With so many trucks on the road in Portland, Oregon, this poses a significant risk for other vehicles that are trying to navigate the roadways. Unsafe lane changes are just one of the things that can contribute to truck accidents, which could result in extensive injuries and property damage.
If you are the victim of a truck accident in Portland, Oregon, you need to hire a truck accident attorney who can represent your case and advocate on your behalf. At Henderson Taylor Law Firm, our team of auto accident lawyers has handled hundreds of truck accident cases and can help you every step of the way, from filing an auto accident claim to negotiating with insurance companies.
Keep reading to find out what is considered an unsafe lane change and how improper lane changes can result in truck accidents.
The Implications of Unsafe Lane Changes
There are many things that can lead to a truck accident in Portland, especially on busy roadways where there are multiple large trucks. It can be challenging to share the road with these vehicles since they are larger and create a more significant risk.
There are three main types of unsafe lane changes that could result in a significant truck accident. This includes changing lanes when this cannot be done with reasonable safety, failing to yield when changing lanes, or failing to signal appropriately before starting to change lanes. It is very important to take all of these things into consideration as even a legal lane change can become unsafe if not executed appropriately.
Especially in the context of truck drivers, changing lanes appropriately is incredibly important for the safety of everyone on the road. Trucks are much larger and heavier, which requires that they have more room and a longer period of time when they are changing lanes. If truck drivers are not careful when doing those, they can side-swipe or T-bone smaller vehicles, significantly injuring the people inside.
Some examples of common lane change accident injuries include things like:
- Scrapes and cuts
- Bruises
- Whiplash
- Spinal injuries
- Concussions
- Bone fractures and breaks
- Internal injuries
Causes of Improper Lane Changes
Even though the lane change laws in Portland, Oregon, are not incredibly specific, most people are aware of them simply due to an understanding of driving safety. That is why a driver can often be found negligent if they fail to take the necessary precautions when changing lanes.
Here are some common things that often contribute to this type of truck accident:
- Distraction: The most common cause of improper lane changes is simply due to the driver being distracted. The truck driver may be looking at their phone, eating, or looking at something else on the road.
- Fatigue: Driving fatigue is very common with truck drivers and can lead to unsafe driving behaviors. The driver may coast into the other lane without signaling, or they may not check their blind spots before changing lanes.
Intoxication: If the truck driver is under the intoxication of drugs, alcohol, or certain medications, this can impair their ability to drive. Their reaction time or coordination may be negatively impacted, or they may not be able to focus on driving safely. - Inexperience: An inexperienced or untrained truck driver may not understand how much time it takes to change lanes in a large truck. Because of this, they may fail to signal ahead of time or they may not wait until there is enough room to change lanes.
Recklessness: In some instances, the truck driver may be aware that they are changing lanes unsafely, but they still do it. The truck driver may be angry at another driver on the road, or they may be in a hurry, which can result in irresponsible driving decisions.
Proving Fault in Unsafe Lane Change Accidents
If you are the victim of a truck lane change accident, you may want to file an auto accident claim to receive compensation. To do this, you need to be able to prove that the truck driver is liable for the accident and that either the truck driver or the trucking company needs to pay damages. To do this, you need to provide evidence that proves the following:
- The truck driver owed you a duty of care at the time of the accident.
- The truck driver breached their duty of care through a negligent act or failing to take the correct action.
- The driver’s breach of duty caused the accident, which caused your damages.
There are instances where both drivers may be held liable for unsafe lane changes depending on how both reacted. For instance, you may not have yielded or allowed the truck driver to merge into the lane. That is why it is important to provide extensive evidence proving that the truck driver was entirely at fault so that you aren’t found to be partially liable.
Things like dash cams, traffic light cameras, witness statements, and collision scene evidence can all help to build your case. You will also have to decide who to file the claim against since the truck driver or the trucking company may be liable, or you may be able to sue them both, depending on what caused the accident.
If you have been the victim of a truck accident from an unsafe lane change, you need to hire a truck accident attorney in Portland, Oregon. An attorney will have experience in this area and can help you file a claim as well as gather evidence proving who was at fault.
Hire an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney at Henderson Taylor Law Firm
Truck accidents in Portland, OR, can come with life-altering implications, especially if you are the person in the smaller vehicle. You may walk away with extensive injuries that can result in medical bills and an inability to return to work until you make a full recovery.
At Henderson Taylor Law Firm, our truck accident lawyers are committed to defending the downtrodden and helping truck accident victims get the compensation they deserve. For expert legal representation from one of our Portland attorneys, contact us today at 360-737-1478 or fill out our online form.
