While driving, you’ll need to change lanes on your journey to make left or right-hand turns. As you change lanes, you need to check your path to ensure it’s clear and available for you to move into the adjacent lane.
Many of today’s newer vehicles come equipped with alerts that let you know when an obstruction is in your blind spot. However, many vehicles don’t have this technology. Regardless, it’s up to all drivers to check for clearance before changing lanes.
If another driver crashes into your car because they failed to make a proper lane change, you may be wondering if you can get compensation. The answer will depend on several factors.
How Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Applies to Lane Change Accidents
In the state of Florida, the no-fault insurance rule applies to all motor vehicle accidents. If you have minor injuries and damages, you’d simply contact your own insurance company, even if the other driver was the one to change lanes into your car.
However, if your injuries are severe or they leave you with permanent disabilities, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver. You will need to show they caused the accident. This will require providing evidence through photos, videos, witnesses, medical records, and expert testimony.
What often occurs is that you and the other driver insist you were each the right. This is why discussing the particulars of your case with a personal injury attorney can help you discover whether or not you have a valid claim. If a lawyer believes you have enough evidence to show the other driver was at fault, you may be able to recover compensation.
What to Do If You Are in a Lane Change Accident
When someone makes an unsafe lane change and causes an accident, witness testimony is ideal. Perhaps someone in the area saw everything that happened and can provide these details.
However, other drivers may not have seen anything until they heard the distinct sounds of a crash. In this case, getting an attorney can be helpful as they can obtain footage from nearby traffic or business surveillance cameras. With a video of the accident as it occurred, it can solve the dispute.
Unfortunately, if there are no witnesses or camera footage of the accident, the other driver will likely try to minimize their involvement. They may even try to claim you were the one to change lanes into their vehicle.
How Attorneys Help in Lane Change Accidents
Accidents involving unsafe lane changes can be complicated because there may be little to prove what happened. An attorney may be able to help as they have access to greater resources.
Attorneys can pull together all the available evidence from the police report to any video footage. They can also speak with witnesses soon after the crash while you rest and recover from your injuries. Additionally, they can use medical and accident reconstructionist experts to help fill in the blanks.
In doing so, they can help determine who is liable for the crash. They can then negotiate on your behalf for compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
While hiring a lawyer is ideal in car accidents involving lane changes, it isn’t a guarantee that you can recover compensation. However, attorneys who have experience in car accident cases know the steps to take to clear up the mystery and advocate for your rights.
Sometimes, they may find other factors contributed to the accident. It may have been raining heavily or the roads may have been improperly marked, making it confusing for drivers.
You find more here about situations like these and the next steps to take.
Article Last Updated: October 9, 2023.
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