Drivers in Bridgeport have to constantly share the busy roads, getting to work, going off for entertainment, or making their way home. With so much traffic across the city, the act of merging can become extremely dangerous.
Even the most careful drivers may be involved in a car accident when they least expect it.
A car accident, especially one involving merging lanes, creates sudden changes to your routine, goals, and possibly your quality of life. You may face steep medical bills on top of other damages.
You can potentially reclaim these damages if you are able to prove fault, but the path forward isn’t always easy.
If you were in a merging lane accident, know you do not have to fight for compensation alone. With the help of the Bert McDowell Injury Law legal team, you can find comfort that someone experienced and with a proven track record will help you fight for the compensation you need.
Ready to see how the team at Burt McDowell Injury Law can help? Give us a call today and schedule your initial consultation.
When done correctly, merging lanes are safe and effective in optimizing the flow of traffic. However, the stakes are high, and many people fail to use proper driving techniques or disobey the law.
When there is an accident, it can come with dire consequences.
Law enforcement and local governments work hard to ensure the safety of all drivers on the road, but even with their efforts to keep the public safe, there is always that one negligent driver who shows little care for others. Their acts of negligence come with costly consequences.
Hiring experienced legal representation can be what makes or breaks your case. Negligent parties and their insurance companies might not be as forthcoming when approached with an accident claim and may choose to do whatever possible to avoid liability.
Car accidents can be terrifying and confusing to deal with on your own, but with the care of an experienced merging lane attorney, like the team at Burt McDowell Injury Law, you can expect strategic guidance and in-depth research that helps maximize your chances of a successful claim.
What Is Merging?
“Merging” refers to the act of two streams of oncoming traffic coming together at regular road-going speeds. Merges are needed most often when entering or exiting a highway, but they may also be necessary when two lanes converge or when other traffic patterns force them.
Many states across the US are adopting the “zipper” rule when approaching a congested merge, including in Connecticut. The “zipper” technique allows one car from each lane to move forward at a time, versus the early-on rule, which created confusion and difficulty for many drivers in the past.
This road rule keeps traffic moving in areas that would quickly bottleneck otherwise.
Who Is Liable in a Merging Lane Accident?
Determining liability is crucial in building a solid claim. In Connecticut, the driver who merges into the other lane without safely checking is liable for an accident. However, sometimes, there is more than one person at fault in an accident.
The victim can have some liability for the crash. Connecticut is an at-fault state, meaning that more than one party can be liable for the damages occurring in an automobile accident.
Speeding, not looking before moving, and aggressive maneuvers are ways the victim can be held partly liable. However, if you were found partly liable, an experienced Bridgeport personal injury attorney can help minimize the reduction in your payout.
What Are the Causes of Merging Lanes Accidents
Car accidents happen fast, especially in a merge situation. Most often, merging lane accidents are caused by the following scenarios.
Crossing Over Multiple Lanes
Merge maneuvers are supposed to enter the closest lane available. However, many drivers will zip laterally across several lanes at once, making them hard to avoid and it hard to predict where they’re going.
While this maneuver can be done without causing harm during low-traffic periods, it is always quite dangerous. When traffic is high, it’s especially risky, as traffic moves faster than we often realize.
The driver who chooses to switch lanes is accountable for ensuring no one is in their way. In a typical accident caused by crossing multiple lanes, the driver who made the maneuver holds all liability.
Cutting off Another Driver
Cutting off another driver will not just make them angry; it might not give them enough time to stop or get out of the way before an accident occurs. Drivers must look before moving their car, checking their sides and blind spots.
They must only change lanes when there is room to safely do so.
Distracted Driving
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives in 2021. It is the leading cause of all car accidents today.
From cellphones, texting, noise, and zoning out, plenty of distractions on the road cause accidents.
Aggressive Maneuvers
Sharing the road with others means following the rules to arrive safely, but not all drivers drive responsibly. Aggressive tactics like swerving through traffic, speeding, and tailgating are a recipe for disaster and can have costly results.
Types of Collisions in a Merging Lane Accident
In a merging lane accident, victims may not see the other person at all. Drivers must abide by speed limits and adjust speeds to safely merge into the new lane.
Sideswiping
A sideswiping accident is when a collision occurs between two cars moving in the same direction, and one side of either car crashes into the other. These accidents occur when one vehicle moves out of its lane and into another without looking.
Sideswipes are common in merging lane accidents and, at high speeds, can have terrifying results.
Blind Spot Collision
Blind spot collisions happen when one driver fails to look at their blind spot before moving. As a result, they move their car into the other lane when another car is present, leading to a crash.
Injuries in a Merging Lane Accident
Merging lane accidents do not always happen at lower speeds. In fact, the injuries that come with this type of crash often happen on highways as the on-ramp lane ends and merges into active traffic.
On highways, speed limits are easily 55 and over, meaning drivers are moving quickly and have to make decisions fast to safely move from one side of the road to the other. When a driver is merging into the highway, they need to increase their speed and monitor their blinds and sides before moving to another lane.
If they fail to do so at such high speeds, it is no surprise that the injuries are severe and take many months to recover from.
Injured parties in a merging accident typically experience the following:
Broken bones
Bruises and lacerations
Neck injuries
Internal bleeding
Spinal cord injuries
Broken Bones
Broken bones are one of the most common types of injuries associated with a high-speed accident, especially one caused by improper merging from one lane to the other. The occupant who is closest to the point of contact will likely face more injuries as they are taking the brunt of the impact.
Victims may encounter a broken leg, arm, or clavicle as the impact applies great force to their bodies. To repair these injuries, victims may have their bones “set” to heal properly through surgery, metal plates, screws, and casts.
The healing process to recover from a broken bone can take many weeks to many months when accounting for the numerous medical appointments and therapy sessions needed to make things right.
Neck Injuries
Neck injuries, such as whiplash, require pain medications and physical therapy sessions to relieve the muscle strains and stiffness and increase the diminished mobility caused by the injury. The pain from a neck injury may be felt in the shoulders and head, creating headaches and additional muscle strains that cause discomfort.
Internal Bleeding
A crash at high speeds can lead to catastrophic results, including internal bleeding. Internal bleeding stems from organ damage from an injury sustained in a car accident.
Treatment for this kind of injury is surgery and hospitalization and possibly leaves scarring and disfigurement in the aftermath. If left untreated, it may possibly lead to fatal results.
Bruises and Lacerations
Cuts and bruises are common in car accidents. The human body is jolted in many directions and often hits the car’s windows, steering wheel, dash, or airbags.
With contact made with that much force, it’s no surprise that cuts and bruises will appear. Fortunately, they will go away with minimal medical intervention, possibly requiring some stitches at their worst.
Let a Bridgeport Merging Lanes Accident Law Firm Work Your Case
Merging accidents can cause brutal injuries, property damage, and costly medical bills. A negligent party’s actions suddenly change your routine, add new responsibilities, and potentially create a headache when you have to fight for the compensation your case deserves.
Don’t put yourself in a situation where you have to fight alone and with a minimal experience for the compensation you need to recover. Reach out to Burt McDowell Injury Law and schedule your initial consultation.
We will gladly complete a case review and let you know what your claim is worth.
Schedule your free appointment today when you call (203) 590-9169 or by connecting with us online.
(203) 690-1030
(203) 690-1030
Drivers in Bridgeport have to constantly share the busy roads, getting to work, going off for entertainment, or making their way home. With so much traffic across the city, the act of merging can become extremely dangerous.