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Determining Who Is At Fault in A Car Accident Changing Lanes

All drivers have an obligation to drive safely at all times to protect not only their own safety but that of the other drivers who share the roadways. Unfortunately, many drivers do not take these safety measures seriously. One of the most common causes of car accidents in North Carolina is unsafe lane changes.

If you were critically injured due to an accident caused by an improper lane change, you might be wondering how to recover maximum compensation for your damages. To do so, your attorney will need to prove liability. Here is more about proving fault for a car accident caused by unsafe lane changes and which parties are often found liable for these types of motor vehicle accidents.

How to Establish Liability in a North Carolina Car Accident

If you hope to recover the compensation you are entitled to after a car accident in North Carolina, you will need to be able to show that another party’s negligence is responsible for your injuries.

With accidents caused by illegal lane changes, if you hope to prove culpability, the four elements of negligence will need to be met. These include:

  • Duty of care – This refers to the driver’s responsibility to drive safely to protect those they share the roads with.
  • Breach of duty – This refers to a driver’s decision to engage in unsafe driving practices, breaching their duty of care.
  • Causation – Here, the driver’s breach of duty (the unsafe lane change) is the cause of your car accident.
  • Damages – Damages refer to the fact that the car accident caused you to suffer considerable financial, emotional, and physical losses.

Your car accident lawyer will need to carefully examine the evidence in your case to determine who is responsible for causing your car accident injuries in an accident involving lane changes.

Who is Culpable for Car Accidents Caused by Illegal Lane Changes

If you are injured in an accident caused by unsafe lane changes, generally, the driver who moved from their lane of traffic will be responsible for causing the accident. Whether you use your turn signal before changing lanes or fail to do so, the driver moving from their lane of traffic has an obligation to ensure that it is safe to switch lanes before they do so.

Failure to ensure that it is safe to change lanes before doing so is considered negligence. However, it is essential to know that other factors, including distracted driving, driving while fatigued, and different types of aggressive driving, can also play a part in causing unsafe lane changes in North Carolina.

Meet With a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer

If you suffered severe injuries after being injured in a car accident caused by unsafe lane changes, you might have the right to bring the at-fault party to justice.

Reach out to a dedicated Raleigh car accident lawyer at Nagle & Associates, P.A. for help building powerful insurance and civil claims. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation when you call our office at (800) 411-1583 or complete our quick contact form.