When out driving a car all sorts of things may or may not happen. It’s your job to drive as safely as possible and avoid the possibility of a collision taking place. Sometimes other drivers don’t always cooperate.
If you are in a situation when a car is merging onto a highway in front of you but it appears the driver isn’t going to yield, you may have to move into the adjacent lane quickly to avoid an accident. If you don’t have time to look before moving and you sideswipe a car and you are injured while maneuvering into the adjacent lane it isn’t entirely your fault. But you will need to contact a personal injury attorney to help you file a claim for personal injury compensation.
What May Cause a Sideswipe Accident When You Are Forced out of Your Lane?
Most drivers take care and obey road rules but there are some who may not be so vigilant. This may happen for a number of reasons including:
- distracted driving due to texting or calling on a cell phone;
- fatigue of the at fault driver;
- the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- the driver is speeding and can’t yield the right of way.
Sideswipe accidents often happen so quickly that little time is left to think but you may know immediately what caused the accident and that it wasn’t your fault.
The Process of Filing a Personal Injury Claim
As soon as you realize the sideswipe accident wasn’t your fault, you have to act quickly as you will need every bit of evidence you can get. This will help to prove that you weren’t either to blame or partially to blame for the accident.
You will need the names and contact details of any witnesses, the police report from the attending officer, a medical report from the doctor treating you and receipts for medical treatment you have already paid for. If you have taken considerable time off work to recover you will need a statement from your employer which covers what you normally earn. You may be entitled to an amount for pain and suffering too. All the information will need to be filed with the insurance company of the at-fault driver.
Injuries Caused by a Sideswipe Accident
Sideswipe accidents aren’t quite like head on collisions or rear-enders. There is less protection from a sideswipe so any impact is likely to seriously damage the vehicle and could cause serious injuries to the occupants. The sorts of injuries that could take place are.
- facial and arm lacerations caused by broken glass;
- neck injuries such as whiplash caused by the sudden unexpected impact;
- shoulder injuries;
- broken limbs;
- damage to internal organs.
A Personal Injury Lawyer May Be Able to Help You
Often when someone who is injured in a sideswipe accident that’s not their fault they may believe that a personal injury settlement is automatic. Unfortunately insurance companies may deny claims, especially if there are not enough supporting documents.
An experienced personal injury lawyer knows about these problems and may be better prepared to win a favorable settlement for you. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation to be put in contact with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
