Improper Lane Change

Truck drivers have significant blind spots to the sides and rear of their trailers and should change lanes only after checking to make sure a car is not beside them. Trucks also have a longer stopping distance than passenger cars and drivers need to avoid lane changes that result in a trucker being cut off or needing to slam on the brakes.

When improper lane change occur, a collision may result. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 67 percent of people killed in truck accidents are occupants of other cars and 15 percent of victims are pedestrians, bike riders or motorcyclists. This means a truck driver’s improper lane change is much more likely to kill someone outside of the truck.

If you or a loved one is a victim of a truck accident caused by an improper lane change, you need to understand your legal rights. Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured has helped more than 20,000 injured clients to obtain monetary damages. Call today at 800-646-1210 to schedule a free consultation and learn how our trucking accidents lawyers in Cape Coral and Fort Myers can help you.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Large Truck Causation Study provides data on collisions resulting from improper lane changes. According to the NHTSA:

• A total of 638 single-vehicle crashes occurred because there was another motor vehicle in the lane. This accounts for two-percent of single vehicle truck accidents.
• A total of 34,009 multi-vehicle crashes occurred because a truck moved into a lane with another vehicle. This was 33 percent of multi-vehicle truck crashes.
• A total of 23,293 collisions occurred because the other vehicle moved into an occupied lane. This accounted for 23 percent of multi-vehicle crashes.
• A total of 692 single-vehicle truck crashes happened because of another motor vehicle encroaching into a lane. This was two percent of single vehicle truck crashes.
• A total of 39,780 multi-vehicle truck crashes occurred because of another motor vehicle encroaching into a lane (either a truck or the other vehicle). This was 20 percent of multi-vehicle truck collisions.

When a truck driver fails to check for blind spots or changes lanes without ensuring that there is enough space, other cars can be crushed, forced off the road or forced into other traffic. This can lead to a collision that causes fatalities or serious injuries.

Victims should be compensated if the driver is negligent. If the victim or surviving family members can prove the trucker caused the crash, the truck driver or trucking company should pay for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages.

Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured represents victims of traffic collisions involving commercial vehicles. Call or contact us online today to speak with a Florida trucking accidents lawyer who can help you to make your case. You do not pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. Schedule your free consultation today by calling 800-646-1210.