Maison Law helps victims struck by drivers attempting to merge on busy Visalia roadways. Motorists who make hazardous lane-switches and cause accidents should be held accountable for all recovery costs.
If you have been injured, please contact a Visalia Car Accident Lawyer for a free case consultation. It’s an easy, no-obligation way to find out what your accident may be worth and how to hold a car insurance company fully responsible.
When You Should Have a Lawyer
If your accident involves a serious injury, and a merging driver caused your accident, a lawyer may provide a powerful advantage for your case. Maison Law can help make sure the fault sticks to the right driver when insurance adjusters see large medical bills and immediately try to shift blame. A lawyer can also often earn you much more in support than if you tried to take on a giant auto insurance provider yourself.
You always have the right to file your own claim, but a skilled lawyer can often give you a much better chance to win the kind of settlement you need to fully recover physically and financially. When you come away from a crash with something like a broken bone, a neck or back injury, or a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), it’s a great idea to talk over your options with a lawyer.
A Free Consultation with a Real Visalia Car Accident Lawyer
A major collision can leave you with a broken arm or leg, and no way to earn paychecks to support yourself and your family. You may need to seek financial help immediately, but you may not have the bandwidth to deal with frustrating insurance adjusters while also managing a painful recovery.
That’s understandable. It’s why we offer a no-risk, no-obligation free meeting to all Tulare County accident victims. It’s a chance to get your questions answered and learn what an insurance company should be providing to you.
If you feel that we can earn you more, you won’t need any upfront money to hire us. We only get paid if we win your case. If we handle your case, we also set out to handle every frustrating part of your injury claim, so you can focus on physical and emotional healing after a frightening collision.
Support for Victims After an Accident Involving a Merging Driver
Victims can be knocked into other lanes by side-swiping drivers as they merge. Drivers can also swerve out of the way of a reckless merging driver, only to strike another vehicle.
Side collisions along weak sections of car doors and windows can put any one inside the vehicle at risk of an injury.
Victims will need help with their immediate emergency response and ER bills. They’ll also need a settlement check that covers the care they may need in the future, including follow-up surgeries on broken bones, and months of physical therapy costs.
It’s up to a skilled Visalia merging car accident attorney to make sure any settlement offer will leave victims with what they need to make a 100% recovery.
Maison Law demands these benefits and more on behalf of clients:
- All medical bills, covered! (for as long as necessary)
- A lifetime of support for permanent physical disabilities, covered!
- The pain associated with a collision and difficult recovery, covered!
- Help with the emotional trauma caused by a scary accident and debilitating injury, covered!
- All lost wages and benefits at work, covered!
- Bills to fix or replace damaged vehicles, covered!
Maison Law also protects families who have lost a loved one to a highway accident. A Visalia Wrongful Death Lawyer demands support for those left behind. The medical bills that might remain after a tragic accident must be paid. The funeral and burial expenses should be reimbursed. The income the victim may have provided to support the family each month should be replaced. The emotional trauma dealt to grieving families must earn support.
Finding Out Who Is Responsible for a Merging Accident
Daily travelers around Visalia can face a lot of risks when drivers are trying to merge onto busy roads like Route 198. Motorists can be going too fast to easily join the flow of traffic. They might surprise other drivers by coming to a sudden stop.
These and other risks can cause near-misses and violent sideswipe accidents. Drivers can also be struck from behind when they must slam the brakes because of a motorist recklessly merging in front of them.
California law is clear on who must pay for damages after a merging accident.
Under California Vehicle Code CVC 21804. it’s explained that merging drivers must always yield the right-of-way to drivers already on the highway. It means that those trying to merge on a highway like Route 99 are responsible for going at a safe speed and only switching lanes when there’s room.
Drivers already on the highway can switch lanes if possible, or make room, to be courteous, but aren’t required by law to take any action.
The California Driver’s Handbook explains a few other safety guidelines for merging Visalia drivers:
- Be in the proper lane on the on-ramp.
- Be at or near the speed of traffic.
- Merge into highway traffic when safe to do so. Do not stop unless absolutely necessary.
- Merge into a space large enough for your vehicle to safely join the lane.
- Use your mirrors and turn signals.
- Turn your head quickly to look over your shoulder before changing lanes or merging into traffic.
- Make sure you can stop safely by leaving three seconds of space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Make sure you do not cross over any solid lines when merging. If you need to cross several lanes, signal and cross them one at a time. Check your blind spots for vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians each time.
Punishment for Merging Drivers
Drivers who make dangerous moves as they merge can face charges of “failure to yield to traffic” or “unsafe lane change.” These charges can carry between a $200 and $300 fine, but court costs make these fines much more expensive.
Merging drivers causing collisions can, of course, be liable for all of any victim’s recovery costs and car repair bills. However, proving that a driver was merging at the time of an accident can be difficult.
Evidence will be key. Victims should get photos at the scene if it’s safe to do so. They should alert the investigating CHP officer that the driver was attempting to merge when the accident occurred. The officer may not realize this.
Victims should also get witness contact information. All of this evidence can be transferred to a skilled attorney, who can also rely on accident reconstruction teams to reveal the full story of what happened.
This proof is also important when you swerve out of the way of a wild driver trying to merge. The merging driver may drive off unscathed, while you end up striking another car beside you. A lawyer can help you demonstrate how the accident unfolded and even help in identifying the merging driver who raced away.
Contact a Visalia Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident, take advantage of a free case review with a real lawyer at Maison Law. This evaluation comes with no obligation to you or your family. Find out what your injury is worth and how to make insurance companies pay what’s fair.
Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, has a long track record of winning substantial support for Visalia accident victims. With decades of experience, he knows when insurance companies should be providing more support for you. He can help you reject any “low-ball” settlement offer and demand full compensation.
