How to minimize accidents caused by left turns
In 2018, 1,500 pedestrians were killed and more than 6,700 were seriously injured after being hit by vehicles at intersections. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, small changes may make intersections in California and elsewhere safer for those individuals. One option is to implement centerline hardening at intersections where drivers have an opportunity to make left turns. By creating an obstacle in the middle of a road, drivers are forced to make left turns at a 90 degree angle.
Without any obstacles in their way, drivers are apt to cut diagonally across an intersection. Furthermore, they are able to make less precise turns at higher rates of speed. A study conducted by the IIHS looked the results of adding bollards and curbs on 10 intersections in Washington, D.C. The study found that there was a 36% reduction in left turns made at 15 miles per hour or faster.
A pedestrian has a 25% chance of being seriously injured in an accident caused by a driver turning left at 25 miles per hour. The odds of that person being seriously injured drop to 10% at a speed of 17 miles per hour. In addition to the roads in Washington, D.C., centerline hardening tools have been used on over 300 intersections in New York City since 2016.
Those who are victims of pedestrian accidents may be entitled to various forms of compensation for their injuries. Compensation might include payment of medical bills incurred or reimbursement for lost wages related to a car accident. An attorney may use photos from the crash scene to show that a driver was acting in a negligent manner at the time the accident took place. Personal injury cases may be resolved in court or through a negotiated settlement.
