Lane Change Accident – Who is at Fault?
The after-effects of a changing lane accident truly affect life. It causes severe injuries and significant property damage to an individual. However, proving the at-fault party based on evidence and facts can help the victim seek financial recovery.
Hiring a legal car accident attorney is the wisest decision if you or your loved one have been involved in a lane-changing car accident. The St Petersburg car accident attorney guides clients through the best options so clients don’t have to wait long to get justice.
Without further ado, let’s explore which car is at fault when a lane change accident occurs.
Changing lanes illegally is a non-criminal offense. A car driver is supposed to change lanes once unless they are sure to do so, and it doesn’t cause any harm to anyone.
How do Car Drivers Make Unsafe Lane Changes?
An unsafe lane change car accident transpires when:
● A car driver changes the lane without showing any signal
● The car driver makes a turn without checking the blind spot
● Drift into another lane due to distraction
● Driving too fast in adverse road conditions
● Sideswipes another vehicle
● Merge lanes at the same time as the other car does.
Determining who is at fault is difficult to analyze when an accident happens. Take a look at the following.
Which Car is at Fault When a Lane Change Accident Occurs?
Two situations determine the at-fault party when a lane change accident happens.
● Car Exiting Lane Without Enough Room: The driver who tries to change the lane when there is not enough room is at fault.
● Merging Car in Traffic: The merger driver is at fault when a car merges into the lane while another car travels straight.
When is the Car Driver that Does not Change Lanes at Fault?
Usually, a driver changing lanes is held accountable for causing an accident. But, it is only sometimes true.
The car driver that does not change lanes can also be at fault when:
● Speeds Up while another car changes the lane in front of the car.
● Slows down while another car changes the lane behind the car.
● Do distracted driving
● Not allow the other car to enter the lane Purposefully
When is the Merging Driver at Fault in a Lane Change
Accident?
The possible ways when a merging driver is at fault are:
● Merging too fast on the highway
● Merging too slow on the highway
● Failing to check the car from behind before merging
● Not using turn signals.
When is the Non-Merging Driver at Fault in a Lane Change Accident?
A non-merging car is responsible for merging the car into its lane when the next lane is about to end on the road. When a car fails to do so, the non-merging driver can be held responsible for the accident. Other ways why non-merging car driver is at fault include:
● Failing to adjust speed limits to let another car enter the lane
● Speeding up so the merging driver cannot enter the lane
● Leaving no room for a merging driver to enter the lane
Who is at Fault When Both Cars Switch Lanes?
Switching lanes simultaneously at the same time cause collisions in the cars. In this case, both cars are at fault. However, some other reasons include the following:
● Switching lanes without looking at the other cars
● Changing multiple lanes to get ahead of traffic.
● Crossing multiple lanes without any pauses.
Compensations for a Lane Change Accident
The compensations for a Lane Change Accident include:
● Medical Expenses
● Lost Wages
● Receded Earnings
● Property Damage
● Pain and Suffering
Who Decides Which Car is at Fault in a Lane Change Accident?
The following parties determine which car is at fault in the accident.
● Police: In a lane change accident, police visit, render aid, and investigate which party is at fault on the accident site. The police write up the report with the officer’s opinion. However, the police can’t determine the at-fault party in an accident.
● Insurance Companies: The insurance company reviews reports, evidence, medical reports, and witness reports of the sufferers to determine whether the sufferer is liable to receive compensation or not.
● Jury: Few Lane change accident cases end up in the court. The jury hears the witnesses and reviews the evidence to determine who was at fault in the accident. The jury decides how much compensation the sufferer car owner will owe.
How Does an Attorney Help in a Lane Change Accident?
There are multiple proceedings in a Lane change accident case, but only the right attorney can bring the best outcome for your claims.
The car accident law attorney handles every case aspect, including paperwork, filing documents, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and negotiating with the insurance companies to understand who is at fault in the lane-change accident.
The lawyers understand your rights and take the case to court when the at-fault party disagrees with financial compensation. The law attorney works on your behalf to prove the case in the lawsuit to resolve the claims case. In addition, the attorney helps the victims to get compensation for ongoing medical bills, pain, and suffering.
How to Prevent Lane Change Car Crash?
Lane change car crashes can be bypassed by following some basic driving rules.
● Changing one lane at a time
● Avoid eating, drinking, and talking/texting on the phone while driving.
● Monitor the blind spots by glancing at mirrors.
● Use the turn signal while changing lanes.
● Changing lanes gradually, not suddenly
● Not changing lanes at an intersection or even close to it.
Even if you do not cause an accident, you can still be ticketed for an improper lane change, so it is important to know how to properly change lanes.
Contact Coleman Law Group
If you’ve been involved in a lane change accident and need legal representation, contact the Coleman Law Group today to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party!
Our car accident lawyer at the Coleman Law Group has outstanding legal advocacy skills to help injury victims to seek justice in every possible way.
