Driving comes with inherent risks. The operation of heavy machines moving at high-speeds opens itself up to severe injuries and consequences. Because humans operate these vehicles, there exists a wide margin for error, especially when merging. When driving on a road with more than one lane going in the same direction, it is common for drivers to merge their cars in and out of lanes. Merging also occurs when vehicles are entering freeways and highways from an on-ramp.
Common causes of merging accidents include:
- Changing lanes suddenly without signaling
- Crossing multiple lanes of traffic at one time
- Cutting off other vehicles abruptly without warning
- Merging too slowly onto the freeway/highway
Merging, when misjudged, can cause serious physical damage to both you and your vehicle for which the innocent driver deserves to be compensated, but how can you tell who was at-fault? Fault is used to determine whether you can file suit for personal injury.
Determining Liability
In most merging accidents, the driver who merged is usually at-fault. For instance, if you negligently merged onto a highway when there was not enough time, you would likely be at-fault. However, this is not always the case. In situations where the non-merging vehicle was speeding, the merging driver may not be at-fault. Both parties have an interest in blaming the other driver. That is why it is important that you file a police report and gather the proper information and documentation at the time of the accident. This will help prove who was at-fault should it be called into question. You will need to prove fault for the insurance agency to approve your claim.
Filing a Claim
Once you have the proper documentation to prove that the other driver was at-fault, it is important to contact the insurance agency to report the accident and file a claim. Since this may be confusing, it is smart to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to properly file the claim on your behalf and include all the necessary evidence. Insurance companies will try to pay you the least amount of money that is legally possible. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney will be familiar with the relevant laws and the appropriate amount of damages you are entitled.
Media Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Help Victims Injured in Merging Accidents
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, it can have physical, emotional, and financial implications on your life. At Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C., our Media car accident lawyers work hard to obtain the justice you deserve. For a free consultation, contact us online or call us at 610-565-3701 today. Located in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we proudly serve clients from the surrounding areas, including Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.