“The person turning left is always at fault.” You will hear that from adjusters, friends and sometimes the other driver at the scene. It is a good starting point and a bad finishing point. Arizona’s right-of-way statute does put the duty to yield on the driver turning left. But fault in a left-turn accident is decided on all the facts, and the oncoming driver’s speed, a red light or a missed signal can move a share of the blame to the other side.
Short answer: under A.R.S. § 28-772, a driver turning left at an intersection must yield to oncoming traffic that is in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard. Arizona then splits fault by percentage under A.R.S. § 12-2505: an injured driver who was partly at fault still recovers, reduced by their share. If the crash caused serious physical injury, the at-fault driver can also face a separate traffic offense with a license suspension under § 28-672.
Two years is the usual limit, and 180 days if a public vehicle or the signal itself is involved. A claim against another driver must be filed in court within two years under A.R.S. § 12-542. A claim against a city, county or the state, including over a broken signal, needs a notice of claim within 180 days. Sending a form or making a call does not stop or pause any deadline.
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT: This site is an independent referral service operated by Wilder West Assets LLC, not a law firm. We connect people injured in Coconino County crashes with independent licensed Arizona attorneys. Nothing on this page is legal advice.
The rules that decide right of way
| Situation | Rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Turning left on a green ball | You may turn, but must yield to oncoming vehicles lawfully in the intersection and to pedestrians | § 28-645(A)(1)(a); § 28-772 |
| Turning left on a green arrow | You may make the arrow movement, still yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk and other traffic lawfully in the intersection | § 28-645(A)(1)(b) |
| Steady yellow | A warning that the green movement is ending or red is coming next | § 28-645(A)(2)(a) |
| Steady red | Stop and remain stopped, except for permitted turns on red | § 28-645(A)(3)(a) |
| Signal dark or not working | Full stop; when two vehicles arrive at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right | § 28-645(C) |
| No signal or sign at all | Driver on the left yields to the driver on the right; at a T, the terminating road yields to the continuing road | § 28-771(A) |
T-bone crashes: a red light or right-of-way question
A side-impact crash, where the front of one car hits the side of another, comes up at intersections where one driver did not stop or did not yield. The questions are simple to state and harder to prove: who had the green, who entered on red, who was on the through road. Arizona treats running a red light seriously: under § 28-645(A)(3)(a), a judgment for it leads to an MVD order to attend traffic survival school, unless the driver is eligible for and chooses defensive driving school instead. Signal timing, video from nearby businesses or buses, and independent witnesses tend to settle these cases more than either driver’s account does.
When the left-turning driver is not the only one at fault
Section 28-772 protects the oncoming driver who is in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard. It does not give an oncoming driver permission to speed, run a light that turned red, or drive without headlights at dusk. Common arguments that shift part of the fault include:
- The oncoming driver entered the intersection on red.
- The oncoming driver was far over the speed limit, so the gap that looked safe was not.
- The oncoming driver was not yet close enough to be an “immediate hazard” when the turn began.
- Snow, ice or glare made the oncoming car hard to see, and it was not driving for the conditions; see our page on winter crashes in Flagstaff.
Under § 12-2505, each driver’s share is a percentage, and an injured driver’s recovery is reduced by their own percentage. Under § 12-2506, each defendant pays only its own share. Our page on being partly at fault for a crash walks through the numbers.
The traffic case that can follow a serious crash
If failing to yield on a left turn (§ 28-772), failing to yield at an uncontrolled intersection (§ 28-771) or running a red light (§ 28-645(A)(3)(a)) causes an accident with serious physical injury or death, the driver can be charged under § 28-672. That offense is a class 1 misdemeanor. A conviction requires traffic survival school and a license suspension or restriction of 90 to 180 days for serious injury, or 180 days to a year for a death. Restitution in that case is capped at 100,000 dollars, which is one reason the civil injury claim still matters.
Section 28-672(F) has an unusual rule: if the seriously injured person appears in court before trial and acknowledges receiving satisfaction for the injury, the court must dismiss the prosecution on payment of costs. If you are the injured person, do not sign anything about the criminal case before you understand what it means for your civil claim.
What to gather
- The exact intersection and direction each car was traveling, whether it was Milton Road, Route 66, Butler Avenue or a neighborhood corner.
- The signal state you saw, written down while it is fresh: green ball, arrow, yellow, red, or dark.
- Video sources: your dashcam, nearby businesses, passing buses. Ask a lawyer about a preservation letter before footage is overwritten.
- Witness names and phone numbers, especially anyone not in either car.
- Photos of both vehicles, showing where each was hit. Damage location tells the story of the angle.
- The police report. See our guide to getting a Flagstaff accident report.
- Medical records from the first visit on. Side-impact injuries can show up days later.
Frequently asked questions
Is the driver turning left always at fault in Arizona?
No. A.R.S. 28-772 requires the left-turning driver to yield to oncoming traffic that is close enough to be an immediate hazard, but fault is decided on all the facts. An oncoming driver who ran a red light or was speeding can share or carry the fault.
Who has the right of way on a green light left turn?
On a green ball, the left-turning driver may turn but must yield to oncoming vehicles lawfully in the intersection and to pedestrians. On a green arrow, the turn is protected, but the driver still yields to pedestrians and traffic lawfully in the intersection.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault for a left-turn crash?
Yes. Arizona’s comparative fault law, A.R.S. 12-2505, reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault rather than barring the claim.
What happens if a left-turn crash causes serious injury?
The at-fault driver can be charged under A.R.S. 28-672, a class 1 misdemeanor with traffic survival school and a license suspension or restriction of 90 to 180 days. The injured person can still bring a civil claim.
Who has the right of way when the traffic light is out?
Every driver must come to a complete stop. When two vehicles arrive at about the same time from different roads, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right, under A.R.S. 28-645.
How long do I have to file a claim after a T-bone crash?
Two years to file a lawsuit against another driver under A.R.S. 12-542. If a government vehicle or a government-maintained signal is part of the claim, a notice of claim is due within 180 days.
Related guides
Hurt in an intersection crash? Free and confidential
Fault in a turning crash is a fact question, and the facts fade. We’ll connect you with an independent licensed Arizona attorney who handles crash claims in Coconino County.
Sources & Corrections
Primary sources checked for this page on October 24, 2026:
- A.R.S. § 28-772, Vehicle turning left at intersection
- A.R.S. § 28-771, Right of way at intersections
- A.R.S. § 28-645, Traffic control signal legend
- A.R.S. § 28-672, Serious injury or death by a moving violation
- A.R.S. § 12-2505, Comparative fault
- A.R.S. § 12-2506, Several liability
- A.R.S. § 12-542, Two-year limitation
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Not legal advice. The Flagstaff Legal Resource Center is an independent referral service operated by Wilder West Assets LLC, not a law firm. This page explains general Arizona law to help you prepare to talk with a lawyer. Laws change, and how they apply depends on your facts. No attorney-client relationship is created by using this site. Verify any attorney’s credentials through the State Bar of Arizona.