Lane Change Accidents in Pittsburgh
Every year, thousands of car accidents are reported in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shows that 1,059 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in 2019, the most recent year available.
Lane change accidents are a common yet entirely preventable type of crash that can result in serious injuries and deaths. If you get hurt in a lane change accident in Pittsburgh, get legal help from a Pittsburgh lawyer for injury victims to find out if you may be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault driver.
What Is a Lane Change Accident?
A lane change accident is a motor vehicle crash between two or more cars that takes place when a driver makes an unsafe lane change. When a driver fails to make a safe and proper transition into another lane on a highway, the unexpected movement of his or her vehicle can be dangerous for surrounding drivers.
Various types of lane change accidents can occur as a result:
- Sideswipes
- Rear-end collisions
- Chain reaction accidents
- Merging accidents
- Blind spot accidents
- Large truck underride accidents
- Multivehicle pileups on highways
It is also possible for an unsafe lane change to cause a no-contact crash, where the victim swerves to avoid an accident and ends up crashing anyway, without actual contact between the two vehicles.
What Are Pennsylvania’s Lane Change Laws?
When a driver needs to change lanes, he or she has a legal responsibility to do so safely, cautiously and appropriately based on roadway conditions. Pennsylvania law (Title 75, Section 3309 of the Vehicle Code) states that a vehicle must be driven within a single lane and shall not be moved until the driver has ascertained that the movement can be done safely. Changing lanes requires signaling properly, checking blind spots, maintaining a reasonable speed and carefully making the move when it is safe to do so.
What Causes Lane Change Accidents in Pittsburgh?
Drivers in Pittsburgh can be guilty of many errors that lead to unsafe lane changes and related car accidents, including:
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Weaving in and out of multiple lanes
- Illegal lane-splitting
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Failing to check a blind spot
- Improper signaling
- Driving while distracted
- Drowsy driving
- Driving under the influence
Although driver error is the main cause of lane-change crashes in Pittsburgh, other possibilities include broken taillights, equipment malfunctions, defective vehicle parts, poor driver training and dangerous road conditions.
Who Is Liable for a Lane Change Accident Under Pennsylvania Law?
If another driver or party is at fault for your lane change accident in Pittsburgh, you may be eligible for financial compensation from his or her insurance company. However, you will need to navigate Pennsylvania’s choice no-fault laws to hold someone else responsible. Under these rules, you may not bring a claim against another driver or party unless you have the right type of insurance or suffered serious injuries.
How a Lawyer Can Help With a Pittsburgh Lane Change Accident Case
If you get hurt or suffer property damage in a lane change accident in Pittsburgh or the surrounding area, you may need to contact a local car accident attorney in Pittsburgh for guidance and advice with an injury claim. A lawyer can help you understand your rights and protect them with aggressive legal strategies.
If you can bring a claim against another driver, an attorney can collect evidence to support your arguments. Your lawyer can take over conversations with an insurance company to negotiate a fair settlement agreement on your behalf. Finally, an attorney can bring your lane change accident case to court in Pittsburgh to pursue the amount of financial compensation you truly deserve, if necessary.