How Unsafe Lane Changes Cause Traumatic Truck Accidents

Learn How to Recover Damages After a Commercial Truck Crashes Into You While Changing Lanes in Virginia

Through our many years of practicing personal injury law, the team at The Mottley Law Firm has witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of commercial vehicle collisions. Unsafe lane changes by large trucks lead to life-changing injuries. While big rig operators are held to a higher standard due to the potential dangers their vehicles pose, this doesn’t make it any easier to hold them accountable for their reckless or negligent driving behavior without professional guidance.

If you were struck by a semi-truck making an unsafe lane change, you may be eligible to seek compensation. Our Richmond truck accident lawyers are dedicated to helping crash victims like you pursue rightful justice and fair compensation.

How and Why These Truck Accidents Happen

American truckers are obligated to follow the requirements of a commercial driver’s license and are expected to adhere to all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). The rules govern how commercial truck drivers should conduct themselves to reduce accidents and fatalities.

FMCSR Section 383.111 outlines required knowledge, including safe operations and the importance of proper visual search. Drivers of big rigs and tractor-trailers who fail to abide by these standards may cause devastating truck accidents when they change lanes unsafely. Some common reasons for this behavior include:

• Failing to perceive hazards due to road characteristics or motorist activities
• Causing a truck merging accident due to a failure to use a turn signal
• Changing lanes dangerously as to cut off other drivers on the road
• Swerving into the adjacent lane to make a wide right turn
• Not checking for vehicles in their blind spot before changing lanes
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Getting distracted by their phone, radio, or CB
• Speeding excessively or engaging in reckless driving behaviors
• Failing to notice hazards due to poor weather conditions or other visibility issues
• Driving while excessively fatigued, such as working more hours than is allowed by law

In some cases, the trucker might not be entirely to blame for causing an accident, even if it was due to an unsafe lane change. Management may be partly at fault for overscheduling them. Additionally, faulty parts, a lack of proper maintenance, or improper loading may also contribute to crashes.

Semi-Truck Drivers Changing Lanes Cause Serious Damage

A big part of the reason why lane change accidents between regular cars and large commercial trucks can be so devastating has to do with their difference in size. Heavy-duty trucks weigh at least 26,000 pounds. A fully loaded semi-truck can tip the scales at 80,000 pounds. For comparison, a typical midsize car only weighs about 3,500 pounds. 

Not surprisingly, the significantly smaller passenger vehicle will almost always suffer the worst of the damage in an accident with a big rig. Operators have poorer visibility and are slower to maneuver in traffic. Truck accidents are also different from other car accidents in that even lower-speed collisions can have dire consequences. 

Injuries suffered in accidents with large commercial vehicles may include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Partial and complete bone fractures
• Spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis
• Soft tissue injuries, like cuts and bruises
• Internal injuries, like organ damage and internal bleeding
• Neck and back injuries
• Nerve damage
• Permanent disfigurement
• Facial injuries

Collecting Evidence and Establishing Who’s at Fault

Virginia law observes the doctrine of pure contributory negligence. This means an injured party who is partially at fault for causing the accident is barred from receiving compensation. This is why it’s so crucial to prove negligence as conclusively as possible with compelling evidence. 

Components of a sound legal strategy for truck accident claims include:

• Physical evidence, such as debris and skid marks at the accident scene 
• Eyewitness interviews and statements
• Photos and videos of the truck crash, like dashcam footage
• Police reports and other relevant incident reports
• Accident reconstruction by trusted experts
• Complete medical records to substantiate the severity of injuries suffered

To further protect your case, our lawyers may file a spoliation letter. Also called a preservation demand, it legally requires the trucking company to preserve requested evidence, like work logs. 

Why Strong Legal Representation From The Mottley Law Firm Makes a Difference

The reality is that many commercial truck drivers are backed by large trucking companies that are represented by major insurers. It’s in their best interest to reduce their liability as much as possible. Going up against them alone when the trucker crashes into you while making an unsafe lane change is a steep uphill battle.

One of the strongest ways to level the playing field and seek the fair compensation you deserve is by teaming up with truck accident lawyers who bring years of experience to the table. This includes negotiating for the most positive outcome possible in your case. Our attorneys represented a 54-year-old woman who was struck by a semi-truck on the I-81 near Lexington. The truck made an unsafe lane change at high speed, clipping her car and causing it to flip multiple times. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, lacerations, and post-traumatic stress, eventually ending her 20-year nursing career. After almost a year and a half of litigation, we secured $3.5 million in compensatory damages for her injuries. 

The Mottley Law Firm will gladly answer any questions you may have as we guide you through the litigation process. You deserve justice and a proper settlement that covers your economic and non-economic damages. We can help.