Turn signal use is one of those things that drivers know is important but sometimes ignore anyway. As in the case of distracted driving, it’s easy to talk about doing things correctly, but doing so is something different.
Turn signals can prevent accidents. They can also protect your right to compensation if there is a crash where you are injured.
Blinkers Are Important Safety Equipment
There are several good reasons to use your turn signal. First, Texas law requires drivers to use their blinkers to signal turns and lane changes. It also requires signals when you’re entering the road after leaving a parking spot. Signaling is the law, regardless of whether there’s a pedestrian or another driver to see it.
Second, people are good at forming bad habits and not so good at correcting them. If a driver gets into the habit of not using their turn signal regularly, they’ll likely forget to use it at some point when it matters. Bad driving habits can be deadly, so we should all avoid forming them in the first place. See the top safety tips for driving!
Third, your failure to signal can lead to bad behavior by other drivers. Even if you’re in total control of your vehicle, others might not be. If drivers collectively get the sense that turn signals are unnecessary, more accidents will be the result. You should model the behavior you want other drivers to copy.
Liability and Turn Signal Use
Imagine you check your mirror and move into the lane next to you without signaling. What your mirror check didn’t catch is that another driver is coming up fast because he’s driving way over the speed limit. He’s also not paying attention. The collision that results will endanger your life. But, unfortunately, in the law, it’s also considered partially your fault.
In personal injury cases, Texas law uses a form of liability based on proportionate responsibility. Even if an accident is mostly someone else’s fault, the amount you can recover will be reduced by how much you are considered at fault.
Failure to signal your lane change will take some of the responsibility off of the speeding, inattentive driver who hit you and transfer it to you. If you failed to signal and are considered more than 50% responsible for a collision, you would not be able to collect any personal injury compensation.
Car Accidents Are No Laughing Matter
Mention that a driver appears to be low on blinker fluid and you’ll probably draw a chuckle. The failure to signal can seem like a very small matter—until it causes a deadly crash. At that point, it becomes crystal clear why signaling is required.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, you need an experienced Texas personal injury attorney on your side. Call The Fell Law Firm at 972-450-1418 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
