Is a U-Turning Vehicle Always Fully Liable in a Collision?
1 Answers
Determining liability when a vehicle is hit while making a U-turn depends on the specific circumstances. The U-turning vehicle is responsible for observing road conditions; turning and U-turning vehicles must yield to through traffic. If the U-turning vehicle completes the maneuver without carefully assessing the road conditions while other vehicles are proceeding normally, the U-turning vehicle should bear full liability. If a dashcam is available, presenting video evidence can help, or wait for the traffic police to issue an accident liability determination report. Relevant regulations: According to Article 49 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law", motor vehicles are prohibited from making U-turns at locations with no U-turn or no left-turn signs or markings, as well as at railway crossings, pedestrian crossings, bridges, sharp curves, steep slopes, tunnels, or other hazardous sections. Motor vehicles may make U-turns at locations without no U-turn or no left-turn signs or markings, provided they do not obstruct the passage of other normally traveling vehicles and pedestrians. Article 52 states: When motor vehicles pass through intersections without traffic signals or traffic police direction, in addition to complying with the provisions of Items (2) and (3) of Article 51, they must also adhere to the following rules: when there are traffic signs or markings, yield to the party with the right of way; when there are no traffic signs or markings, stop and observe before entering the intersection, yielding to vehicles coming from the right; turning motor vehicles must yield to through traffic; right-turning vehicles from the opposite direction must yield to left-turning vehicles.
