A lane change accident in Las Vegas can lead to serious physical injuries, expensive medical bills and confusing questions of fault. Hiring a knowledgeable car accident attorney from the very beginning of your case can make it easier to establish fault and collect fair financial compensation for your losses.
Why Do Lane Change Accidents Happen?
On a highway with multiple marked lanes, traffic laws in Nevada require vehicles to be “driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane; and not be moved from that lane until the driver has given the appropriate turn signal and ascertained that such movement can be made with safety” (Nevada Revised Statute § 484B.223).
Lane change accidents are often the result of a driver failing to take the required steps in making a safe, legal lane change on a road or highway. For example, if a driver makes a sudden lane change without signaling or checking to see if the destination lane is clear, this could result in a preventable motor vehicle collision.
Other examples of driver negligence, or the failure to exercise proper care, that can cause lane change accidents in Las Vegas include failing to check blind spots, improperly using turn signals, distracted driving, aggressive or reckless driving, speeding, weaving in and out of multiple lanes, and making merge errors. These mistakes can cause sideswipe accidents, rear-end collisions and other serious lane change accidents.
Who Is At Fault for a Lane Change Accident in Las Vegas?
Since Nevada is a fault-based state, it is necessary to prove that the other driver caused your lane change accident to recover financial compensation. Determining liability, or legal and financial responsibility, for a lane change accident in Las Vegas can be difficult. If two drivers attempted to move into the same lane at the same time, for example, it can be hard to determine which one is liable.
Determining fault typically takes identifying which driver is guilty of making an unsafe lane change. If only one vehicle was changing lanes, this driver will likely be held liable. It is the driver making the lane change’s responsibility to do so safely, prudently and in accordance with applicable traffic laws.
If more than one party is at fault for the lane change accident, fault can be divided among them accordingly. In this scenario, each claimant could receive a monetary award that is reduced by his or her percentage of fault. This is how Nevada’s comparative negligence law works. As long as a claimant’s degree of fault is less than 50 percent, he or she will still be eligible for financial compensation.
How a Car Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas Can Help
In a lane change accident case, fault may not be clear-cut. It can be in your best interests to hire a personal injury attorney to represent you during this type of car accident case. Your lawyer can conduct a comprehensive investigation of the crash to determine fault and collect evidence against the other driver. Then, your lawyer can take over insurance settlement negotiations to fight for a fair outcome on your behalf.
If you've recently been injured in a lane change crash in Las Vegas or the surrounding area, contact Edward Bernstein and Associates for a free case consultation. Our experienced attorneys can help you seek justice.