Left-turn motorcycle accident: what now?
Left-turn motorcycle accident: what now? First steps
- Get checked by a doctor, even if you rode away. Head, spine and internal injuries can be delayed.
- Call police and get the report number. Ask that the report note the other driver was turning left.
- Photograph the intersection, signals, sightlines, skid marks, both vehicles, your gear and helmet.
- Get witness contacts. Riders are often blamed by default; independent witnesses matter.
- Save helmet-cam or dashcam footage, and ask nearby businesses to keep their video.
- Keep the damaged helmet and gear. Don't repair the bike until it has been photographed and inspected.
- Don't give a recorded statement to the driver's insurer before you know your injuries.
Who is at fault in a left-turn motorcycle accident
State traffic laws generally require a driver turning left to yield to oncoming vehicles that are close enough to be a hazard. So in a typical crash where a car turns left across a motorcycle's path, the driver is usually found at fault. Common driver explanations, such as "I never saw the motorcycle," don't excuse failing to yield.
The driver's insurer may argue you share the blame because you were:
- Speeding
- Running a yellow or red light
- Lane splitting or passing where it isn't allowed
- Riding without a headlight on
- Impaired
Ask about your situation
Type your question the way you'd say it. Free, no sign-up, and we never ask for your name.
See injury lawyers near youHow shared fault affects your claim
Most states reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault. If you were found 20% at fault on a $100,000 claim, you would recover $80,000. Many states bar recovery if you are 50% or 51% or more at fault. Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C. still use contributory negligence, where being even slightly at fault can bar recovery.
Helmet laws vary by state. In some states, not wearing a helmet can be raised to reduce damages for head injuries; in others it can't be mentioned. Not wearing one does not make you at fault for the crash itself.
Insurers sometimes rely on assumptions about riders. Your own evidence, such as speed data from a helmet camera or witnesses who saw the driver turn without looking, can push back against an unfair fault estimate. In a contributory negligence jurisdiction, careful evidence is especially important because even a small share of fault can matter.
Whose insurance pays after a motorcycle crash
- The driver's liability insurance pays your medical bills, lost wages, bike damage and pain and suffering, up to its limits.
- Your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your motorcycle policy can pay if the driver had no insurance or not enough. Motorcycle injuries are often serious, so this coverage matters.
- Medical payments coverage on your policy, if you bought it, can pay medical bills regardless of fault.
- Health insurance can pay bills now, though it may seek repayment.
Check whether PIP or other no-fault benefits on your policy apply to motorcycles in your state; often they do not.
Evidence that helps prove the driver failed to yield
- Photos showing sightlines from the driver's position toward oncoming traffic
- Signal timing records for the intersection, which may be available from the city or county
- Traffic, business or doorbell camera video
- Witness statements about the light and your speed
- Your bike's damage pattern and the car's, which can show the angle of impact
- Phone records, if the driver may have been distracted, usually obtained through a lawsuit
- A crash reconstruction analysis in serious cases
Why motorcycle claims need careful handling
NHTSA reports 6,228 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes in 2024. Riders' injuries are often severe, and insurers may lean on bias against riders. Because of that, many riders talk with an injury lawyer after a serious crash. injurylawyers.si can list injury law firms near your ZIP code, including firms that handle motorcycle cases. Your deadline to sue is your state's personal injury statute of limitations, commonly 2 or 3 years. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Is the car always at fault when it turns left in front of a motorcycle?
Usually, but not always. The turning driver must yield to oncoming traffic, but if the rider was speeding or ran a red light, fault may be shared.
Can I still recover if I wasn't wearing a helmet?
In most cases yes, because not wearing a helmet usually didn't cause the crash. Some states allow the insurer to argue it made head injuries worse to reduce damages.
Does lane splitting affect my motorcycle accident claim?
It can. Lane splitting is legal in only a few states, and where it isn't, the insurer may argue it makes you partly at fault.
What if the driver who turned left has no insurance?
Your uninsured motorist coverage on your motorcycle policy may pay. You can also sue the driver personally, though collecting can be difficult.