Data from the Federal Highway Administration reveals that thousands of people across the country suffer serious injuries or lose a loved one because of drivers who fail to maintain their position within their lane. Collisions caused by a motorist running off the road or drifting into an adjacent lane can be devastating accidents. When a […]
Data from the Federal Highway Administration reveals that thousands of people across the country suffer serious injuries or lose a loved one because of drivers who fail to maintain their position within their lane. Collisions caused by a motorist running off the road or drifting into an adjacent lane can be devastating accidents. When a vehicle departs the roadway, the danger is magnified because of the high risk of a rollover accident or the ejection of a vehicle occupant who is not wearing a seatbelt. Lane departure accidents also often lead to debilitating or even fatal injuries because of the risk of drifting into oncoming traffic. Vehicles speeding toward each other in the same lane but opposite directions on a highway mean an impact with an enormous amount of force. An experienced lane departure accident attorney can explain your legal rights and options as well as discuss how to maximize the value of your claim.
A lane departure accident refers to a vehicle collision when a driver veers out of his or her lane by driving off the roadway or moving across the center line. These accidents can occur because a motorist’s driving ability is diminished in some way or through driver error. For example, a drowsy, distracted, or alcohol-impaired driver might easily drift out of his or her lane. Alternatively, a motorist might intentionally change lanes without signaling or taking proper care to confirm it is safe to execute the maneuver. While many forms of negligence can lead to road departure or improper lane change accidents, some examples include:
While you might have a right to compensation from a negligent driver who causes a lane or road departure accident, success depends on effectively proving the other driver’s negligence caused the collision and the value of the damages you experienced. While it is illegal (and negligent) to switch lanes when it is not safe to do so, the other driver’s insurance company might argue that its insured had sufficient time to execute the lane change if you had not been speeding. The other motorist might even claim that you were the one that drifted into the lane and caused the collision. An experienced car accident lawyer can anticipate such strategies and work to build a compelling claim for compensation through analyzing evidence, talking to witnesses, and exposing inaccurate claims by the at-fault driver. Since every state has strict laws that limit the time a person must seek compensation from a negligent driver, you should seek legal advice promptly.
Were you or a loved one harmed in an accident? Parker Waichman LLP helps families recover monetary compensation for harm caused by dangerous drivers. For your free consultation, contact our law firm today by using our live chat or calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529).