West Virginia is no stranger to serious car accidents, especially those due to a violation of traffic laws on our roadways. Many people will be seriously injured in certain accidents every year, while, in one year’s time, it is estimated that 19 people per 100,000 will lose their lives in fatal accidents. If you have been impacted by a driver’s negligence in an unsafe lane change accident in our state, our West Virginia personal injury attorneys can lend a helping hand.
What is an Unsafe Lane Change?
Many accidents, especially those that occur on West Virginia highways every year, involve an aspect known as unsafe lane changes. Drivers make these changes when they are attempting to drive into another lane but fail to signal, or start to signal after they already started moving into another lane. It can also involve a driver who veers over into another lane and a driver has to slam on their brakes so that they could avoid an accident, which, in turn, could lead to another serious accident.
Many people do not understand that lane change accidents can be easily prevented. When drivers remember to use their vehicle’s mirrors and signals, they can ensure that they are being seen and only transferring into another lane when it is safe to do so. It is also critical for drivers to look over to the left and right of their vehicles so that they can make sure nobody is hiding in their blind spot and do not accidentally cause an accident.
Some other ways that drivers can avoid these serious accidents include only making one lane change at a time, never changing lanes in areas with solid lines, never speeding up to make a lane change, and never changing lanes in an intersection. A driver should always wait until they are through an intersection to change lanes.
Can I Bring a Claim? .1907091416550.jpg)
If somebody has made an unsafe lane change and the police at the scene of your accident agree that it was the fault of another party, they might include this in the police report, which you can use to prove your claim later on. In the event of a lane change accident with injuries, you, the plaintiff, might be able to bring a civil lawsuit for reimbursement for a wide variety of damages. This can help you pay for aspects that continue to pile up against you, including medical expenses, hospital bills, lost wages, property damages, and more.
Help from an Experienced West Virginia Personal Injury Attorney
Unsafe lane changes, from a legal standpoint, are a breach of traffic laws. If you have been involved in a serious lane change accident caused by a driver who was making an unsafe lane change at the time, you will need a personal injury attorney on your side who can help research the laws regarding your case and help you hold a driver liable for your West Virginia car accident. At Katz, Kantor, Stonestreet & Buckner, our accident attorneys understand the ins and outs of the laws in your claim and would like to extend a helping hand to you. Please contact us for the help you deserve at (304) 713-2014.