Side Swipe / Lane Change Accidents

A car accident can happen in just the blink of an eye, but the consequences can change the rest of your life. Like most collisions, a sideswipe accident comes without any warning. This occurs when two vehicles traveling side by side collide with one another. A sideswipe accident can happen in many ways, but it is usually always due to one driver failing to operate their motor vehicle with due care. According to a report done by the Insurance of Highway Safety, nearly 250,000 sideswipe accidents occur in the United States every year.

Some of the most common causes of this type of car accident include:

• Failure to use turn signals
• Carelessly merging into traffic
• Neglecting to check your blind spot
• Two moving into the same lane at once
• Erratic or aggressive driving
• Distracted driving
• Swerving to avoid objects in the road
• Driving while intoxicated
• Driver falling asleep at the wheel

Although this type of collision may not sound very serious, the aftermath can be treacherous, especially if the vehicles are driving at accelerated speeds. The impact may force a vehicle to run off the road, be pushed into another car, or crash into rails and other traffic barriers. The results can be catastrophic not only to the vehicle itself but also to the driver.

Injuries resulting from this type of accident can vary from minor cuts and bruises to significant physical injuries to even death. Some common injuries of sideswipe accidents include neck and back injuries, whiplash, disc injuries, fractures, broken bones, and traumatic head and brain injuries. If you experience any injuries from a collision, all our skilled New Orleans sideswipe accident attorney to help you.

Typically, the driver who fails to stay in their respective lane and side swipes another car is at fault for the accident. Before a driver makes a lane change, he or she has the obligation to make sure it is safe to do so. This includes checking blind spots and mirrors, always using a turn signal, and ensuring that there is enough room to swap lanes. However, because Louisiana is a comparative fault state, there are some instances which may result in a lesser recovery for a victim due to the shared fault in causing the accident. According to Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2323, one driver may not be entirely at fault if the other individual was not acting as a prudent driver or was driving recklessly. Examples of when this occurs involve cases of speeding, distracted driving, intentionally slowing down or speeding up making it impossible for a merging vehicle to enter the travel lane or weaving in and out of lanes. Because of his decades of experience as a devoted attorney, Mr. Cardone is the right one for you.

No matter how big or how small your accident is, this New Orleans sideswipe accident attorney is here to demand you receive the payment you deserve. Mr. Cardone has helped clients throughout all of Louisiana with their personal injury claims for over 40 years. If you or someone you know is a victim of a sideswipe accident, you may be entitled to compensation for property damage, past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and any out of pocket expenses related to the accident. The Cardone law firm can assist you in recovery for these damages.

If you have been injured in a sideswipe or lane change accident, Phone Cardone at 1-504-522-3333 for a free consultation. Mr. Cardone is a hands-on New Orleans sideswipe accident lawyer dedicated to helping his client’s obtain justice.