The Science and Dangers Behind Lane Change Accidents

If you’re just going straight in your car, minding your own business, that may seem as safe of a maneuver as there is inside of a car. But in reality, we don’t just go straight—we also change lanes. And when cars do that, and don’t look to make sure the adjacent lane is clear, what often happens is a significant car accident.

How do Lane Change Accidents Happen?

Lane change accidents happen all the time, and they happen in more ways than you may think.

Yes, people often change lanes without looking, veering into your lane. But they also are distracted, or under the influence, causing them to be unable to just stay in their own lane, even if they aren’t intending to change lanes.

There are lane change accidents where another car actually makes contact with your car, but there are also lane change accidents where there is no contact with your vehicle at all—the other car “almost hits you,” but comes close enough to force you to veer off the road or into another lane of traffic in an effort to avoid the accident.

And there are even secondary “overcorrection” accidents, where a car that is about to be hit by an improper lane change veers too far into another vehicle or off the road entirely.

High Speeds, More Danger

Lane change accidents can often be even more dangerous than intersection accidents because in many lane change accidents, both cars are going at full speed. When a lane change accident happens, the tires can lose traction with the road underneath, causing a driver to lose control of the vehicle while moving at a high rate of speed.

A Lot of Factors

Lane change lawsuits can get somewhat complex.

Factors like hand-eye coordination, markings on roadways, where a drivers’ eyes are looking even in quick glances, and whether turn signals are or have to be used, all play a role in lane change lawsuits. Some drivers will be breaking during a lane change, to slow down, while others will be going full speed.

Different drivers will look different places when they change lanes—some all around them, some just in one direction. The direction of the lane change matters as well; moving from left to right is different, as the driver is positioned on the left side of the car.

According to a government study, most lane change accidents happen when traffic is flowing faster. Traffic that is stopped, or stop-and-go, or slowed because of other conditions, was less likely to result in lane change accidents.

The study also showed that most drivers were actually not distracted by other factors before lane change accidents-a good thing, but also a warning that even drivers who are paying close attention can end up in lane change accidents.

Injured in a sideswipe or lane change accident? Call the Knoxville personal injury attorneys at Fox Farley Willis & Burnette, PLLC, today.

Sources:

nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/811147.pdf

consumerreports.org/car-safety/lane-departure-warning-lane-keeping-assist-guide-a7087080070/