The Left Cross
One of the most common types of accidents involving cyclists is the "left cross." The left cross occurs when a left-turning vehicle fails to yield to the oncoming cyclist in the opposite lane. Under these conditions, the motorist either strikes the cyclist on the left side or the cyclist collides with the turning vehicle’s front passenger side fender.
Some drivers may claim that they never saw the cyclist or that she “just came out of nowhere.” But many times the driver just isn't paying attention or has failed to consider that a cyclist might be coming the opposite direction. In either case, the cyclist is the one who ends up on the pavement.
One way to avoid the left cross is to never assume that an oncoming left-turning vehicle sees you. Unless the motorist specifically waves you forward, you can assume he or she does NOT see you, even if you've made eye contact.
In this video, you can see what happens when a cyclist lawfully riding in the bike lane approaches an intersection and encounters a left-turning vehicle. Here, the cyclist had the right-of-way and the motorist was supposed to yield to cyclists.
We represented the cyclist in this video. You can see from the photo below that drivers approaching the intersection are supposed to yield to oncoming cyclists. The driver in this case did not. And liability was clear. Thankfully, the cyclist had a prompt recovery from his injuries. But it could have been a lot worse.
There is no way to avoid every dangerous situation. But if you are aware of the most common types of collisions between cyclists and cars, many accidents can be avoided. To see the most common types of crashes and how to avoid them, click here.
If you are injured while riding a bicycle as the result of a left cross or any other negligent driver action, you may be entitled to a recovery of medical expenses, wage loss, property damage, and pain, suffering, and inconvenience. Please contact me for a free initial consultation to discuss your case and explore your rights at (412) 227-9724.
Please be safe out there. And, thanks for reading.
Matthew F. Dolfi, Esquire
Dolfi Law PC
1100 Washington Avenue, Suite 206
Dolfi Law PC
1100 Washington Avenue, Suite 206
Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106
412-227-9724
mdolfi@dolfilawpc.com412-227-9724
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www.dolfilawpc.com
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Important notice:
The information provided in this blog article is not legal advice. The information and opinions provided herein are solely for the general interest of the visitors to this website. The information contained herein is only applicable to general principles of law in Pennsylvania and may not reflect current legal developments or statutory changes in various other jurisdictions. Therefore, the information and opinions contained in this blog should not be relied upon or interpreted as legal advice. No aspect of this blog article should be interpreted as establishing an attorney-client relationship between the reader and its author. Anyone reviewing this article should not act upon any information contained herein without first seeking the advice of legal counsel.
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