If you have been injured in a car accident in the Los Angeles or Southern California area by someone who was changing lands, contact us today for a free consultation. We are experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyers.

Accidents caused by drivers changing lanes

A startling number of fatal car accidents occur when drivers change lanes without being aware of other vehicles around them. Some may be caused by driving irresponsibly, while other by not thoroughly checking the blind spots. In any case, merging into another lane while another vehicle is in the way will likely lead to an accident.

People have many excuses for why they change lanes without first checking their mirrors or looking over their shoulders. Maybe they’re lazy, feel overly confident, thought they were going faster than the other vehicles around them, or sometimes the car accidents are caused by elderly drivers who couldn’t properly check their lanes. No matter the reason, unsafe lane changes, especially the failure to use a turn signal, can cause car crashes.

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Blind Spots

Every single car on the road has blind posts. These are the areas around you that are difficult or impossible to see by using just rear and side view mirrors. The size of the vehicles blind spots depend on its size and shape, as well as the size and placement of its windows and mirrors. For many cars, the blind spots begin at the back of the driver or passenger’s doors and extend backward, forming a triangle of roadway that can hide near by vehicles, especially small ones like motorcycles.

Knowing how to safely check these areas on either side of the car before changing lanes is important. Simply glancing at the cars mirrors makes it possible to miss spotting another vehicle, and then collide with it while attempting to merge. A driver that properly looks over his or her shoulder when changing lanes is far less likely to cause an accident, which can cause serious damage to personally property, injury, or even death.

What makes these situations even more dangerous is that few drivers properly align their mirrors to maximize their viewing angles of the road. Side mirrors should be angled so that the car beside the rear of your car can be seen.

One method some people use of setting side mirrors is to first look into the rear view mirror, and locate an object that’s very close to the edge of its field of view. Then, begin angling the side mirror outward until that same object is just about to disappear. The goal is to have as little over lap between the mirrors as possible, but also avoid having gaps between them as well.  Placing road cones or other easily visible objects behind the car is helpful, making sure to space them several car lengths behind for best results.

Even with perfectly positioned mirrors, drivers should always perform a quick over-the-shoulder check to ensure the space is clear. A fast glance may help the driver spot a vehicle hiding in a blind spot that may have been missed in the mirrors.

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Proving an accident

Proving an accident was cause by someone changing lanes without checking their blind spots or properly signaling is difficult. An experienced California personal injury attorney can help determine who was at fault for the accident, as well as any injuries and property damage that happened as a result.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by unsafe lane changes, it’s possible you have a claim against those responsible. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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