Syracuse, New York, Lane Change Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Lane Change Car Accident Victims Across Syracuse. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in an Onondaga County Motor Vehicle Accident That Was Not Your Fault, You Deserve Effective, Aggressive Representation and a Personal Injury Attorney Willing to Fight for Your Rights.

Syracuse may not have the worst traffic in New York, but commuting across State Street or navigating rush hour on Interstate 690 is often frustrating enough to make otherwise prudent drivers take risks they would otherwise never consider. Changing lanes abruptly, sometimes without the use of a turn signal, is a common occurrence—an oversight that rarely has any repercussions but can sometimes end in catastrophe.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that nobody should be forced to bear the burden of another driver’s mistake. Although taking another driver to court could seem intimidating, it may be the only way to secure the resources needed to reclaim your independence. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to ascertain justice. Please message us online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a Syracuse car crash lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

Drivers have a legal duty to exercise a certain standard of care when initiating turns and changing lanes. Many of these duties are explicitly defined by state law. The New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, for instance, is comprised of 12 titles, each of which details different elements of the state’s jurisdiction over motor vehicles and roadways. Its seventh title, Rules of the Road, outlines the rights and responsibilities of drivers.

New York VTL 1128 (NY Veh & Traf L § 1128) sets the conditions under which drivers may legally overtake other vehicles and otherwise change lanes. Under New York VTL 1128, motorists must ensure the following when driving on any multi-lane road:

1. A vehicle must be driven entirely within a single lane. If a driver wishes to change lanes, they must wait until it is safe to do so;
2. If a road has three lanes, motorists must not drive in the center lane unless it is free of traffic and they are either passing another vehicle moving in the same direction or are preparing to take a left turn; and
3. Drivers may not overtake another vehicle or change lanes across a solid yellow line, or in any other situation where road markings indicate that changing lanes would be especially hazardous.

Other sections of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law provide similar instructions. For example, motorists are typically forbidden from ever driving on the shoulder of the road.

New York VTL 1163 (NY Veh & Traffic Law § 1163) also requires that drivers use turn signals before turning their vehicle onto another road or changing lanes. Its provisions include the following:

1. Motorists cannot turn, change lanes, or “otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course” unless it is reasonably safe to do so;
2. Before changing lanes or performing similar maneuvers, drivers must activate their turn signal; and
3. Turn signals must be activated and used continuously for at least 100 feet before a lane change or similar action.

Motorists who violate state law, whether failing to ascertain safety before changing lanes or neglecting to use their turn signals, endanger themselves and everybody around them. Lane change accidents—especially on fast-moving roadways and at intersections—almost always have the potential to culminate in catastrophic injury.

You do not have to accept hardship in place of a fair recovery. If you or a loved one has been injured in a lane change accident that was not your fault, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you establish liability and prepare a compelling case for compensation. Please call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a lane change accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free consultation as soon as possible.

Since New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits drivers from making unsafe lane changes, any motorist who negligently turns or moves between lanes without respect to safety could be liable for the resulting accident's costs.

Examples of negligent acts that could cause a lane change accident include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Failing to check mirrors before changing lanes;
2. Failing to check blind spots before changing lanes;
3. Failing to signal intent to turn;
4. Driving while distracted by a cell phone, infotainment system, or other device; and
5. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

However, establishing liability in a lane change-related claim could prove challenging. This is due, in part, to the ambiguity of many right-of-way violations. Many motorists found at fault in lane change collisions do not believe that they should be held exclusively liable for the accident, even when evidence says otherwise.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you overcome legal obstacles to recovery by taking the following steps to establish the other driver’s liability:

1. Investigating the cause of your accident;
2. Collecting, preserving, and analyzing physical evidence from the crash site;
3. Consulting accident reconstruction experts to determine fault and assess liability;
4. Subpoenaing surveillance camera footage, interviewing eyewitnesses, and gathering other evidence in support of your claim; and
5. Aggressively asserting your rights, even if the at-fault driver, their defense attorney, or insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair settlement.

New York’s no-fault insurance system entitles accident victims to medical benefits and other compensation, irrespective of fault.

However, every insurance policy sold in the Empire State is bound by stringent rules set by its issuer and the New York General Assembly. These rules dictate what benefits an insurance company must provide and set statutory limits on certain types of compensation. Often, policies do not offer sufficient coverage to victims with serious injuries, who may feel forced to pay out-of-pocket for medically necessary care.

You should never have to pay the price for an accident that was not your fault. In New York, accident survivors with serious injuries can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover additional compensation. Depending on the circumstances of your Syracuse lane change accident, you could be entitled to damages, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Existing medical expenses;
2. Anticipated care needs;
3. Physical therapy;
4. Mental health counseling;
5. Lost income from work;
6. Diminished earning potential;
7. Emotional pain and suffering;
8. Loss of enjoyment;
9. Disfigurement; and
10. Wrongful death.

New York does not currently cap damages in most lane change car accident claims, meaning you could receive as much money as you need to eradicate your outstanding medical debt and begin rebuilding your life.

Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients secure more than $250 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please message us online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a lane change car accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free consultation.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight for the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!