Receiving Compensation for Injuries Sustained During a Highway Merging Accident
It’s common to see cars merging in and out of lanes on the highway. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes misjudge the distance between vehicles, hitting another car while attempting to merge. These accidents are particularly common when drivers merge into highway traffic via an acceleration lane.
The most frequent merging accident causes include:
- Merging too slowly from the on-ramp.
- Making a lane change without signaling.
- Suddenly cutting off other vehicles.
- Crossing multiple lanes of traffic at once.
Highway Accident Injuries
In severe cases, highway accidents may result in head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal organ damage. More common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Fractures
- Neck injuries
- Bruising
- Back injuries
Determining Fault
While the driver who is merging during the accident is generally at fault, this isn’t always the case. If the merging vehicle collides with a car traveling well over the speed limit—making it impossible to accurately estimate the time needed to merge—the collision may not be the fault of the merging driver. Or, if the merging vehicle is moving into the middle lane from the inside lane, and hits a car merging into the middle lane from the outside lane, the merging driver may not be at fault. Every accident must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine fault.
Compensation
If the other party’s liability is considered to be at least fifty-one percent, you’re entitled to the following damages:
- Vehicular damage
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost earnings
- Lost earnings potential
You Need an Attorney
There are many negligent drivers on the road who fail to exercise proper caution when merging into highway traffic from an on-ramp or while changing lanes. If you’re hit by a merging vehicle, the accident can result in serious damage to your car and severe injuries. To get the compensation you deserve, contact the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., by clicking the Live Chat button on this page.