Changing lanes might seem like a simple task, but it’s a common cause of car accidents in Chicago. When drivers fail to check their blind spots and move carelessly between lanes, serious collisions can occur. These crashes often happen at high speeds and can leave victims with lasting injuries that they may never fully recover from.
Lane change accidents are especially dangerous on busy highways like the Dan Ryan Expressway and Lake Shore Drive, where traffic moves fast and drivers make sudden moves to merge. A single moment of inattention in these scenarios can have devastating consequences. Make sure to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer in Chicago for legal guidance and support.
Why Do Lane Change Accidents Usually Occur?
Most lane change accidents happen because a driver fails to follow the rules of the road, or because they aren’t paying adequate attention. Common causes include:
- Failing to check blind spots before merging
- Not using turn signals
- Speeding
- Weaving through traffic
- Distracted driving, such as texting
- Impaired driving
- Drowsy driving
- Aggressive driving, like cutting off other cars
Sometimes, weather conditions and poor visibility can make a lane change more dangerous. However, drivers are still required to operate their vehicles safely based on road and traffic conditions.
Who Is at Fault for a Lane Change Crash?
In most cases, the driver who makes the unsafe lane change is responsible for the accident. Illinois law requires drivers to make sure a lane is clear before moving into it. If they fail to do so and cause a crash, they can be held liable for the resulting damages.
Fault can be shared between multiple drivers in some cases. For example, one driver might change lanes without signaling, while another might be tailgating. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence law, meaning your compensation can be reduced if you’re partially at fault. However, you can still recover damages as long as you’re less than 51% responsible.
To prove fault, your attorney may use evidence such as:
- Dashcam and traffic camera footage
- Police reports
- Accident scene photos
- Eyewitness statements
- Vehicle damage
- Skid mark analysis
An experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer can investigate the crash and help you move toward maximum compensation from there.
Common Injuries in Lane Change Accidents
Lane change accidents can lead to severe injuries, regardless of how fast the vehicles were travelling. Victims may suffer:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Concussions
- Leg injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Your attorney can help you file a claim for all of your economic and non-economic damages after this type of accident, no matter the exact kinds of injuries you’ve sustained.
Contact Meyers & Flowers To Schedule a Free Consultation
The Chicago personal injury lawyers with Meyers & Flowers are here to help you take action if you were injured in a lane change crash in the area.
Our legal team has over 100 years of combined experience and has recovered more than $6 billion for our clients in that time. We know how these cases work and won’t hesitate to take your case to court if that’s what justice demands.
Call (630) 232-6333 today for a free consultation to learn more and get started with your claim.