According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), improper lane changes account for approximately 7.2 percent of fatal crashes in the United States. Improper lane changes can cause serious accidents, and the driver making the improper lane change may be held liable for damages they cause.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver who made an improper lane change, you may be entitled to collect compensation for any injuries and losses you incurred from the accident. You may be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit to recover your damages, which may include medical expenses and vehicle repair costs.
An Abbeville improper lane changes lawyer can help you pursue compensation after your accident. They can navigate you through the litigation process and help you gather supporting evidence for your case, such as the at-fault party’s driving history.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 to receive a free case evaluation. You can discuss your case with one of our team members and learn about the legal options you have to pursue compensation from an at-fault driver.
Improper Lane Changes Are an Everyday Occurrence
Many drivers make improper lane changes every day without knowing. Here are some instances of improper lane changes:
- Making a lane without checking the mirrors or blind spot first
- Making a lane change without signaling
- Staying on two lanes for a long period
- Changing into a lane but misjudging the speed of oncoming traffic
A driver should properly check their blind spot and mirrors before making a lane change. This is to ensure that it is safe to change lanes. Blind spots may hide cars from a driver’s vision, so the driver must carefully check whether there are any other cars or motorcycles in the next lane before merging.
A driver must signal to other road users before making a lane change. Signaling alerts other road users to give the merging driver the right of way and avoid a collision. If a driver causes an accident by failing to signal before making a lane change, they may be at fault.
Staying in the middle of two lanes for a long period prevents other road users from passing. Lingering between two lanes for too long is a violation of LA Rev Stat § 32:79. Staying on two different lanes also reduces the driver’s reaction time if they come across a road barrier.
If a driver misjudges the speed of another vehicle before switching lanes, they might cause an accident. The oncoming driver might not have enough time to stop or they might swerve out of the way, potentially hitting other vehicles on the road. The merging driver’s misjudgment may then be considered negligent.
An Abbeville improper lane changes lawyer can review your case to determine who may be liable for your injuries and damages. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 for a free case evaluation.
The Appropriate Time to Change Lanes
Making an improper lane change is a crime in Louisiana. Drivers should signal 100 feet before merging into another lane. A driver should also stay in their lane when not merging. They should also not signal without any intention of changing lanes.
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ClientGather Evidence to Support Your Improper Lane Change Accident Case
Certain pieces of evidence can help determine who is the at-fault party in an accident caused by an improper lane change. Evidence may include:
- The police report
- Expert testimonies
- Witnesses to the accident
- Medical records of the injuries
- A reconstruction of how the accident happened
- Physical evidence
The police report may contain information about the parties involved in the accident. The police officer may have also recorded crucial details about the scene of the accident. Accident reports may also mention if someone was injured in the accident and which party may be at fault for the accident.
Expert testimonies may be brought in to analyze a car accident and determine who might be the liable party or parties. These testimonies may be brought in when there is insufficient evidence to prove the at-fault party is liable.
People who witnessed the accident may also help explain who is the liable party based on their retelling of how the accident happened.
Your medical records may serve as evidence that you sustained injuries from the accident. They can also show the correlation between your accident and your injuries, including injuries or conditions you develop or aggravate later on.
An Abbeville improper lane changes lawyer might use an IT specialist to reconstruct how the accident happened. Accident reconstruction can help show how the accident happened if there were no witnesses.
Physical and photographic evidence can show the severity of the damages caused by the accident. Documenting the accident scene can help reveal details that may have been missed upon initial observation.
An improper lane changes lawyer can collect available evidence to prepare your case.
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Rick Smith | ClientReach Out to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
If you or your loved one sustained injuries in an accident caused by improper lane changes, an Abbeville improper lane changes lawyer may be able to help you pursue compensation. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 today for a free case evaluation.
