are the locations where drivers fail to yield, cut across bike lanes, or skip the full stop before turning right on red.Â
When a driver making an illegal right turn hits you, the at-fault driver’s insurer often tries to shift some of the blame onto you, arguing you were speeding, in a blind spot, or failed to anticipate the turn.
At Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, our motor vehicle accident attorneys have served Fresno and Central Valley injury victims since 1971. We pull intersection camera footage from the City of Fresno, request signal timing data, identify every applicable California Vehicle Code violation, and build the liability case before the insurer locks in its version of events.Â
With more than 100,000 clients served and over $1 billion recovered, we prepare every case as if it may go to trial. From our Fresno office at 2045 E Ashlan Ave, Suite 106, we represent clients throughout the Central Valley with no upfront fees and no cost unless we win.
Get a free consultation today and discover how our right turn accident attorneys in Fresno can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
Common Right Turn Crash Scenarios in Fresno
Right turn crashes happen in predictable ways, and knowing which type of crash you were in helps us build the right legal strategy. Fresno’s busiest corridors, including Shaw Avenue, Herndon Avenue, Blackstone Avenue, and the SR-99 and SR-41 freeway ramps, see these collisions regularly.
The most common scenarios we handle include:
- Rolling right on red: A driver fails to come to a complete stop before turning and strikes a pedestrian, cyclist, or vehicle already in the intersection.
- Wide right turn into adjacent lanes: A driver swings too wide and collides with a vehicle traveling legally in the next lane.
- Right hook into a bike lane: A driver turns across a marked bike lane and hits a cyclist who had the right of way.
- Failure to yield at a crosswalk: A driver turns into a pedestrian who is legally crossing with the walk signal.
- Commercial truck squeeze: A large delivery truck or city bus swings left to complete a wide right turn and traps a smaller vehicle against the curb.
One pattern we see in Fresno right turn cases is that right hook crashes involving cyclists on Blackstone Avenue and the Shields Avenue corridor are the most aggressively contested by insurers.Â
Drivers who turn across a marked bike lane argue the cyclist was traveling too fast to be visible, which is the opposite of how CVC 21209 assigns responsibility.
We request signal timing records from the City of Fresno Traffic Engineering division and intersection footage from commercial properties on the corner to document whether the cyclist was where the law required them to be.
California Right Turn Rules and Why They Matter
California law places three clear legal duties on every driver before making a right turn on red. First, the driver must come to a complete stop. Second, they must check that the path is clear. Third, they must yield to pedestrians, cyclists, and oncoming traffic before proceeding.
These duties come from California Vehicle Code sections that define safe turning behavior:
- CVC 21453: Requires a full stop at red lights before any turn.
- CVC 22100: Requires drivers to turn from the correct lane position.
- CVC 21950: Requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
- CVC 21209: Prohibits driving in a designated bike lane except to turn.
- CVC 22107: Requires that a turn only be made when it is reasonably safe to do so.
Breaking any of these rules is direct evidence of negligence, and negligence is the legal foundation of your claim.
Who Is Liable in a Fresno Right Turn Accident?
In most right turn crashes, the driver making the turn carries the majority of the fault because they had a legal duty to yield. However, liability does not always fall on one person alone.
The Turning Driver
When a driver rolls through a stop, swings into the wrong lane, or turns without checking for cyclists and pedestrians, they are in violation of California law. Police citations issued at the scene and intersection camera footage are two of the strongest tools we use to prove fault against the turning driver.
Commercial Drivers and Their Employers
When a delivery truck, rideshare vehicle, or city bus causes a right turn crash, the driver’s employer may share legal responsibility. Commercial vehicles carry significantly larger insurance policies than personal vehicles, which can increase the compensation available to you. We investigate the driver’s employment records, route logs, and vehicle maintenance history to identify every liable party.
Government Entities
If a dangerous intersection design, a missing crosswalk signal, or a broken traffic light contributed to your crash, the City of Fresno or another government agency may share liability. Claims against government entities must be filed within six months of the crash date under California Government Code 911.2, which is a much shorter deadline than the standard two-year window for personal injury claims.
What we see across the right turn claims we handle in Fresno is that employer liability surfaces regularly when the at-fault vehicle is a delivery truck or rideshare driver making a commercial trip near the Highway 99 business corridors or the Shaw Avenue commercial strip.Â
When a driver was operating under a delivery dispatch or rideshare assignment at the time of the crash, a commercial policy is often available in addition to the personal auto coverage.Â
We confirm employment status and vehicle ownership within the first few days of every case because that additional insurance is frequently what makes a serious injury claim fully compensable.
What Evidence Proves Fault in a Right Turn Crash?
Evidence disappears quickly after an intersection crash. The City of Fresno routinely overwrites camera footage within days. We send preservation letters immediately to lock down the proof before it is gone.
Evidence Type | What It Shows | How We Obtain It |
Intersection and business camera footage | Lane position, signal color, and who entered first | Preservation letters sent within days of the crash |
Signal timing and phase data | Whether the light or walk signal was in your favor | Public records request to the City of Fresno |
Vehicle EDR data | Speed, braking, and steering input before impact | Subpoena and independent vehicle inspection |
Phone records | Whether the driver was distracted at the moment of the turn | Subpoena during litigation |
Police report and witness statements | Initial fault findings and third-party accounts | Direct outreach to responding officers and witnesses |
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Right Turn Crash?
California law allows injured victims to pursue both economic damages, which cover your financial losses, and noneconomic damages, which cover the personal toll of the injury. We calculate every category of loss before we send a demand to the insurance company.
Medical Bills and Future Care
We pursue compensation for your emergency room visit, diagnostic imaging, surgery, physical therapy, and all follow-up appointments. We also coordinate medical liens with your treating providers so you can receive necessary care right now and settle those bills later from your recovery.
Lost Income and Reduced Earning Capacity
If your injuries kept you out of work, we recover your lost wages using pay stubs and a letter from your employer. If your injuries permanently limit the type of work you can do, we also demand compensation for your reduced earning capacity going forward.
Pain, Suffering, and Loss of Enjoyment
These are noneconomic damages that compensate you for the physical pain you endured and the activities you can no longer do. In serious right turn cases involving spinal injuries or traumatic brain injuries, noneconomic damages often represent the largest portion of the total recovery.
What To Do After a Right Turn Accident in Fresno?
The steps you take in the hours and days after a crash directly affect the strength of your claim. Here is what we recommend:
Step 1: Call 911 and Get Medical Care. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries like concussions and soft tissue damage. See a doctor immediately and keep every discharge paper, prescription record, and billing statement you receive.
Step 2: Document the Scene. Photograph the crosswalk, lane markings, traffic signals, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries before vehicles are moved. Ask nearby businesses whether they have security cameras that face the street.
Step 3: Decline a Recorded Statement. The other driver’s insurance adjuster will likely call you within days. Tell them you are still receiving medical care and that your attorney will follow up. Recorded statements are routinely used to minimize or deny claims.
Step 4: Contact Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers. Our Fresno office is available 24 hours a day, offers free consultations, and has Spanish-speaking staff ready to help. We take over communication with the insurance company so you are not pressured into a settlement that does not cover your full losses.
How Comparative Fault Affects Your Right Turn Claim
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible for the crash. Your total award is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is not eliminated entirely.
For example, if a driver illegally rolled through a red light and hit you, but the insurance company argues you stepped into the crosswalk a moment late, you can still recover the majority of your damages. We challenge fault assignments aggressively to protect the full value of your case.
In our experience handling right turn accident cases in Fresno, the comparative fault argument is almost always the insurer’s fallback when the intersection camera footage clearly shows the driver failed to stop.Â
Adjusters cite the injured party’s speed, lane position, or reaction time to assign partial fault and reduce the settlement offer.Â
We respond with signal timing data from the City of Fresno and expert analysis of the vehicle speeds involved, which makes it very difficult for the insurer to sustain a credible fault argument against a driver who had the right of way.
How Long You Have to File a Right Turn Accident Claim in California?
California Code of Civil Procedure 335.1 gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. For property damage only, you have three years. If a government entity is involved, such as a city with a defective signal or a public bus driver, you must file an administrative claim within six months.
Waiting weakens your case because evidence disappears and witnesses forget details. The sooner you contact Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, the stronger your claim will be.
Why Choose Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers?
We represent clients in personal injury and car accident cases and pursue full compensation on their behalf. We have decades of experience representing clients and securing meaningful recoveries on their behalf. Many of our cases come from referrals, reflecting the trust we have built with Fresno families over decades.
We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. That preparation gives us real leverage at the negotiating table, when insurance companies refuse fair offers, we take cases to verdict, as shown by results including a $15,477,235 jury verdict in a catastrophic collision case and an $834,650 verdict after an insurer refused to pay policy limits. You pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Usually at Fault in a Right Turn Accident in California?
The turning driver is typically at fault because California law requires them to yield to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles before completing the turn. Fault is always determined by the specific facts of each crash.
What If the Police Report Assigns Fault to Me?
A police report is not a final legal determination of fault. We can challenge an inaccurate report using intersection video, independent witness accounts, and expert analysis.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if the Other Driver Has No Insurance?
Yes. Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can pay for your medical bills and lost wages when the at-fault driver lacks sufficient coverage. We handle these claims regularly.
How Long Does a Right Turn Accident Case Take to Resolve?
Cases involving minor injuries and clear liability may settle within a few months. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or government entities typically take longer to ensure you receive full compensation.
Contact Our Fresno Right Turn Accident Lawyers
Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers is located at 2045 E Ashlan Ave STE 106 in Fresno, CA. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and our consultations are always free. We handle the insurance companies, the paperwork, and the legal deadlines so you can focus on your medical care and your family. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.