Who Is at Fault for a Changing Lanes Car Accident?

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Who Is at Fault for a Changing Lanes Car Accident?

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With millions of drivers on the road each day, the rules of the road are extremely important. What happens when an accident occurs while someone is changing lanes? Who is at fault? Our Illinois car accident lawyers explain.

Who has fault for a changing lanes car accident in Illinois?

The party at fault for a changing lanes car accident is usually the party changing lanes at the time of the crash. Illinois law says that a driver may change lanes only when they have the space to do so safely. In addition, a driver must signal to notify other drivers of their intent to make a lane change.

Laws for changing lanes in Illinois

There are several laws that apply to lane changes on the roads in Illinois. A person who breaks a law may be at fault for a car accident.

  • Room to Change Lanes – A driver must drive entirely within a single lane as much as they can. They may not change lanes until they can do so safely (625 ILCS 5/11-709)
  • Signaling – A driver must signal before changing lanes (625 ILCS 5/11-804(b))
  • Right of Way Laws – Right of way laws determine who has the right to be in a lane or in an intersection. A driver who causes an accident by failing to yield may be legally liable (625 ILCS 5/11-901 et. all)
  • Sudden stopping – Drivers may not suddenly stop or brake without signaling to the driver in the back when they are able to do so (625 ILCS 5/11-804(C))
  • Following too closely – A driver may not follow too closely to a vehicle in front of them. (625 ILCS 5/11-710)

For the most part, the Illinois rules of the road require a driver to make sure that that they have room to execute a lane change before doing it. They must have the right to enter the lane, signal before moving and make sure they can avoid hitting others.

There are some circumstances where the driver in the lane may be at fault. One circumstance is if they are speeding. Also, they may not suddenly slam on their brakes unless they are evading a hazard. In addition, multiple drivers may be trying to make an improper lane change at the same, in which case fault may be shared.

How to determine fault for lane change accidents in Illinois?

To determine fault for lane change accidents in Illinois, damage on the vehicles can be telling. Witness testimony may also be key to showing what each driver was doing at the time leading up to the crash. Illinois law allows for shared fault, which apportions legal liability among the parties if there is more than one person responsible for an accident.

What to Do After Your Accident

Your actions after a car accident can increase your safety and protect your right to compensation. Consider the following actions after an accident:

 

  • Move yourself and the vehicle to the side of the vehicle if it is safe to do so
  • Contact 911 if you, passengers, or other road users have sustained an injury
  • Contact the local police department to notify them about the accident
  • Seek immediate medical attention to identify any injuries
  • Consult an Edwardsville personal injury attorney right away

Reasons Why You Should Consider a Personal Injury Lawyer

A car accident leaves victims struggling with medical bills, physical injuries, and financial losses. Although the aftermath of a car accident is overwhelming, you might be unsure whether to hire a personal injury attorney.

 

Working with a personal injury attorney is beneficial even when your losses seem minimal. In many cases, your case is worth much more than you initially imagine. 

 

Here are a few reasons why you should hire a personal injury attorney:

Investigate the Crash

You must demonstrate that the other driver’s negligence led to the accident. You must present evidence of their liability and your injuries to obtain compensation for your losses. 

 

A personal injury lawyer can work with investigators to obtain footage of the crash, obtain police reports, gather eyewitness statements, and analyze vehicle damage. Once an attorney finds the documents and evidence required to hold the at-fault driver liable, they’ll compile it and file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Courtroom Experience

Most injured victims obtain compensation directly from the insurer of the at-fault party. However, some must litigate the matter in court to obtain the full compensation they deserve. If the insurer of the at-fault party makes insufficient offers, your option might be to proceed to litigation and even trial.

 

The right attorney will present the evidence gathered to the jury, call the witnesses to the stand, and make sound arguments to obtain compensation for you.

Determining The Damages You’re Owed

Your chances of recovering improve when you obtain complete compensation for the various losses from your accident. A personal injury attorney can evaluate the impact of the collision on your life and determine all legally recoverable losses.

 

You can obtain various damages, depending on the facts and circumstances of your injury, including:

 

  • Lost wages
  • Medical costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Emotional anguish

Steps to Follow When the Accident is Your Fault

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Provider

If you were at fault for the accident, your insurance provider should cover your accident-related losses. As such, you should have your attorney report the incident promptly to start the claim process. 

However, you might only be partially to blame, which might mean you can still seek compensation from the other driver. Your Edwardsville personal injury lawyer can assess all your rights. 

Steps to Follow When Is Not Your Fault

When an accident is not your fault, you should prioritize your physical health and then immediately seek legal representation. Filing at-fault insurance claims is no easy task, and you want a skilled professional handling this process for you. Do not delay, as there are time limits involved if you need to file an injury lawsuit in civil court. 

What to Do After Your Accident

Your actions after a car accident can increase your safety and protect your right to compensation. Consider the following actions after an accident:

  • Move yourself and the vehicle to the side of the vehicle if it is safe to do so
  • Contact 911 if you, passengers, or other road users have sustained an injury
  • Contact the local police department to notify them about the accident
  • Seek immediate medical attention to identify any injuries
  • Consult an Edwardsville personal injury attorney right away

Reasons Why You Should Consider a Personal Injury Lawyer

A car accident leaves victims struggling with medical bills, physical injuries, and financial losses. Although the aftermath of a car accident is overwhelming, you might be unsure whether to hire a personal injury attorney.

Working with a personal injury attorney is beneficial even when your losses seem minimal. In many cases, your case is worth much more than you initially imagine. 

Here are a few reasons why you should hire a personal injury attorney:

Investigate the Crash

You must demonstrate that the other driver’s negligence led to the accident. You must present evidence of their liability and your injuries to obtain compensation for your losses. 

A personal injury lawyer can work with investigators to obtain footage of the crash, obtain police reports, gather eyewitness statements, and analyze vehicle damage. Once an attorney finds the documents and evidence required to hold the at-fault driver liable, they’ll compile it and file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Courtroom Experience

Most injured victims obtain compensation directly from the insurer of the at-fault party. However, some must litigate the matter in court to obtain the full compensation they deserve. If the insurer of the at-fault party makes insufficient offers, your option might be to proceed to litigation and even trial.

The right attorney will present the evidence gathered to the jury, call the witnesses to the stand, and make sound arguments to obtain compensation for you.

Determining The Damages You’re Owed

Your chances of recovering improve when you obtain complete compensation for the various losses from your accident. A personal injury attorney can evaluate the impact of the collision on your life and determine all legally recoverable losses.

You can obtain various damages, depending on the facts and circumstances of your injury, including:

  • Lost wages
  • Medical costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Emotional anguish

Steps to Follow When the Accident is Your Fault

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Provider

If you were at fault for the accident, your insurance provider should cover your accident-related losses. As such, you should have your attorney report the incident promptly to start the claim process. 

 

However, you might only be partially to blame, which might mean you can still seek compensation from the other driver. Your Edwardsville personal injury lawyer can assess all your rights. 

Steps to Follow When Is Not Your Fault

When an accident is not your fault, you should prioritize your physical health and then immediately seek legal representation. Filing at-fault insurance claims is no easy task, and you want a skilled professional handling this process for you. Do not delay, as there are time limits involved if you need to file an injury lawsuit in civil court. 

How can an attorney help me?

Have you been in a lane-change accident? Do you need help to determine legal liability? Are you wondering how to get the compensation that you deserve?

Our car accident lawyers help people like you every day. Let us help you investigate, evaluate the law and make a claim on your behalf. We help individuals make claims, use their legal rights and receive the compensation that they deserve. Contact us today.

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We’re here to help recover maximum monetary damages to compensate you for your physical, financial and emotional losses. The personal injury lawyers at our firm understand your concerns and are committed to responding to your needs with strong advocacy and legal counsel. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your personal injury or work-related injury claim at one of our office locations in Illinois or Missouri.

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