Motorcycle Accidents from Unsafe Lane Changes
Hundreds of people are killed in lane change motorcycle accidents every year in Ohio, and many more are also left seriously injured.
For example, it’s illegal to make a lane change while passing through an intersection, and this applies even if there are no nearby vehicles. Specifically, an illegal or dangerous lane change can catch an unsuspecting motorcyclist completely off guard because they can become lost in people’s blind spots.
While there are many different types of collisions that can result from unsafe lane changes, some of the most common include:
- Sideswipes – If someone enters your lane and hits you from the side, you can be pushed off the road or spin out in a serious wreck.
- Rear-end collisions – Drivers carelessly making a lane change may not notice that they are about to enter a lane where traffic has slowed, causing the driver to strike the rear-end of a car or motorcycle, who may not be easily seen.
- Head-on collisions – An careless lane change can unexpectedly put a driver in front of oncoming traffic. This can cause an innocent rider in the other direction to be forced off the road or to hit the on-coming.
Causes of Unsafe Lane Changes
A negligent driver can cause a terrible accident by ignoring or failing to understand the rules of the road concerning motorcycles. Many unsafe lane changes are done purposefully in cases where the driver does not know that their actions are illegal and dangerous, or in situations where they are driving recklessly and don’t care that they are breaking the law.
However, accidents also commonly result from lane changes that are performed by drivers who are distracted and not looking out for others. With so many dangers, it’s understandably very common for safe and responsible motorcyclists to suddenly be struck by an adjacent car that is making an unsafe lane change.
Understanding exactly what happened in your accident is important if your lawyer is going to determine who was responsible and therefore owes you compensation for the damages you suffered.
Some of the most common causes of unsafe lane change motorcycle accidents by careless drivers include:
- Failure to properly use a turn signal
- Broken or improperly aligned mirrors
- A driver who is suffering from fatigue or who is intoxicated
- Texting or using a cell phone application while driving
- Distracted by a conversation with passengers
- Eating while driving
- Driving dangerously given the weather or road conditions
Failure to Maintain Lane Injuries
Failure to maintain lane accidents can lead to life-threatening injuries. Some of the most common injuries that arise as a result of these accidents include:
In serious cases, failure to maintain lane accidents lead to death. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in one of these accidents, understand that you have the right to recover compensation for your damages.
Steps to Take After a Failure to Maintain Lane Accident
If you’d like to protect your rights as well as your physical and mental health, there are certain steps you should take after a failure to maintain lane accident. These steps include:
Call the Police
By calling the police, you can ensure the accident is documented in a report that can support your personal injury claim if you to choose to pursue one.
Take Photographs
It’s a good idea to take photographs of the accident scene, the vehicle damage that occurred, and injuries you’ve sustained. These photographs can serve as valuable evidence in the future.
Visit the Doctor
If you delay medical treatment, you can expect the negligent party’s insurer to fight back against your claim. Therefore, you should visit the emergency room or your primary care doctor to document your injuries.
Collect Contact Information
Be sure to ask the other driver for their contact information and insurance details. Obtaining contact information from any witnesses is also a wise idea.
Speak to an Attorney
Speaking to one of our failure to maintain lane accident lawyers can reduce your risk of being treated unfairly by the negligent driver’s insurance company.
How a Lawyer from KNR Can Help
If you’ve been hurt in a failure to maintain lane accident, an attorney can investigate your accident and determine who is responsible for your damages. Once liability is established, they can guide you through the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit.
With legal representation, you can hold the negligent driver accountable for their unsafe behavior while driving in lanes. Additionally, you may be able to secure compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages through missed work
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship if you lost your loved one
Recovering what you need will require negotiating with the insurance companies involved and going to trial if no acceptable financial settlement is offered. Our lawyers have negotiated many cases on behalf of our injured clients, and insurance companies know that we are not afraid to take them to court.
Ohio’s statute of limitations law requires that you file a personal injury suit within two years of your accident. Since it can take time to investigate what really happened, we encourage you to call your lawyer without delay.
Call Our Failure to Maintain Lane Accident Lawyers
If you’ve been hurt or lost a family member in a failure to maintain lane accident, contact the failure to maintain lane accident lawyers of Kisling, Nestico & Redick. While you concentrate on healing, let us deal with the insurance companies and secure the maximum compensation possible.
Contact us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW for a 100% free consultation.
