Maison Law helps Merced victims struck by careless drivers trying to merge. Our lawyers make sure car insurance providers for those at fault are 100% responsible for all recovery costs.
If you have been injured, please contact a Merced Car Accident Lawyer for a free case review. It’s an informative, no-string-attached way to find out what your injury may be worth and how to hold a car insurance company fully responsible.
Deciding If You Need a Lawyer
If your accident only results in very minor injuries, or if your car is struck and only vehicle damage is involved, you may not need the help of a lawyer to earn compensation.
However, when your injuries are more serious, a lawyer can prove a critical protection against car insurance adjusters looking to devalue your case. A more serious injury means higher medical bills and more lost income. These larger damages will make insurers fight harder to avoid blame. Perhaps even trying to falsely blame you for a merging accident.
A lawyer can often bring home more in compensation for you in cases involving these types of injuries and circumstances:
- An accident involving a broken bone, such as a wrist fracture or a broken leg
- An accident involving a Traumatic Brain Injury, including a serious concussion
- An accident involving a neck injury, including a serious case of whiplash
- An accident involving a back injury with pain that doesn’t go away
- A merging accident resulting in a permanent physical disability
- An accident involving an injury to your child or another family member
A lawyer collects all evidence in an accident, and then forces auto insurance providers to accept fault and pay you what you require to fully recover.
You can always file an injury claim on your own, but when taking on giant car insurance companies, it’s a good idea for injured victims to have strong legal representation.
Determining Who Is Liable for a Merging Accident
Under California Vehicle Code CVC 21804., the responsibility to merge safely falls on the driver attempting to join traffic. The merging motorist entering a busy route like Highway 99 is required to enter traffic cautiously, and without causing a collision.
The traveler already on the highway has the right-of-way and isn’t required to make a lane change or slow down. They can continue on, leaving the merging driver to find room to join the lane.
Drivers are encouraged to be kind and switch lanes or slow down to allow other cars in, but they are under no legal obligation.
This means that the merging driver would usually be found responsible for most accidents happening near an on-ramp. That would mean they’d have to accept financial responsibility for the damage they cause and the injuries that victims walk away with.
A Lawyer’s Help in a Merging Accident Case
Unfortunately for victims, support is never guaranteed when dealing with a large car insurance company. Adjusters can try to confuse the facts of the accident. The at-fault driver may deny that they were merging when the collision occurred.
What’s more, a reckless merging driver may force you to jump lanes to avoid a crash, sending you into a nearby vehicle. The reckless driver who caused the whole thing may coast off with taking the blame. These wrinkles in the case can leave innocent victims with blame and accepting the bills for their own care.
It’s in these situations that a skilled attorney can be a huge help. An experienced lawyer would fully investigate the accident, speak to witnesses, and collect overwhelming evidence. Maison Law can also rely on the findings of an accident reconstruction team to make sure the truth isn’t covered up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of support can I demand from a car insurance company?
Victims hurt in merging accidents should get all medical bills paid off and money to pay for care they may need in the future. They should receive full payback on the income and benefits they lose while they can’t work. The intense pain they must live with and the emotional trauma caused by a frightening accident should also be compensated.
Can my family ask for support if a loved one is killed by a merging driver?
Families will need support after a tragic accident, and they are allowed to ask for it. They can file a wrongful death claim. The support can cover the burial costs and any medical bills leftover from a collision. Families should also seek help for the future to cover the loss of the income the deceased would have contributed in the years to come. They can also earn support for their emotional trauma and the loss of guidance and love in the coming years. A skilled Merced Wrongful Death Lawyer can represent the entire family, help them earn justice, and win them support for the future.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in California?
In California, car accident victims are given up to two years to file an injury claim. It’s the same for families who are filing a wrongful death claim. You shouldn’t wait to speak to a lawyer and get your case started. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to secure evidence and track down witnesses for your case.
Contact a Merced Car Accident Attorney
If a merging driver’s mistake leaves you with a serious injury, it’s a strong indicator that you could use the help of a lawyer. Contact us to set up a free, no-obligation consultation with a real lawyer to go over your options.
If you decide you could use our help, we are there, but you don’t have to worry about finding the money to pay a lawyer. We work on a contingency basis. It means we don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then, our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company must write for you.
