When accidents happen on Maryland’s busy roadways, unsafe lane changes are among the most common causes of serious car crashes. If you’ve been injured in a lane change accident, you need experienced car accident attorneys who understand the complexities of these cases and can help you pursue compensation for your losses.
At Zirkin & Schmerling, our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience handling car accident cases involving unsafe lane changes. We know how devastating these traffic accidents can be, often resulting in severe injuries, significant medical expenses, and lost wages. Our team of dedicated auto accident lawyers negotiates with insurance companies to ensure victims receive fair compensation.
If you’ve been involved in a lane change crash, contact our experienced attorney team today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your legal options. Contact Zirkin & Schmerling at 410-753-4611.
Types of Unsafe Lane Changes
Understanding the different types of unsafe lane changes can be crucial when building a strong car accident claim. Our car accident lawyers frequently encounter several distinct categories of dangerous lane change maneuvers that lead to serious auto accidents.
Aggressive Lane Changes occur when drivers make sudden, forceful movements between lanes without proper signaling or adequate space. These reckless driving behaviors often result from road rage or impatience, causing the negligent driver to cut off other drivers.
Blind Spot Lane Changes happen when drivers fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes. Despite having mirrors, every vehicle has areas where other cars can be hidden from view. When drivers don’t physically turn to check these areas, they may collide with vehicles they cannot see.
Multiple Lane Changes involve drivers crossing several lanes of traffic simultaneously or in rapid succession. This dangerous practice doesn’t give other drivers adequate time to react and often leads to catastrophic injuries.
Lane Changes in Construction Zones present unique hazards due to altered traffic patterns and reduced lane widths. Poor weather conditions can make these situations even more treacherous.
Impaired Driving Lane Changes occur when drivers under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications make erratic lane changes. Impaired driving significantly reduces reaction time, and a driver may lose control.
Typical Causes of Unsafe Lane Changes
Our personal injury lawyers have identified numerous factors that contribute to unsafe lane change crashes. Understanding these causes helps in determining liability and building stronger personal injury claims.
Driver distraction is one of the leading causes of these accidents. When drivers focus on cell phones, GPS devices, or other distractions, they lose awareness of surrounding traffic and fail to execute safe lane changes. Tired drivers pose significant risks on Maryland roadways, as fatigue impairs judgment and slows reaction times.
Inadequate following distance prevents drivers from having sufficient time and space to safely change lanes. Poor weather conditions, such as rain, snow, or fog, reduce visibility and road traction, requiring extra caution when changing lanes.
Mechanical failures, including broken turn signals, faulty mirrors, or tire problems, can contribute to unsafe lane changes. When drivers cannot properly signal their intentions or maintain vehicle control, accidents are more likely to occur. Inexperienced drivers may lack the skills necessary to judge traffic gaps or understand proper lane change procedures.
Facial Injuries Following an Unsafe Lane Change Accident
Lane change crashes often result in severe injuries that require ongoing medical treatment and have lasting consequences for victims. Victims should seek medical treatment right away, since a failure to do so could make seeking compensation later challenging. Our car accident lawyer team has extensive experience helping clients recover financial compensation for these devastating injuries.
Lacerations and cuts from broken glass, deployed airbags, or impact with vehicle interiors are common in lane change crashes. These injuries may require extensive medical care, including plastic surgery to minimize scarring. Fractures to facial bones such as the nose, jaw, cheekbones, and orbital bones frequently occur during high-impact collisions.
Dental injuries like broken, chipped, or knocked-out teeth are common consequences of these accidents. Victims may require extensive dental work, leading to substantial medical bills. Eye injuries can range from minor irritation to complete vision loss, potentially requiring ongoing medical care.
Traumatic brain injuries can occur even in seemingly minor accidents when the head strikes surfaces within the vehicle. These catastrophic injuries may not be immediately apparent but can have profound long-term consequences requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation.
Our accident lawyer team understands the full scope of these injuries and works to ensure our injured clients receive compensation for all current and future medical expenses from insurance companies.
Liability in an Unsafe Lane Change Accident
Determining liability requires careful investigation of driver behavior and accident circumstances. Our car accident lawyers thoroughly investigate each case to identify all potentially liable parties and build the strongest possible personal injury claims.
Driver negligence is the most common basis for liability in unsafe lane change cases. When a driver fails to exercise reasonable care while changing lanes, they may be held responsible for resulting injuries and damages including wrongful death and lost wages. This includes failing to signal, not checking blind spots, or making unsafe lane changes in heavy traffic.
Traffic law violations provide strong evidence of negligence. Maryland traffic laws require drivers to signal their intentions, ensure adequate space exists before changing lanes, and yield right-of-way to vehicles already in the target lane.
Contributory negligence is an important consideration in Maryland car accident cases. Under Maryland’s contributory negligence law, if a victim contributed to the accident in any way according to the police report, they may be barred from recovering compensation. Our car accident attorney team carefully analyzes each case to address potential contributory negligence issues and wrongful death claims.
Other Driver Behaviors
Beyond the driver who made the unsafe lane change, other driver behaviors can contribute to accidents and affect liability determinations. Speeding by other vehicles can reduce the time available for safe lane changes and increase the severity of resulting collisions. Aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating or blocking lane changes, can create dangerous situations.
Failure to maintain lane position by drivers already in a lane can confuse drivers attempting to change lanes. When drivers weave within their lanes, they make it difficult for others to execute safe lane changes.
Property Damages After an Unsafe Lane Change Accident
Lane change accidents often cause significant damage to the vehicles involved in the crash. Understanding your rights is crucial for protecting your financial interests after an auto accident, especially when insurance companies try to downplay your claim.
Vehicle repair costs can be substantial following lane change crashes. Side-impact collisions, which are common in these accidents, often cause extensive damage to doors, windows, and structural components. T-bone accidents resulting from unsafe lane changes can cause particularly severe vehicle damage.
Total loss situations occur when repair costs exceed the vehicle’s fair market value. Insurance companies typically declare the vehicle a total loss and compensate the owner based on the vehicle’s pre-accident value.
Maryland’s Fair Market Value Cap
Maryland law establishes specific rules regarding property damage compensation in car accident cases. The fair market value cap limits recovery to the vehicle’s actual cash value immediately before the accident occurred, regardless of what you originally paid for the vehicle.
This limitation can be particularly challenging for owners of older vehicles. Our experienced attorney team works diligently to ensure proper valuation of your vehicle and maximum recovery under Maryland law.
Time Limit for Filing Property Damages Claim
Maryland’s statute of limitations requires damage claims to be filed within three years of the accident date. However, insurance companies often require much shorter reporting periods, sometimes as brief as 30 days from when the crash occurred.
Prompt action is essential to protect your rights. Our car accident lawsuit team advises clients to report accidents immediately and begin the claims process as soon as possible after seeking medical attention.
How Lane Assist Technologies Prevent Lane Change Accidents
Modern vehicles increasingly feature advanced safety technologies designed to prevent unsafe lane changes and reduce the risk of serious car crashes. Understanding these systems can be helpful when evaluating accident causation and potential liability.
Blind spot monitoring systems use sensors to detect vehicles in adjacent lanes and alert drivers when other cars are present and out of view. These systems typically provide visual warnings in side mirrors and may include audible alerts when drivers attempt to change lanes.
Lane departure warning systems monitor lane markings and alert drivers when their vehicles begin to drift out of their lanes without signaling. These systems can help prevent accidents caused by drowsy driving or driver distraction. Automatic emergency braking systems can detect potential collisions during lane changes and automatically apply brakes to prevent or reduce impact severity.
While these technologies significantly improve safety, they are not foolproof and cannot replace careful driving practices. Our truck accident and auto accident attorneys have handled cases where technology failures contributed to accidents.
Driving Practices To Avoid Unsafe Lane Change Accidents
Prevention remains the best strategy for avoiding accidents and the devastating consequences they can bring. Our personal injury lawyers recommend several key driving practices that can significantly reduce your risk of being involved in these dangerous traffic accidents.
Signal Early
Signal early and clearly by using your turn signals well before beginning any lane change. This gives other drivers adequate warning of your intentions and allows them time to adjust their driving accordingly. Check all mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes, as every vehicle has areas where other cars can be hidden from view.
Leave Space
Ensure adequate space exists in the target lane before beginning your lane change. You should see the entire vehicle behind you in your rearview mirror before moving over. Change lanes gradually rather than making sudden, aggressive movements, and avoid lane changes in dangerous conditions such as poor weather, heavy traffic, or construction zones unless necessary.
Avoid Distractions
Stay alert and focused by avoiding distractions such as cell phones while driving. Lane changes require your full attention and quick decision-making abilities. Maintain safe following distances to reduce pressure to make unsafe lane changes, and be patient, waiting for safe opportunities rather than forcing your way into traffic.
Contact an Experienced Maryland Car Accident Lawyer Today
Unsafe lane change crashes can result in significant injuries, substantial medical bills, and significant financial hardship for victims and their families. From spinal cord injuries to traumatic brain injuries, the consequences of these crashes can be life-changing.
If you’ve been injured in a lane change crash, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. The personal injury attorneys at Zirkin & Schmerling understand the complexities of these cases and have a proven track record of helping victims recover the compensation they deserve, even if their injury was complicated by subsequent medical malpractice.
Our personal injury lawyer team handles all aspects of your injury claim, from investigating the accident scene and gathering evidence to negotiating with insurance companies and, if necessary, pursuing a car accident lawsuit. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless our accident lawyers successfully recover compensation for your case. Contact our car accident personal injury lawyers today at 410-753-4611 for a free consultation.
