Trucks have substantial blind spots, making it essential that truckers are extremely careful when they change lanes. Others on the road must also be careful about lane changes near these large vehicles. If a driver cannot see the truck’s mirrors, the trucker cannot see them, and weaving in and out of traffic can easily lead to a wreck.
Truckers are not responsible for every wreck. While they have a duty to exercise more care than others on the road, other motorists are also expected to be careful around trucks, which are not as maneuverable as other vehicles and have longer stopping distances. Cutting off a truck can result in an unavoidable collision. When you have been hurt in one of these crashes, you may be entitled to compensation. Talk to a dedicated tractor-trailer accident attorney to learn more about truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in Auburn.
State Law and Lane Changes
Maine Revised Statutes Title. 29-A § 2051 governs lane changes, requiring drivers to operate vehicles within a single lane when possible. When a driver changes lanes, they must ensure they can do so safely. Unsafe lane changes are a violation, which can result in penalties, including points on a driver’s license.
However, even if the police cite a driver for unsafe lane changes, it does not mean the driver was negligent. Under negligence per se, which exists in other states, a rule or law violation that leads to an injury is automatically negligence. In Maine, violation of a law is evidence that can bolster a claim of negligence but does not require a finding of it.
In some cases, this doctrine can lead people to break the law and cause injuries without an automatic finding of negligence. However, Maine’s comparative negligence statute may help explain this. It states that multiple parties can contribute to an accident, and a person can even recover if they are less than 50 percent responsible for the collision. While an unsafe lane change may contribute to an accident, it may not be the sole cause of it.
An attorney can examine the circumstances to determine the role the unsafe lane change played in a crash. Using that information, they can suggest potential remedies after a Lewiston-Auburn truck accident due to unsafe lane changes.
The Dangers of Unsafe Lane Changes
Motorists can make unsafe lane changes for three main reasons. The first reason is distraction — a driver fails to determine that the lane is clear before they make the change. They may hit another vehicle, cut someone off, or cause another driver to swerve to avoid them.
Secondly, unsafe lane changes may occur due to blind spots. Many newer cars have warning systems that ping when a driver is changing lanes and a vehicle is in the other lane, but older vehicles do not have that system. Even when someone uses their mirrors and checks over their shoulder, it is possible to miss seeing a vehicle. This is especially true for trucks that have such large blind spots.
The third reason for unsafe lane changes is intentional carelessness. Some drivers weave in and out of traffic, changing lanes as soon as they think it will move them up a car space in traffic. Doing so is exceptionally dangerous. They often cut off cars, almost clip people, and cause people behind them to brake abruptly to avoid them.
All three types of unsafe lane changes can lead to wrecks. Because of this, it is essential to determine who caused the accident. Maine recognizes joint and several liability — a doctrine that acknowledges multiple people can cause a crash and holds each of them fully responsible for the financial damages from the collision. A Lewiston-Auburn attorney helping an injured party with the aftermath of an unsafe lane change incident will look for every potentially liable party.
Meet With Our Auburn Legal Team to Discuss Unsafe Lane Changes and Truck Wrecks
Unsafe lane changes contribute to countless wrecks and can be especially dangerous when involving a truck.
Determining the exact cause of a collision can be complicated, but you do not have to do it alone. When you have been hurt in a truck wreck, a lawyer may be able to help. Schedule a consultation with Gideon Asen LLC to learn about truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in Auburn.
