Although turn signals are standard safety equipment in every motor vehicle and motorists are required by law to use them to signal turns and lane changes, a recent study reveals that many Americans neglect to activate their turn signals resulting in more traffic accidents than distracted driving.
Drivers who do not use their turn signals are a danger to other motorists, particularly motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians who are more vulnerable in accidents involving much heavier cars and trucks. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) reports that nearly two million car accidents are caused every year because drivers fail to signal – unfortunately many car accidents result in injuries and fatalities.
Rear-enders, turning in front of a cars or bikes traveling in the opposite direction, lane change collisions, and striking pedestrians in crosswalks can all occur when a driver fails to signal a turn and is precisely why signaling is almost always required by law. It follows that a driver who causes an accident after failing to signal may be found negligent, responsible for damages to property and bodily harm.
If you or a family member has been injured in a motor vehicle accident after another driver failed to signal his or her turn or lane change, it is important to seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney who can fight for maximum compensation for your injuries and damages to property. Contact the Davenport, Iowa car accident lawyers of McDonald, Woodward & Carlson PC for help at 563-355-6478.