Have you been injured in a Georgia car accident? Do you want to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries and damages? If so, it’s up to you to prove why the other driver was responsible for your losses.
In some situations, proving fault is simple; however, this isn’t always the case. Because of how complex Georgia car accident cases can be, it is in your best interest to contact our legal team at Hines Law for assistance.
One accident that may be difficult when trying to prove fault is a lane-change situation. Usually, these situations happen quickly and while drivers are traveling at high speeds. This makes it difficult to figure out who is responsible for the resulting accident. If you are found partly or fully liable for the accident, it may impact how much compensation you receive.
Learning more about these accidents and the information needed to prove fault is imperative to help ensure the successful outcome of your case.
Determining Fault if Another Driver Merges into You
With lane-changing accidents, you must remember that fault is determined by negligence. This means that the at-fault party is the person who had a duty to keep others safe but failed in that duty. It’s worth noting that every driver has a duty to others on the road.
If you are involved in an accident where a driver is trying to merge into traffic, then the driver merging is often the one who is considered at fault. If a driver merges into traffic while exiting a ramp or while they are changing lanes, they are required to check their blind spots and mirrors to ensure it’s safe to move into another line before trying to merge. If proper care isn’t taken, the merging driver can collide with another vehicle and cause a serious accident.
Some of the ways that a merging driver could cause a car accident include:
- Being on the phone talking or texting when merging
- Failure to check rear- and side-view mirrors before merging
- Not using turn signals property when trying to merge
- Not matching other vehicle’s speeds in the lane they are moving into
If someone fails to follow the rules of the road or take the right precautions before they merge into moving traffic, then it means they failed when it comes to their responsibility to other drivers. Because of this, they may be considered at fault for the resulting accident.
It’s still necessary to have evidence that backs up the claim you make to help you recover compensation from the driver who was merging and caused the accident. Having an experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer helping with your case can be invaluable in this situation.
Determining Fault in Georgia Sideswipe Accidents
It’s often difficult to determine who is at fault in sideswipe accidents. In many cases, both vehicles are moving when the accident occurs, and it may also take place while the vehicles are traveling at high speeds. This leaves drivers with minimal time to react.
In most cases, though, one of the drivers will be considered most responsible for the sideswipe accident. It is necessary for you to hire an attorney to evaluate the available evidence to determine what driver acted negligently and caused the resulting collision.
Some of the most common examples of negligence that cause a sideswipe accident include:
- Driver cutting off another vehicle when changing lanes
- Driver that changes lanes without checking the side- and rear-view mirrors
- Driver changing lanes while distracted by something
- Driver changing lanes without checking blind spots
- Driver changing lanes and failing to match the speed of traffic on the road
- Driver changing lanes and not using their turn signal
If a driver takes any of these actions or engages in these behaviors and causes an accident, it means they acted negligently. Because of this, they can be held financially liable for the damages and injuries that were caused.
Determining Fault for Lane-Changing Accidents
If the drivers involved in the accident have different accounts of what occurred, then additional evidence is required to figure out who is liable. Some of the evidence that can be used to determine fault in lane-changing accidents include:
- Photos from the scene
- Statements from drivers involved in the accident
- Video footage of the accident
- Police reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Medical records
Contact Our Gainesville Personal Injury Lawyers for Assistance
If you are involved in an accident that involves merging in any way, proving fault and liability can be challenging. Because of this, we recommend that you get in touch with our Atlanta car accident lawyers, who can help build a solid case for you. Our goal will be to help you recover the compensation you deserve for the injuries and damages you suffered.
