Merging vehicle accidents are some of the worst accidents to take place on the highways. This is because typically they take place when the driver is accelerating while merging into traffic. When a rear-ender takes place it’s likely to be far more serious than if the driver was driving more slowly in normal traffic. If you have been rear ended by a merging vehicle and you have been injured you may be entitled to file a PI claim in most states as long as you can prove that you were in no way to blame for the rear end accident. As you will need to file the PI claim with the insurer of the at-fault driver you may need some help from a personal injury attorney.
Causes and Injuries in a Merging Accident
Merging onto a busy freeway or highway can be quite a challenge. If a driver wants to merge safely s/he must pay complete attention to what’s happening on the road. A merging accident typically happens when the driver misjudges the distance between the moving vehicles so hits one of the vehicles while trying to merge between them. Other merging accidents happen due to:
- merging too slowly while moving from the on-ramp onto a freeway
- changing lanes all of a sudden without using the appropriate signals
- abruptly cutting off other motor vehicles
- crossing over multiple traffic lanes at once
Due to the speed of the merging vehicle, injuries when the accident takes place tend to be serious like facial injuries, bruising, neck injuries, back injuries, fractures, broken bones, organ damage and spinal cord injuries.
The Process for Filing a PI Claim in a Merging Accident
As soon as the merging accident happened and you were injured the most important thing you need to do is get treatment for your injuries. Following that if you injuries are serious and it will be some time before you will be able to return to work you should consider filing a personal injury claim. This covers you for medical treatment and loss of income while you recover. Your PI claim which will be presented to the insurer of the at-fault driver will need to include the following:
- eye witnesses accounts of the accident
- evidence to prove that the accident wasn’t your fault
- a police report of the accident scene
- receipts for medical treatment already received
- a medical report showing the extent of your injuries and your recovery time
For a claim to be successful you really need to contact a PI attorney who will help you recover your PI entitlement.
Why You Need a PI Attorney
Most insurers try to avoid paying PI claims, especially when they see the victim doesn’t have an attorney. Getting an attorney to file your PI claim means you are far more likely to get a fair settlement than if you go it alone. You may even consider getting your attorney to include pain and suffering in your PI claim. You may be eligible if your injuries are causing discomfort.
