A lane change accident in Georgia occurs when a driver spontaneously changes their lane without indicating the fellow drivers on the road, hence putting everyone at risk. Driving recklessly and aggressively, missing blind spots, and an effort to overtake another vehicle are a few factors leading to such wreckages.
Georgia law allows individuals who were hurt in a motor accident to claim compensation from the party at fault. This is because the negligent behavior of the culprit has caused the victim to miss their work, accumulate medical costs, and miss time with their family. You are entitled to a payout if you are injured in a car accident in Georgia. Get in touch with our firm if you want to get the fair compensation you deserve.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distraction has majorly contributed as much as 31% for the driver leaving a parked position and occurs in more than 20% of lane changing accidents.
What Is an Improper Lane Change?
Improper lane changes are very frequent. Basic rules of the law state that all drivers must use their indicators and intimate the other drivers first while changing lanes. Moreover, all cars should use a single lane when a road is separated into two or more lanes. Maintaining adequate distance between other vehicles is also the responsibility of the driver.
They should practice good judgment at the time of changing lanes and they are also expected to keep the rear traffic in the loop. Overtaking a school bus, construction zones, and other no passing zones do not allow changing of lanes. These are some places where it is illegal to shift between lanes. It is deemed as an improper lane change when a driver switches between lanes in such areas.
Improper Lane Change in Georgia: How Much Is the Ticket?
There are severe punishments in Georgia when a person makes an improper change of lane. Drivers may face up to $1,000 in legal fines. An Addition of points to their driver’s license could be made which could easily lead to more penalties in the future. For instance, a valid driver’s license is going to be suspended if a driver credits 15 or more points to their license within a span of two years. For an estimated period of seven years, offenses that lead to additional points on a driver’s license are embedded with an individual’s records.
On the other hand, traffic schools are not penalized for wrongly changing their lanes at first. However, in the case where there are multiple offenses by a traffic school, they may attend traffic school to mitigate the severity of their violation. Moreover, procedures for civil penalties should be followed through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit for drivers who kill or injure others in an improper lane change accident.
How Do You Prove Fault in an Improper Lane Change Accident in Georgia?
The reckless act that the negligent driver was engaged in at the time of the wreckage assists in determining the culprit in a wrongful lane change accident. For instance, if there is an argument that the collision was caused because the driver was texting while driving, your lawyer could subpoena their mobile phone to verify the statement. On the contrary, blood tests and breathalyzers could prove that if the driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Police reports, witness statements, and other video or photographic evidence can serve as helpful means to prove who was at fault.
Where Do Improper Lane Changes Happen Most Often?
Any road having two or more lanes can easily witness an improper lane change accident. However, these accidents most frequently occur on highways. As these drivers are speeding on the highways, they often miss the blind spots granting them less time to steer clear of a car collision.
A few other occasions where such incidents take place include:
- Curves and hills
- Intersection
- Work zones
- On roads having more than one lane especially facing harsh whether
What Should You Do If a Driver’s Improper Lane Change Causes an Accident?
Following are the steps you should take when you have been involved in a lane change accident in Georgia:
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Seek Shelter:
You should not, under any circumstances, flee the scene of the impact. Take your car someplace safe so that you do not block traffic on the road.
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Call the Police:
Any damage or injury worth more than $500 should be promptly reported to the relevant authorities.
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Document the Scene:
You should try and document everything at your disposal. This majorly helps in having a rock-solid base of your case in front of the court.
How Our Georgia Car Accident Lawyers Can Help:
We at Massey Law pride ourselves on being the leading law firm successfully practicing in every genre of car accident claims in Georgia. If you or anyone in your family has been affected by a lane change accident in Georgia, give us a call today.