Houston Lane Change Crashes Attorney
When a driver decides to change lanes, they must do so carefully. If they don’t, accidents can and do happen. Following a lane change accident in Houston, TX, crash victims might be entitled to compensation. If this has happened to you, don’t hesitate to call Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for help.
Our accomplished car accident lawyers in Houston can help you understand your legal rights and what options might be available to you. If you have a claim and decide to pursue compensation, we’ll be ready to help you fight to get all of the money you deserve.
We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to contact our Houston law office at (713) 500-5000 to schedule yours today.
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Why Should I Call a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Lane Change Crash in Houston?
While you may be entitled to compensation, getting cash in your hands after an accident isn’t always easy. The negligent driver who caused the crash probably won’t rush to accept responsibility.
Any insurance companies that are involved will do everything possible to deny or minimize the value of your personal injury claim. They’ll point fingers and cast blame. They’ll attempt to manipulate you to get you to accept a lowball offer. Or, they’ll try to scare you into walking away with nothing at all.
By hiring an experienced personal injury attorney, you can level the playing field. You can take away any advantage insurance companies have, give yourself time to recover, and set yourself up to win.
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, our car accident lawyers have been fighting on behalf of crash victims in Houston for more than 45 years. We’ve seen, first-hand, just how devastating an unexpected lane change accident can be. We know that injuries from these collisions can be catastrophic and turn your world upside down. We also know what a difference money can make as you fight to get better and move on with your life. That’s why we are prepared to help you pursue a full financial recovery.
Cases involving lane change crashes can be complicated. Give us a call today to discuss your case and find out how we might be able to help.
What is a Lane Change Crash?
A lane change crash is defined as a two-vehicle crash that occurs when “one vehicle encroaches into the path of another vehicle initially on a parallel path with the first vehicle and traveling in the same direction.” In other words, a lane change crash occurs when one vehicle enters or attempts to enter the path of another.
There are seven main types of lane-change crashes. These include:
- Typical Lane Change: one vehicle intentionally changes lane and crashes into another vehicle (38.4% of crashes)
- Turning at Junction: two vehicles are traveling next to one another when one turns across the path of the other at an intersection (16.5% of crashes)
- Drifting: Two vehicles are traveling next to one another when one vehicle drifts into the other’s lane for no reason (11.5% of crashes)
- Turning and Passing: Two vehicles are on parallel paths and collide when one turns at an intersection and another attempts to pass (8.5% of crashes)
- Passing: One vehicle strikes another when attempting to pass (5% of crashes)
- Leaving Parked Position: a sideswipe collision occurs when one vehicle is attempting to leave a parked position and merge into traffic (4.6% of crashes)
- Merging: A collision occurs when two vehicles from separate roads come together and attempt to enter the same lane (3.5% of crashes).
Statistics show that, many times, large trucks and commercial vehicles are involved in lane-change accidents. This might be due to the fact that trucks have large blind spots and make it difficult for other motorists on the road to see traffic conditions.
How Common Are Lane Change Car Accidents in Houston?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly 9 percent of all motor vehicle accidents involve a lane change. So, almost one out of every 10 car accidents is classified as a lane change collision.
In 2018, there were 64,126 car accidents reported in the city of Houston. Based on NHTSA data, that means roughly 5,770 of those collisions were likely lane-change crashes.
Common Causes of Lane Change Car Accidents in Houston
Lane change crashes shouldn’t happen. For the most part, they’re avoidable. However, unsafe lane change crashes are clearly a problem, as they account for 9 percent of all collisions. Why do lane change crashes happen? Some factors that contribute to these wrecks include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Misjudging the time and space needed to pass or turn safely, and
- Inclement weather that impairs driver visibility.
It’s important to make sure that you know precisely what caused your Houston lane change car accident. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will help you get to the bottom of what happened. We’ll conduct an exhaustive investigation and work to determine every possible cause. When we know the cause(s), we can set our sights on identifying who is to blame.
Who Might Be Liable For Injuries Caused By a Lane Change Crash in Texas?
Anyone who contributed to your lane change car accident can be on the hook for your damages, injuries, and suffering. This might include:
- The driver of your car, if you were a passenger
- A passenger in your car, if you were the driver
- Other drivers on the road
- Motorcyclists
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Bus drivers
- Transit companies
- Companies responsible for defective vehicles or equipment, or
- Government agencies.
By pursuing compensation from all at-fault parties, you can increase the odds of securing a full financial recovery. Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers to find out how we can help. Your initial case evaluation is 100 percent free.
Lane Change Crashes Can Cause Catastrophic, Fatal Injuries
Sometimes a lane change crash will be relatively minor. It might just be a fender bender that causes a little bit of property damage. Others, however, can be catastrophic even fatal. Lane change accidents can easily escalate into sideswipes, rollovers, and other severe crashes.
Many times, these types of car crashes leave victims struggling with painful and debilitating injuries that change lives forever. These include:
- Crushing injury
- Chest injury
- Lost limbs
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Burns
- Neck and back injury
- Wrongful death, and more.
If you’ve been injured in a lane change crash in Houston and someone else is responsible, Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to hold them legally and financially accountable. Please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give our law firm a call today. We’ll gladly review your case, detail your legal options, and answer any questions you might have.
What If I’m Blamed For a Lane Change Collision in Houston?
Sharing responsibility for a car accident in Houston can affect your ability to recover compensation. It can even bar you from seeking damages, at all. That’s because Texas has modified comparative negligence rules.
State law provides that injury victims can recover compensation if their proportionate responsibility is no greater than 50 percent. Once you’re primarily responsible for an accident, you forfeit the right to seek monetary damages from other parties.
You can recover damages if your share of the blame is equal to or less than 50 percent. However, your award will be adjusted accordingly. If you’re 10 percent to blame, your damages will be reduced by 10 percent to reflect that.
So, if you’re blamed for a lane change crash in Houston, it’s important to get help. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will defend you against these claims and fight to preserve your injury claim.
If you did play a role, we will work diligently to minimize your contributions. The less blame you share, the more money you can potentially get.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lane Change Crash Lawsuit in Texas?
Typically, the statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits in Texas is two years. If you don’t file a claim on time, you’ll lose the ability to demand the money you rightfully deserve.
So, it can critical to speak with an attorney about your case as soon as you can after you get hurt. At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, our team is always standing by to take your call.
Call Our Auto Accident Lawyers in Houston Today
By filing an injury claim after a lane-change crash in Harris County, you can potentially recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers in Houston to find out how our car accident attorneys can help you fight to secure a substantial settlement or award. We’re ready and willing to help you in any way that we can. We offer a free consultation, so give us a call to schedule yours today.
