Merging accidents are relatively common on busy highways like I-35E in Texas. They happen because drivers make errors of judgment as they enter a highway or when merging while already on the highway.
These accidents can cause serious injuries because a collision is likely to happen when vehicles are traveling at speed. If you have been injured in a merging accident you may be able to recover the cost of medical treatment and lost earnings through a personal injury claim against the driver who hit you.
Talk to a personal injury attorney as soon as you can after the accident.
I-35E in Texas
I-35E is the 97miles long eastern section of I-35 in Texas. Most interstates used to have labels like I-35E and I-35W, but this is much more uncommon these days. I-35E splits from I-35W at Hillsboro. It then passes through the Dallas area before rejoining I-35W and becomes I-35 again.
Much of I-35 lies concurrently with US 77. Much of I-35E through Dallas remains very congested in peak hours, although the interstate is being expanded so that it holds 12 lanes in the built up area. More lanes and more traffic can lead to the potential for more merging accidents.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On I-35E
If you have been injured due to a merging accident on I-35E or any other highway in Texas, Texas personal injury laws determine what you can and cannot do if you are convinced that your injuries were caused by another driver’s negligence.
Texas has a modified version of comparative negligence which allows you to claim compensation even if you were partly to blame for the accident, as long as you were not more than 50% to blame. Compensation payments will be paid as a percentage of the perceived fault of each party involved.
You will need to take notice of the statute of limitations in Texas. This is 2 years from the date of the injury.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On I-35E
The more relevant the evidence is to your injuries and why they were caused the better. Basically, anything that demonstrates that another driver’s negligence caused your injuries can help improve your case for compensation. Examples of useful evidence include:
- the police report compiled at the crash scene;
- any photos you or someone else is able to take after the crash;
- contact details and / or statements of eye witnesses;
- vehicle damage report given to you by the vehicle repairer;
- medical statements by your doctor or medical reports from a hospital;
- copies of all expenses incurred as a result of your injuries;
- documentation from your workplace to show evidence of any loss of earnings.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
A personal injury attorney can really make a difference if you are contemplating filing a personal injury claim. To begin with, the attorney will give you an opinion about whether you will have a good chance of obtaining compensation.
The attorney can help complete the claim correctly and assist with finding suitable evidence and arranging for witnesses to be subpoenaed if necessary and arranging for experts to give an opinion about the crash itself or your medical condition.
