Unsafe Lane Changes

Dedicated Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Serving Massachusetts Riders

There are many different ways that a motorcycle accident can take place in a bustling and busy city or out on the open road. In one common scenario, motorcyclists may be injured due to another motorist’s unsafe lane change. These collisions are often dramatic, sudden, and can happen at high speed, leaving the victim with severe injuries and expenses, or even causing death. It can be hard to know why another driver engaged in an unsafe lane change. One of the services that we provide to our clients is gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses to obtain as much information as possible about the collision. A skilled Massachusetts motorcycle accident attorney at our firm can also negotiate with insurance companies and enlist expert witnesses in the process of fighting for your rights and seeking the compensation you may be owed.

Unsafe Lane Changes in Boston

An unsafe lane change happens when a driver makes a lane change in a dangerous way or in violation of traffic safety laws that puts other motorists at risk. They are incredibly common on the highway or when drivers are traveling at high speeds because everything takes place so quickly that it can be difficult for drivers to react to a sudden lane change in a safe manner. Some of the primary reasons that drivers make unsafe lane changes include distracted driving activities like talking on the phone, surfing social media, eating, or adjusting the radio. Sometimes drivers make sudden lane changes because they are following a GPS service or navigation system and do not know where they are going. Unsafe lane changes can happen as the result of poor driving conditions like winter storms and rain, which are incredibly common in Massachusetts. Although everyone is at risk of suffering injuries from an unsafe lane change, motorcyclists face more serious dangers because motorcycles can be more difficult to see in intersections as well as on the highway due to their smaller stature, and offer their passengers less physical protection in the event of a collision.

Some drivers cause unsafe lane changes due to reckless or aggressive driving maneuvers like speeding or tailgating, or because they are driving while intoxicated. It is also fairly common for unsafe lane change accidents to cause multi-vehicle accidents as one driver may swerve into another lane in an attempt to avoid colliding with the driver making the unsafe lane change.

Seeking Compensation after an Unsafe Lane Change Accident

In any type of motor vehicle accident, including motorcycle accidents, a plaintiff seeking compensation must show that the other driver owed him or her a duty of care and failed to drive his or her vehicle according to that duty. In general, motorists owe one another a duty to operate their vehicles with the same reasonable care that a prudent driver would use when faced with a similar situation. This typically includes not engaging in distracted driving activities and following basic traffic laws. Most drivers would also use their turn signal and ensure that the path is clear before engaging in a lane change.

Once you have proven that the other driver failed to drive with the appropriate level of care, you must show that you would not have been injured but for the defendant’s negligence. The defendant can provide evidence of your own negligent conduct, as well, such as your failure to abide by traffic laws. If the jury concludes that you are contributorily negligent, your recovery may be reduced or even barred altogether. The final phase of the lawsuit involves establishing the amount of damages that you are entitled to receive from the defendant. Common types of damages that a plaintiff can seek include past and future estimated medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Because motorcyclists often face more serious and catastrophic damages, it is incredibly important for them to secure enough compensation to help them cover their future and ongoing medical care costs. A diligent personal injury lawyer can help you ensure that you seek the full amount of compensation that you are owed.

Meet with a Diligent Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Massachusetts

If you were injured as the result of another driver’s unsafe lane change, a broadside collision, or another type of motorcycle accident, you probably have substantial expenses and injuries impacting your life. At the Law Offices of Barry Feinstein and Affiliates P.C., we have provided legal counsel to individuals in a wide variety of motorcycle accidents and are ready to assist you in seeking the case outcome that you deserve. An experienced and compassionate lawyer at our firm is available to serve clients throughout Massachusetts, including in areas around Boston, Cambridge, Lowell, Newton, Waltham, Quincy, Dedham, Norwood, Somerville, Brookline, and Peabody. To schedule your free consultation, call  (800) 262-9200 or contact us online to get started.