Left-turn crashes are one of the most common and most severe collision types for motorcyclists. A car turning left at an intersection strikes a rider traveling straight — the driver misjudged the bike's speed, didn't see it, or simply didn't yield. The result is a broadside impact with almost no protection for the rider.
Who is at fault
Under A.R.S. § 28-772, a left-turning driver must yield to oncoming traffic. If a driver failed to yield and struck you, that driver is presumptively at fault. The presumption can be challenged — if you ran a red light, were traveling far over the speed limit, or were in an illegal lane — but the burden is on the driver to establish those facts. Arizona's pure comparative fault rule (A.R.S. § 12-2505) means fault can be shared, and your recovery is reduced by your percentage, but there's no cutoff. See our post on Arizona comparative negligence law.
The motorcycle visibility problem
Drivers frequently claim they never saw the motorcycle. That argument doesn't eliminate their liability — they had a duty to look. But it does mean the evidence fight often centers on what the driver could have seen. Traffic and intersection camera footage, skid marks, vehicle positions at rest, and witness statements about pre-impact visibility all matter. That footage gets overwritten in 24 to 72 hours. Preserving it immediately is critical.
What a left-turn motorcycle accident claim can recover
Medical expenses past and future, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, property damage to the motorcycle and gear, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are all recoverable. Left-turn motorcycle crashes frequently produce catastrophic injuries — traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, multiple fractures — so future medical costs are often a dominant part of the claim.
The filing deadline
Arizona gives most personal injury victims two years from the accident date (A.R.S. § 12-542). See our post on the Arizona personal injury statute of limitations for exceptions.
Our motorcycle accident attorneys handle claims throughout Phoenix and Scottsdale on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.