Usually, the driver who is trying to change lanes is at fault in a changing lanes car accident. Drivers in Georgia are not allowed to change lanes unless they can do so safely. However, there are some situations where the driver who changed lanes is NOT at fault and the accident was actually caused by another driver.
Changing lane accidents are common, and when they happen at highway speeds they can be quite serious, involving additional cars or causing a driver to over-correct and roll over or lose control of their vehicle. If you have been involved in a changing lanes accident in the Atlanta area, a car accident lawyer can help you recover money for your injuries, your vehicle damage, and more.
What does it mean if a driver is “at fault” in Georgia?
In Georgia, fault is one of the most important factors in any car accident claim. This is because the driver who is “at fault” must pay for the accident, including injuries, vehicle damage, and long-term losses if the accident was serious. Most of the time, this money will be paid by the driver’s auto insurance company.
Georgia drivers have a duty to be reasonably careful and follow the rules of the road when they’re behind the wheel. That means observing speed limits, not drinking and driving, maintaining safe following distances, and just generally being a safe and responsible driver. If a drivers doesn’t follow these rules, they are “negligent.” Negligence is the main reason drivers are found to be at fault in car accidents.
How can you tell who is at fault in a lane changing accident?
Georgia’s laws say that a driver can only change lanes when it is reasonably safe to do so. This means it’s up to the driver who is changing lanes to be aware of surrounding traffic, check blind spots, use a turn signal, and be sure it’s safe before merging or crossing into another lane. Most lane change accidents could have been avoided if the driver changing lanes had been more careful, and this is why lane changing accidents are usually the fault of the driver who is changing lanes.
However, there are some instances where another driver is to blame. A driver may be drunk, overly aggressive, or might have moved into the same lane without looking or signaling. For example, you might have done everything right when you changed lanes, only to have an aggressive driver appear out of nowhere and hit you at a high rate of speed. You were changing lanes, but the aggressive driver is most likely at fault for the accident.
What if the insurance company says I am partly to blame?
The accident may be partly your fault—or it may not. It’s hard to tell because insurance companies like to spread the blame around to avoid having to pay out as much in claims. If you are partly at fault, the insurance company doesn’t have to pay you as much. And if the accident is 50 percent or more your fault, it doesn’t have to pay you at all.
The best way to respond is to sit down with a car accident lawyer. A lawyer can tell you whether you have a good claim, whether you may share any fault, and how this might affect the amount of money you will receive. Our law firm launches its own investigation. looking at police reports, witness accounts and other types of evidence and piece together what happened. In many cases, we can build a case that convinces the insurer that you are not to blame in any way.
A lawyer can take care of your car accident claim from start to finish, whether you end up settling your insurance claim or going to court in a car accident law suit in Atlanta. Hiring a lawyer is often the best thing you can do to protect your rights and ensure that you have the money you need to recover and move on with your life.
Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer for Free
Our law firm has a long history of getting car accident victims money for their injuries and auto damage. We offer a free consultation to talk about your claim—and if we don’t win money for you, you’ll never have to pay us a thing. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
