Merging into Washington’s busy traffic can be intimidating, especially in congested areas around urban meccas like Seattle. Unfortunately, when a driver’s error, aggression, recklessness, or hesitancy causes a merging accident in Washington, it often ends in collisions, with injuries to motorists who had the right of way as well as to those in the vehicle that improperly merged. A merging accident sometimes results in multi-car pileups on fast-moving highways.
Proving negligence and liability after a merging car accident can be challenging under Washington’s fault-based accident laws. This is why it is crucial to work with an experienced Arlington car accident lawyer for legal guidance.
How Do Merging Accidents Occur?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describes merging as maneuvering to join two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction into one lane. This commonly occurs at highways as cars merge into traffic from entrance ramps, at points where two roads converge, or during lane closures due to accidents or road construction. Sadly, around 300,000 merging accidents occur each year in the U.S, often resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. The most common causes of merging accidents in Washington include the following:
- Merging without checking blind spots
- Aggressive merging, or forcing a vehicle into moving traffic without an opening
- Merging into traffic too slowly
- Cutting off another driver while merging
- Merging too closely behind or in front of another vehicle
- Merging without a turn signal
Impatience, frustration, aggressive driving, and assuming that another driver will make room for a merging driver to enter a lane are the most common causes of merging accidents.
What Types of Accidents Result From Improper Merging?
Sideswipe collisions are the most frequent result of improper merging. Although it’s common to consider a sideswipe as a minor accident, sideswipes can be very serious. A sideswipe accident during merging can cause the car already in the lane to veer off into a parallel lane of traffic, causing one or more secondary collisions.
Improper merging also causes rear-end collision accidents. Rear-end accidents occur when a merging driver cuts into traffic without an adequate opening, causing the vehicle in the rear to collide with the rear of the merging vehicle. In some cases, a rear-end collision during merging pushes the merging vehicle forward into the car directly in front, causing a secondary collision. An alarming 16% of rear-end collisions are caused by improper merging.
Besides causing accidents, improper merging can slow traffic flow, resulting in increased congestion and delays.
What Types of Injuries Occur In Merging Car Accidents In Washington?
Merging accidents commonly result in one or more collisions, causing injuries ranging from mild to severe, depending on the speed of moving traffic during the crash. Injuries in merging accident claims commonly include the following:
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Soft-tissue injuries like sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and tendon injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Bone fractures
- External head and facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Traumatic amputations
It’s crucial for drivers in Washington to understand the proper maneuvers for safely merging into moving traffic.
Safe Merging Techniques
A merging driver should match their speed to the speed of the moving lane of traffic before merging into the lane. Although it’s imperative to wait for an adequate opening before moving into the lane, drivers should avoid stopping unless it’s absolutely necessary. Safe merging requires a three to four-second gap between vehicles. Drivers should use a turn signal before merging and double-check their blind spots by checking their mirrors and glancing over their shoulder before moving into the lane.
How Can a Washington Car Accident Lawyer Help?
After suffering injuries due to another driver’s improper merging, you have a right to full and fair compensation for your damages from the driver at fault for your accident. Unfortunately, this isn’t always a straightforward process. Insurance companies commonly assign blame to injury victims or shift liability their way unless they have assertive legal representation. Contact a Lake Stevens personal injury lawyer from Wells Trumbull to learn about your rights and how a Washington car accident lawyer can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation.