At Maison Law, our attorneys offer representation to those who have been hurt in California car accidents. These accidents can take on many forms, from those that involve head-on collisions, failure to abide by signals, and even lane merging. If you have been hurt in a car accident and you know that another party is to blame, you have options for seeking financial support. Please do not hesitate to contact a California car accident lawyer that you can trust for a no-obligation case review today.
Why Merging Accidents Occur in California
California Vehicle Code section 22107 states that drivers in California are not supposed to change lanes unless they are acting in a reasonably safe manner. This means that drivers are supposed to give appropriate signals and look in their blind spots on highways and other roadways before they merge. In many cases, a driver fails to yield the right-of-way to other drivers, which causes an accident. Here are some of the common reasons for California merging accidents:
- Merging into traffic too quickly or too slowly
- Failing to look in blind spots before merging
- Failing to use appropriate turn signals
- Merging too closely to another vehicle
- Crossing into multiple lanes of traffic at once
In many cases, a merging accident leads to a side-swipe collision. Even when these accidents do not occur at high speeds, they can be incredibly dangerous and life-altering. These accidents are especially dangerous to passengers inside a vehicle who could be struck by a vehicle that merges into the vehicle they are riding in.
Injuries Commonly Reported in Merging Accidents
Especially when merging accidents involve large vehicles or those traveling at high speeds, the damages can be tremendous. Injuries that tend to result from merging accidents include the following:
- Minor cuts and scrapes
- Deep wounds
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Head and neck injuries
- Paralysis
- Soft tissue Injuries
- Internal organ damage
In the worst cases, a victim may even lose their life. This can leave families in a difficult position on both emotional and financial levels. Luckily, there are many ways for victims and families to protect their rights during these difficult times.
Damages in California Merging Accidents
Determining who is liable in a merging accident is necessary when you decide to move forward with a personal injury claim. Typically, the driver who was merging is liable for your accident, as it is their responsibility to make sure that they are merging as safely as possible. Liability usually depends on who had the right-of-way and where the accident actually took place.
If you can show that another party is liable for your California merging accident, you may be eligible for the following damages:
- Medical bills and future medical expenses
- Lost income and future lost wages
- Property damage to vehicles
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Therapy and rehabilitation costs
How to Avoid Lane Merging Accidents
Keeping some general tips in mind can help you prevent merging accidents that can lead to serious injuries and even take lives. Some of these include:
- Enter traffic at the speed that traffic is going to stay with the flow.
- Watch what the other vehicles around you are doing.
- Use your turn signals to show drivers that you intend to change lanes.
- Try to avoid any traffic delays that could lead to a collision.
- Follow a three-second rule that keeps three seconds of space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Change lanes one at a time if you have to drive across multiple lanes of traffic.
Contact a California Car Accident Lawyer Today
After a merging accident, you want to ensure that all liable parties are held responsible for the pain and damages that they caused you in your accident. Protecting your legal rights is vital, which is why our California car accident lawyers at Maison Law are here for you. We will answer any questions that you have, as well as provide you with helpful resources that you can use to move forward with your claim. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for a confidential and completely free case consultation.
