Experienced Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyers Dedicated to Helping Injured Motorists Recovering Financial Compensation for Their Injuries
It’s happened to all of us: you’re driving on the highway when, all of the sudden, the driver in the next lane over starts changing lanes. As an attentive driver, you can almost always see what’s happening and quickly honk the horn or get out of their way to avoid an accident. However, even the best drivers can’t avoid every accident.
At the Blakeley Law Firm, our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers are here to help. For more than a decade, our lawyers have helped accident victims and their loved ones obtain the money they need to cover their expenses and get their lives back on track. We handle all types of motor vehicle collisions, including lane change accidents.
Who Is At Fault in a Merging Accident?
Situations where drivers need to merge or change lanes can be complex. However, generally, a driver who is merging or changing lanes needs to check that the lane they plan to occupy is clear. Thus, in most lane change and merging accidents, it’s the driver who was merging or changing lanes who is at fault. Of course, exceptions to this general rule apply, so it’s important to consult with an experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney to gain a complete understanding of how the law applies in your case.
How to Change Lanes or Merge Safely
When a driver wants to change lanes, they should signal for at least three seconds, then check both their mirrors and blind spots to ensure the lane is clear, and finally execute the lane change. Finally, drivers should make sure to turn off their signal after they change lanes to avoid confusing other drivers.
Merging is similar; however, it is slightly more difficult than changing lanes because a merging driver needs to complete the merge before reaching the end of the lane they are currently in. Thus, to merge safely, a driver should match the speed of traffic in the lane they are about to enter, check mirrors and blind spots, and then enter the other lane being sure to leave room for other merging vehicles.
Of course, while every driver knows how to merge safely, people make mistakes. Often, merging and lane change accidents involve distracted driving or aggressive driving. In either case, drivers who cause an accident while changing lanes may be liable for victims’ accident-related expenses.
Common Injuries in Merging and Lane Change Accidents
Both merging and changing lanes typically occur at higher speeds, and these collisions tend to cause serious injuries to everyone involved. Some of the most common injuries in accidents involving an unsafe lane change include:
- Broken bones,
- Traumatic brain injuries,
- Internal organ damage,
- Whiplash and other neck injuries, and
- Back and spine injuries.
The seriousness of a victim’s injuries typically depends on the speed of the vehicles, how the vehicles collided, and whether either driver overcorrected after the collision. An experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney can help victims understand how to effectively pursue a claim for compensation against a driver who caused a merging accident or lane change collision.
Speak With a Fort Lauderdale Lane Change Accident Attorney to Learn More About How You Can Recover Compensation for Your Injuries
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it may not be clear what your next steps should be. And, to a large degree, it depends on the type of accident, who was at fault, and how serious your injuries are. At the Blakeley Law Firm, our Fort Lauderdale merging accident lawyers have over 20 years of combined experience investigating lane change accidents, negotiating with the insurance company, and securing fair compensation awards on behalf of our clients. To learn more, and to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today, call (800) 602-5000. You can also reach us through our online contact form. We have offices conveniently located in Fort Lauderdale, Miami Gardens, West Palm Beach and Jacksonville.