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Merging lanes is always a challenge, especially in a busy city like Hartford. At the same time, drivers have an obligation to use their common sense and honed skills in order to safely navigate when changing lanes, merging from a ramp, or trying to otherwise join the flow of traffic.
When negligent drivers cause an accident with you when merging lanes, they have an obligation to pay the subsequent damages. Compensation can include money for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, vehicle repairs, and more.
Bert McDowell helps people like you whose lives have been turned upside down by collisions, negligence, or poor decision-making. Our team can consult with you to see what possibilities may exist for compensation.
We’ll analyze the circumstances surrounding your case, review supporting documentation, and talk about avenues you may pursue to receive compensation. If you’re ready to consult with the Bert McDowell Injury Law team about your case, give us a call at (203) 633-7449 or contact us online to schedule a free case review.
Accidents often happen in a flash. In the aftermath, it’s common to feel confused, upset, and overwhelmed. You may not be in the best state of mind to process everything that happened or to advocate for yourself as you speak with the other involved parties, law enforcement, and insurance agencies.
Life must go on after an accident, but it’s a challenge to care for yourself, your family, and your home if you’re incapacitated in new ways. If you’re struggling with new physical and financial burdens after a car accident, you’re not alone.
For some, an accident is so traumatic that they struggle to remember the details after the fact.
Even if some of the details are still vivid in your mind, you may forget specifics about what happened or start to second-guess your role in the events.
Therefore, it’s key to act quickly if you plan to consult with an attorney. Further, Connecticut has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases, which adds to the urgency of getting your case in motion.
Your attorney will help you put together a strong claim for all the damages you have suffered, including those that are commonly overlooked by both insurers and claimants. More generally, speaking with an attorney is worthwhile for the following reasons:
Drivers and passengers have specific rights under Connecticut and federal laws. For instance, drivers must keep their vehicles at a safe distance from other cars and follow the rules of the road.
They must maintain their vehicles so that they aren’t a hazard to other travelers. Drivers have to safely share the road with pedestrians, motorcyclists, and others, as well.
Anyone who is hurt by a violation involving any of the above has the right to pursue a claim for damages against the at-fault parties.
If someone merges into your lane without due care, they put you in harm’s way and fail to uphold their responsibilities as a driver — even if they did not have any malicious intent toward you. An attorney can help you understand your recourse under the law and guide you to options for receiving compensation.
To successfully lodge a claim, you need to have all of your proverbial ducks in a row, meaning evidence of fault, evidence of damages, and legal justification for your claim, along with all the needed details. There may be a series of claim forms to submit, especially if you want to be proactive and avoid disputes from insurers, such as by preemptively providing imaging and other documentation from your medical appointments.
An attorney can help you stay organized by letting you know what supporting documents you need to submit to the insurance company. Further, they’ll let you know about key developments in your case.
Your attorney can suggest other avenues for moving forward if obstacles arise during the claims process. They will help you navigate the claims process with confidence and focus on each important milestone along the way, all with the goal of helping you seek the full amount of compensation you need to recover.
Insurance companies have a reputation for offering low payout amounts — ones that frequently don’t suffice for individuals with hefty medical bills, work interruptions, and other inconveniences.
The good news, though, is that these companies may be open to negotiating in hopes of avoiding further litigation. Many injured parties don’t try to push back on low payment amounts because they don’t realize that they can bargain.
With a personal injury attorney in your corner, you can rest assured that negotiations will take place. Experienced attorneys know how to make a compelling case to seek the compensation that you need.
You don’t want to take a chance on these negotiations, so it’s best to trust the process with an expert.
Like any accident, several factors can contribute to a lane-merging collision. Some of these factors are listed below.
Poor visibility is a common denominator in many accidents. Adverse weather, such as thick fog or heavy snow, confuses drivers and may obscure road markings.
Drivers are more likely to accidentally merge into another lane if they can’t tell what’s happening nearby. Even careful drivers can be caught off guard by difficult weather conditions.
If you have to drive in bad weather, stay safe by monitoring your surroundings and watching for erratic drivers. When possible, avoid traveling until the weather improves.
Every car has blind spots or areas that mirrors can’t reach. New cars are equipped with blind spot monitoring technology, which alerts drivers if vehicles are passing on the sides where the mirrors can’t detect them.
Even with this feature, drivers should always do visual traffic checks and remain alert. Lane merging accidents frequently happen because people don’t notice blind spot traffic.
Make sure to check blind spots often and pass other drivers properly so that you aren’t lingering in their blind spots.
Distracted driving claims lives every single year. Whether the culprit is texting, talking on the phone, eating in the car, gawking at an accident, getting drowsy, or simply zoning out, distracted driving is exceptionally dangerous.
Distracted driving can also cause drivers to drift in and out of lanes, which poses a hazard to surrounding traffic.
It’s essential to pay attention behind the wheel, even if you’re driving on familiar roads in normal conditions. Eliminate distractions by putting your phone in an inaccessible spot and keeping your eyes on the road at all times.
Watch carefully for drivers who are drifting, stopping, and driving at random intervals or failing to obey road signs.
Drunk driving is a significant factor in roughly a third of all fatal car accidents in the United States. Sadly, despite all of the awareness efforts and options that exist to prevent these collisions, some people choose to drive under the influence.
Drivers can’t easily make safe choices while inebriated, so they may change lanes without warning or drift into neighboring lanes. Their actions put everyone at risk.
If you suspect that someone near you is driving under the influence, it’s best to let authorities know so that they can stop the unsafe driver.
Insurance companies evaluate several factors when determining fault. The elements they analyze include:
Connecticut is a comparative fault state, which means that parties in an accident can share the blame for what happened.
Under state law, you may be eligible for an insurance payout if you are not the primary at-fault party in an accident. However, the payout amount will be reduced in proportion to the percentage of blame that you’re assigned.
Your personal injury attorney can help you understand how comparative fault impacts your payout eligibility. In many cases, insurers and other parties try to assign fault to avoid total liability.
Your attorney can help you fight back against accusations of contributed fault while pursuing the highest damages possible.
If another driver hits you while merging lanes, you shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of their negligence without help. You can rely on a personal injury attorney to establish the amount of compensation you should receive, negotiate on your behalf, and work with the insurance company to secure a payout.
Bert McDowell has been through this process many times with clients from all walks of life. He helps people who have suffered from all forms of negligence, from dog bites and medical malpractice to car and truck accidents.
Known for his personalized service, excellent communication skills, and determination to win, Bert and his team are ready to take on your case! When the going gets tough, it’s time to Bring on Bert!
Call (203) 633-7449 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation case review with our Hartford injury attorneys today.