Before the intersection changes
What to Do After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Crash
30-second answer
Get medical help first. This guide focuses on the intersection, not every deadline. When safe, note each vehicle's path, photograph lights and blocked views, find witnesses and cameras, keep originals, and do not guess.
Legal information from Wildeboer Legal · Updated August 6, 2026
Do this now
- 1Get medical help and move out of traffic. Do not risk another injury to take photos.
- 2Write down where each vehicle came from and where it was going. Include road names, directions, lanes, the turn, impact area, and final positions. Mark anything uncertain.
- 3From a safe public place, photograph the traffic lights, arrows, signs, lane markings, and anything that blocked the view.
- 4Ask witnesses for contact information and where they were. Note nearby homes, businesses, buses, parking lots, or vehicles that may have video.
- 5Keep original photos, videos, and messages. Save the report number. Ask a camera owner to preserve footage from a specific time window.
Avoid this
- Do not guess about speed, distance, timing, or which signal another person saw.
- Do not trespass, demand private footage, or claim that a preservation request guarantees access.
- Do not assume every signal at the intersection showed the same color or arrow.
Save these
- Road names, directions, lanes, and each vehicle's path
- Photos of the impact area, final positions, lights, signs, and lane markings
- Photos of parked vehicles, construction, vegetation, glare, or other blocked views
- Witness names, contact details, and viewing locations
- Nearby camera locations and the time of the crash
- Original photos, videos, report information, and dated messages
Common questions
Does the left turn automatically prove fault?
No. California's rule depends on the paths, timing, required yielding, required signals, and other facts. The deeper article explains the rule.
What if both people report a different light or arrow?
Note each vehicle's lane and light. Save original video, witness locations, and the report number. Ask promptly whether camera or signal records exist.
What if I could not safely take scene photos?
Do not return to danger. Save what you have and identify witnesses and cameras. Use safe public viewpoints later only if conditions allow.
How do I ask a business to preserve camera footage?
Give the date, location, camera, and short time window. Ask in writing that the original be kept. The request does not guarantee video exists or will be provided.
What should happen to the motorcycle and helmet next?
Use the related guide, Before Your Motorcycle Is Repaired or Scrapped. It covers the bike, helmet, gear, custody, and planned changes.
Want more detail?
Read the full explanation
California Left-Turn Motorcycle Crashes: Who Yields?Official resources
- California Vehicle Code section 21801 (opens in a new window)
- California Vehicle Code section 22107 (opens in a new window)
- California Vehicle Code section 22108 (opens in a new window)
- California Civil Code section 1714 (opens in a new window)
- California Evidence Code section 669 (opens in a new window)
- California Vehicle Code section 21451 (opens in a new window)
- California Vehicle Code section 21453 (opens in a new window)
- MedlinePlus: Recognizing medical emergencies (opens in a new window)
- CDC: Signs and symptoms of concussion and mild TBI (opens in a new window)
Questions about your situation?
Talk with Arta Wildeboer
A short guide cannot account for every fact. A free consultation can help you understand the next step without pressure.