Home » Car Accidents » Lane Change Crash
Changing lanes is such a common maneuver that most drivers often fail to recognize just how risky it can be. If just one motorist isn’t paying attention and attempts a lane change when it’s unsafe, serious car accidents can occur.
If you have sustained losses and damages because of another party’s negligence while changing lanes in Austin, TX, you may be entitled to file a claim and receive compensation. To have a chance to receive fair compensation, you need to hire an experienced Austin lane change crash lawyer.
At McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers, we offer the support you can depend on as you pursue your claim. We founded our firm with the goal of helping as many Austin residents as possible. In service of that mission, we have provided comprehensive legal services for nearly two decades and never charge upfront fees.
Learn more about how our Austin car accident lawyers can help by calling us at (512) 474-0222 to schedule a free consultation today, contact us now.
Table of Contents
ToggleOur team of Austin personal injury lawyers can guide you through the legal process by providing a number of key services, including the following:
Lane change accidents in Austin, Texas, can include things like sideswipes and even rear-end crashes, either of which can result in serious injuries, including brain injuries, broken bones, and internal damage. We can focus on the legal side of your accident while you focus on getting better.
If you have been dealing with medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress, contact our team of Austin car accident attorneys to schedule a free consultation and determine your next steps.
A lane change crash happens when a vehicle moving from one lane to another collides with another car in the process. These accidents are common in roadways with multiple lanes, as you might expect, but they can occur at any time that a vehicle attempts to move from one side of a road to another.
Several factors may increase the likelihood of a lane change crash occurring:
One common cause of these crashes is driver distraction, which occurs when a vehicle’s operator is not entirely focused on the road. Arguably, today’s most distracting activities involve cell phone usage, but changing the radio station and speaking with passengers can be just as intrusive.
Reckless driving is another cause of these accidents, and it can include a number of behaviors, including rapid lane changes. The driver may also choose not to use their signals, making it very difficult for everyone around them to predict their movements.
Someone who’s intoxicated can also cause lane change collisions, seeing as both alcohol and drug use impact reflexes and can affect depth perception, making it much more difficult to change lanes safely.
Lastly, low visibility, caused by things like inclement weather, can also lead to these accidents. Vehicles may not notice that others are in the way when they are trying to change lanes. The same can occur if the roads are not maintained properly and lane markings aren’t visible.
Texas is a fault state when it comes to collisions, which makes establishing liability a vital part of the legal process for seeking compensation.
Most of the time, driver error is the cause of lane change crashes, so it’s necessary to prove that negligence occurred. Negligence means that the other party owed you a duty of care that they breached, directly leading to the crash.
Luckily, you can be partly responsible for the crash and still recover losses.
Texas follows modified comparative negligence laws, which typically allow you to receive compensation if you were not more than 50% responsible for the crash. What you recover, however, will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
In some instances, parties other than the other driver may be responsible for the crash. If the roads were not maintained as they should have been and didn’t clearly delineate each lane, for example, the government entity in charge of the maintenance could be responsible for the crash if that’s what caused the problem.
Understanding how fault affects compensation in your lane change crash case can be complicated, so it’s a good idea to consult with an Austin personal injury attorney about your case’s facts.
If you have been in a lane change accident in Austin that occurred because of another party’s conduct, filing a claim gives you the chance to recover your losses. However, seeing as it can be complex to prove liability, it’s essential that you hire an attorney to represent you.
At McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers, our team of Austin lane change crash attorneys provides the ongoing guidance you need after a crash. Contact us as soon as possible to schedule a free consultation.
Related Links
Practice Areas
Contact Us Today!
Office Locations
Search Our Site