Improper Lane Change Accidents
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- March 19, 2024
Improper lane changes occur when drivers fail to take adequate precautions while merging into traffic or shifting to another lane. When drivers do not signal and look to ensure they have adequate room, they can end up sideswiping another vehicle or causing a rear-end collision. If you have suffered injuries in an improper lane change accident, talk to an experienced lawyer at Brown & Crouppen to learn about your right to compensation.
At Brown and Crouppen Law Firm, we understand the challenges resulting from an improper lane change accident in Missouri, from high medical bills to suffering that restricts your daily activities. Our award-winning lawyers believe everyone deserves justice and legal representation, so we provide a free consultation and take cases on a contingent fee basis. Contact us to discuss your rights and start your claim.
- Why Do You Need an Attorney for an Improper Lane change accident in Missouri?
- Why Do You Need an Attorney for an Improper Lane change accident in Missouri?
- How Brown and Crouppen Law Firm Can Help with Your Improper Lane Change Accident Claim
- What is the Missouri Statute for Improper Lane Change?
- What is an Improper Lane Change?
- Who Is at Fault in an Improper Lane Change Accident?
- Causes of Improper Lane Changes
- Contact Brown & Crouppen for a Free Missouri Improper Lane Change Accident Consultation
Why Do You Need an Attorney for an Improper Lane change accident in Missouri?
Having an attorney to handle your improper lane change accident claim increases your ability to recover the full compensation you deserve. A lawyer will do the following:
- Carefully investigate all details of your lane change accident and collect evidence to show the other driver’s negligence
- Lay out the damages you sustained and how much compensation you should expect
- Take over conversations with the insurance company for you so you do not inadvertently accept liability or brush off the extent of your injuries
- Negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf
- Answer your questions about legal procedures and policies
- Review the liable driver’s insurance policy and your auto insurance policy to ensure that you maximize the compensation you can recover
By working with a lawyer, clients significantly increase the compensation they recover for their injuries.
Why Do You Need an Attorney for an Improper Lane change accident in Missouri?
Having an attorney to handle your improper lane change accident claim increases your ability to recover the full compensation you deserve. A lawyer will do the following:
- Carefully investigate all details of your lane change accident and collect evidence to show the other driver’s negligence
- Lay out the damages you sustained and how much compensation you should expect
- Take over conversations with the insurance company for you so you do not inadvertently accept liability or brush off the extent of your injuries
- Negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf
- Answer your questions about legal procedures and policies
- Review the liable driver’s insurance policy and your auto insurance policy to ensure that you maximize the compensation you can recover
By working with a lawyer, clients significantly increase the compensation they recover for their injuries.
How Brown and Crouppen Law Firm Can Help with Your Improper Lane Change Accident Claim
At Brown and Crouppen, we have more than 250 legal professionals on our team, 40+ years of experience handling injury claims across Missouri, and more than $1 billion recovered for our clients. We’ve succeeded because of our tenacity, our strong understanding of Missouri automobile accident law, and our commitment to providing the highest level of service to our clients.
Our attorneys have received numerous prestigious awards, including being named the Best Law Firm in St. Louis by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. We have also received the Winningest Plaintiff Attorney award given by Missouri Lawyers Media. Our top-rated lawyers have the skills and resources to go up against big-name insurance companies and the determination to win.
What is the Missouri Statute for Improper Lane Change?
What is an Improper Lane Change?
An improper lane change occurs when a driver attempts to change lanes or merge into traffic but does not take the safety precautions necessary to avoid an accident. Potential hazards include:
- Failing to look when changing lanes
- Driving while distracted
- Failing to signal
- Decreasing speed too fast after changing lanes
- Changing lanes too close to another vehicle
Improper lane changes can cause car accidents, truck accidents, including sideswipe collisions, in which one vehicle strikes the side of another, and rear-end collisions, in which one vehicle hits the other from behind.
Who Is at Fault in an Improper Lane Change Accident?
Determining who is at fault when someone merges into you is critical to your lane change claim. The driver who merges usually bears fault for improper lane change accidents. This is especially true when the merge is subject to a yield sign, though such traffic controls are not necessary for liability.
These accidents often happen when a driver tries to merge abruptly or lacks adequate room to move over before a merging lane cuts off.
Who Is at Fault if Two Drivers Merge into the Same Lane?
The driver already in a lane has the right of way. When two drivers attempt to merge into a lane simultaneously, and the road does not have clear markings, the driver who moves into the lane first usually has the right-of-way. The driver who moves into the lane and strikes another vehicle bears liability.
Can the At-Fault Driver Sue over an Improper Lane Change Incident?
The at-fault driver can always sue the driver that did not cause the accident but will likely not succeed. Such a claim would be dismissed. However, if the at-fault driver carries more than basic liability insurance, they can seek compensation from the following coverage under their own policy:
- Medical payment’s insurance, also known as MedPay insurance, covers medical costs sustained because of the accident. MedPay pays out regardless of who caused the accident, so at-fault drivers can still use that protection.
- Collision insurance covers damages to the liable driver’s vehicle. Drivers carrying collision insurance can use that coverage to cover vehicle repairs.
At Brown & Crouppen, we review our clients’ insurance policies and make sure they know what compensation they can claim after a collision. If you have questions whether you need a full auto coverage or have to fight with the insurance company for fair compensation, let our lawyers use their expertise to help.
Causes of Improper Lane Changes
Improper lane changes can occur for several reasons. However, the following causes arise more frequently:
- Distraction
- Fatigue, which can cause tunnel vision and slowed reflexes
- Aggressive driving, including trying to force into the lane
- Lane splitting, or traveling between two lanes of traffic
- Poor visibility, including issues caused by weather conditions
- Big trucks, especially when drivers cannot see the full lane beside them
The lawyers at Brown & Crouppen can help review what likely led to your accident in St. Louis, Kansas City, and throughout Missouri.
Is Lane Splitting Legal in Missouri?
Lane splitting occurs when a vehicle, usually a motorcycle, attempts to travel between two slowed or stalled lanes of traffic. Motorcycle riders may feel that lane splitting can get them to their destinations faster. However, lane splitting makes it hard for other drivers to predict the motorcyclist’s behavior. Drivers move back into traffic without looking, injuring the lane-splitting cyclist.
Missouri law does not allow lane splitting. It also provides that motorcycle riders deserve a whole lane in which to drive. After a motorcycle accident involving lane splitting, let the lawyers at Brown & Crouppen review your claim.Contact Brown & Crouppen for a Free Missouri Improper Lane Change Accident Consultation
If another car collided with you while changing lanes in Missouri, the experienced lawyers at Brown & Crouppen will help you learn more about your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. We treat all our clients like family, providing them with the highest level of support. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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