Unsafe Lane Changing Accidents

Motorcyclists are often injured when other motorists fail to make lane changes safely. The motorcycle crash attorneys at Frankl Kominsky can help you hold a careless driver accountable if you were hurt in a Palm Beach County accident. Our experienced staff has helped countless victims seek damages from the parties responsible for causing their injuries. If a motorist made an unsafe lane change and struck you, we can guide you through the process of pursuing a negligence claim.

A car or truck may strike a motorcyclist if the driver of the larger vehicle switches lanes carelessly. Both big rigs and passenger cars have substantial blind spots, or areas in which objects may not be visible through any of the mirrors. A driver should turn around to check that there are no vehicles in his or her blind spots before changing lanes. Otherwise, he or she may not see a motorcycle passing through that area, which can result in a collision.

Motorcyclists can take steps to avoid being struck by a driver who is changing lanes. For example, they can try to stay in front of a car or truck, avoid blind spots, wear reflective gear to improve their visibility, and signal when passing. However, many accidents will happen no matter how many precautions a motorcyclist takes. If a driver collides with a motorcycle, its riders could endure serious injuries. Spinal cord damage, head trauma, and fractures are just some types of catastrophic harm that a motorcyclist may sustain in a crash.

If a motorist struck you while changing lanes, you may be able to initiate a personal injury claim against him or her. Most of these accidents are the result of negligence on the part of a driver. You can potentially hold the defendant in your case liable for your injuries if you can prove that he or she:

• Had a duty to use care. All Florida drivers must exercise reasonable care on the road. State traffic rules also require them to remain in a lane until it is safe to switch.
• Breached the duty of care. An example of a breach is when a motorist drives erratically or inattentively when changing lanes, or fails to check his or her blind spots.
• Causation. There must be a sufficiently close connection between the driver’s breach and your injuries. If you would have been hurt even if the defendant had acted with enough care, a defendant cannot be held liable.
• Damages. You must identify actual, quantifiable costs arising from the harm that you suffered.

You may recover at least some damages as long as you are not completely responsible for your own injuries. A court will consider whether your conduct contributed to the accident, and reduce your compensation award based on that amount if appropriate. For example, if a jury finds you to be 40 percent at fault, you may be able to collect 60 percent of your total losses from the defendant.

Types of recoverable damages following a motorcycle accident may include compensation for current and expected medical care, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. Florida negligence claims have a two-year time limit, which begins to run from the date the crash occurred.

At the West Palm Beach law firm of Frankl Kominsky, we provide our clients with dedicated representation as they cope with their injuries. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you if a driver struck you while changing lanes. We can go over the facts of your case, assess your rights, and pursue a claim for damages if we decide to move forward with representing you. If you are in Boca Raton, Lake Worth, or elsewhere in Palm Beach County, call us today at (855) 800-8000 to set up a free initial consultation. You can also complete our online form. We speak Spanish and Creole.