How is liability determined in a collision between a U-turn vehicle and a straight-going vehicle?
3 Answers
Liability in a collision between a U-turn vehicle and a straight-going vehicle is determined as follows: 1. Rear-end collision caused by the rear vehicle hitting the front vehicle in motion: The rear vehicle bears full responsibility. 2. Rear-end collision at night when the front vehicle lacks tail lights: The front vehicle bears secondary responsibility, while the rear vehicle bears primary responsibility. 3. The front vehicle stops on the road but fails to activate hazard warning lights and set up warning signs as required: In such a rear-end collision, the front vehicle bears secondary responsibility, while the rear vehicle bears primary responsibility. 4. The front vehicle stops on the road and properly activates hazard warning lights and sets up warning signs: In such a rear-end collision, the rear vehicle bears full responsibility. 5. The front vehicle is overlength and fails to set up obvious warning signs as required: In such a rear-end collision, the front vehicle bears secondary responsibility, while the rear vehicle bears primary responsibility. 6. Rear-end collision caused by the front vehicle reversing or rolling back into the rear vehicle: The front vehicle bears full responsibility.
I've been driving for over 20 years and seen plenty of U-turn accidents. In most cases, the driver making the U-turn is blamed because they need to yield to straight-moving traffic—it's basic road etiquette. But it's not always black and white. If you're turning and hit someone going straight, you'd be faulted unless they were speeding, running a red light, or distracted. Always check for signals and traffic flow before turning. After a crash, call the cops to make a report—it's key for insurance claims. I remember helping a friend through this; they lost half their claim because witnesses saw them rush the turn. Safety first: always use your indicators and double-check mirrors.
As a daily commuter, I get how stressful these collisions can be. Basically, if you're the one doing the U-turn, you're supposed to give way to anyone going straight ahead. So when two cars crash, the U-turn driver often ends up holding the bag. But things like weather or road conditions can muddle it. If both drivers messed up, insurance might split the blame. My tip: snap photos at the scene and talk to witnesses. Once, I was in a minor scrape where the straight car blew through a stop sign, so we shared costs. To avoid headaches, drive cautiously and keep dashcam footage handy—it saved me before.
