Car Accidents and Failure to Signal
At Chanfrau & Chanfrau, we know just how seriously car crashes can affect people’s lives. A collision could have lifelong effects on your mobility and well being. This is why it’s so crucial to speak with an auto accident attorney at our firm if you have been in a crash in the Daytona Beach and Palm Coast, FL area.
Auto collisions can be caused by all sorts of behaviors behind the wheel. We often think of drunk driving and speeding as the cause of accidents, but something far simpler and more common often leads to collisions. We’re talking about the failure to use your turn signal.
Is Failing to Signal a Pervasive Problem?
It’s probably more common than you think.
According to a 2012 report on Fox Business, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) observed in a study that 48 percent of drivers did not use their signal when changing lanes. The same report cites a 2006 survey from Response Insurance in which 57 percent of respondents admitted that they did not use their tun signal.
If half of all motorists are not signaling, that means a lot of close calls on the road every hour of the day.
Making Left Turns Without Signaling
Left turns are one of the most dangerous maneuvers on the road, particularly unguarded left turns. If you fail to signal while making a left turn, traffic in the oncoming lane could strike your vehicle.
For unguarded left turns, there’s a risk of collisions from oncoming traffic as well as the motorists waiting for the vehicle ahead of them to make that left turn. If a vehicle does not signal that it is making an unguarded left, there’s a danger of an approaching vehicle causing a rear end collision.
Making Right Turns Without Signaling
While right turns are safer than left turns, they can still be extremely dangerous if you do not use a turn signal. You may strike adjacent vehicles while you’re making a turn. This is also especially hazardous to bicyclists and pedestrians, who would likely give a vehicle the right of way if they realized that the vehicle was turning right.
Dangers When Changing Lanes Without Signaling
Lane changes without the use of signals can lead to side collisions and other kinds of crashes. The same is true of merging lanes without turn signals. These aren’t mere courtesies to other drivers, but a means of avoiding catastrophic injuries and even deaths on the road.
Broken Turn Signals
On a related note, there are a number of vehicles on the road with broken signal lights, and these must be taken seriously. This may be the cause of one’s failure to signal, or it may just be another impediment to safe driving on the road. Whatever the case may be, it’s crucial to replace any broken signals or bulbs on your vehicle as soon as they occur.
Who Is Negligent When a Turn Signal Is Not Used?
Using your turn signal is essential, not an option. If a driver fails to signal and causes a collision, they should be held accountable for the injuries and vehicle damage that they caused. Our attorneys can help you seek legal damages from the negligent motorist. Damages will cover material and financial losses as well as the emotional pain and suffering you experienced.
Speak with Our Car Accident Lawyers
To learn more about your legal options following an auto collision, be sure to contact our auto accident lawyers. The team at Chanfrau & Chanfrau can be reached by phone in Daytona Beach at (386) 258-7313 and in Palm Coast at (386) 439-7760.