Car accidents can occur for many reasons, but one of the most common is due to an unsafe lane change from a negligent driver. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by an unsafe lane change in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contacting an injury lawyer for accidents caused by an unsafe lane change in Fort Lauderdale, FL from Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers at (954) 476-1000 will help you understand your rights and help you build your personal injury case.
Improper Lane Changes
An improper lane change on a roadway is when an individual changes lanes, or attempts to change lanes without an open and clear path open to be able to do so safely.
When a driver is distracted or in a hurry to reach their destination, improper lane changes are common. Some of the most typical causes of unsafe lane changing accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Failure to signal before changing lanes
- Failure to check blind spots before changing lanes
- Driver exhaustion or fatigue
- Misjudgment of the approaching vehicles speed or direction in the parallel lane
- Poor weather conditions
- Potholes or dangerous road conditions
There are additional reasons as well that an unsafe lane change may occur. Regardless of how the accident happened, if you have been injured due to the negligence or reckless driving of another person, you may have the right to compensation for your injuries. An injury lawyer for accidents caused by an unsafe lane change in Fort Lauderdale, FL will fight for these damages.
Common Injuries Due to Unsafe Lane Changes
Oftentimes, these accidents will occur at very high rates of speed by cars in parallel lanes of traffic. Due to the trajectory of these vehicles, there may be rollovers, crashes into medians or other objects in the roadway, or collisions with other vehicles. The most common injuries suffered due to unsafe lane changes include:
- Head injuries, including concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Facial injuries
- Amputation or disfigurement
- Paralysis
- Death
Ways to Avoid Unsafe Lane Changes
If you have already been in a car accident that was due to an unsafe lane change, this information will only help you in the future. However, given that unsafe lane changes are so common, it is important to provide some tips to attempt to prevent any unsafe lane change collisions for all drivers.
- Only make one lane change at a time
- Always check all of your blind spots
- Always use your turn signal when making a lane change
- Never speed up or slow down when making a lane change, maintain a consistent speed
- Never pass on your right side
- Always attempt to avoid the furthest left lane, as this is where most accidents on the highways occur
- Always keep both of your hands on the wheel
- Yield to any merging traffic
- Never assume that the other vehicles can see you or know that you are passing them
- Attempt to avoid driving on the right side of a large truck, as they may not be able to see your vehicle
- Always be aware of your surroundings, and make note of drivers who appear distracted, aggressive or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Even if your unsafe lane change does not result in an accident, it is important to note that it is still considered illegal under Florida law. Under FL § 31d8.18, you would have to pay a fine for unsafe lane changes.
Liability in Unsafe Lane Change Car Accidents
Unsafe lane change car accidents are similar to other accidents in the state of Florida, and we will have to prove four elements in order to obtain compensation for your injuries. The elements we need to prove are the following:
- Duty of care – The driver had a duty to act reasonably and exercise ordinary care as a driver under the circumstances and conditions
- Breach of duty of care – The driver violated and breached his/her duty of care by making an unsafe lane change
- Causation – The driver’s unsafe lane change directly caused your injuries
- Damages – You suffered actual damages due to the unsafe lane change of the other driver
Comparative Negligence
The state of Florida does not bar anyone from attempting to receive compensation for their injuries even if they were partially at fault for a car accident. This means that if someone else had an unsafe lane change in Fort Lauderdale, and you were partially at fault for the accident, you can still potentially recover compensation for your medical bills, physical pain, mental anguish, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Never forgo the opportunity to receive compensation for your personal injuries due to someone else’s negligence because you may have been partially at fault. Contacting an injury lawyer for accidents caused by an unsafe lane change in Fort Lauderdale, FL from Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers at (954) 476-1000 will help you understand how comparative negligence can affect your case, and how you may be able to still receive compensation for your injuries.
Statute of Limitations
The state of Florida has established a deadline that personal injury claims like the ones suffered in car accidents, must be filed within two years of the date of the car accident. However, if the accident resulted in the death of the victim, then the legal claim can be filed two years after the victim’s death.
Contact an Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one was the victim of a car accident due to an unsafe lane change in Lauderdale, FL, contact an injury lawyer as soon as possible. The legal team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers at (954) 476-1000 can help you with your case, help you understand your rights, and build your claim against those responsible for causing your injuries.
