An unsafe lane change accident can happen when a motorist moves their vehicle from one traffic lane to another without accounting for other drivers. Unsafe lane change accidents are preventable, and they can lead to property damage, injuries, and fatalities. Meet with Orange County car accident attorneys if you get into an auto accident in which the other driver moves their car into your lane without signaling or checking their blind spots and slams their vehicle into yours. Your lawyer can determine if you have grounds for a car accident lawsuit.
Unsafe Lane Change Accidents Can Involve Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles
Per California’s laws and rules of the road, drivers are required to share the road. On top of that, motorists have to check their blind spots as they go from point A to point B. If a driver chooses not to do so, they can miss a car in a nearby lane as they move into it. This can result in an unsafe lane change accident, and the driver who was moving their vehicle into the other lane could be held liable.
Outside of motorists, truckers and motorcyclists can cause unsafe lane change accidents. Who is at fault for a motor vehicle accident can depend on the parties involved, whether anyone was engaged in distracted driving, and other factors. Expect an Orange County personal injury lawyer to look at traffic camera footage of an unsafe lane change accident and take other measures to investigate the incident. This can help the attorney identify any liable parties.
You Could Sue Someone If They Cause an Unsafe Lane Change Accident
Following an accident in which you’re driving and someone else crashes their vehicle while changing lanes, you could have a case for requesting compensation from the other party involved in the incident. Personal injury lawyers can determine if the other party is at fault. If so, they may advise you to proceed with a personal injury lawsuit. California has deadlines to sue someone.
Based on these, you may have up to two years from the day of an unsafe lane change accident to seek compensation from any at-fault parties. The time frame for filing your lawsuit may not be extended. If you sue, personal injury attorneys may help you obtain economic and non-economic damages that cover your medical bills, car repair costs, pain and suffering, and other accident losses. They may also negotiate a settlement before your case reaches trial.
Multiple Parties Can Share the Blame for an Unsafe Lane Change Accident
According to California Civil Code § 1714, you may be subject to pure comparative negligence in an unsafe lane change accident case. With this, you could have to cover some of your accident losses if you’re found to be partially liable for your accident. Under pure comparative negligence, a judge or jury can reduce your damages based on your percentage of fault. For example, a motorist unsafely moves their car into your traffic lane, causing an accident in which you suffer property damage and injuries. You file a lawsuit, but a judge or jury rules that you’re 20% liable for the incident.
Due to pure comparative negligence, you may get 80% of the damages that you initially requested. Your personal injury lawyer can teach you about pure comparative negligence and how it applies to your unsafe lane change accident case. They may craft an argument designed to prove to a judge or jury that you’re not at fault for your accident.