South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Drivers of motor vehicles have a legal obligation to drive safely, which includes following traffic laws. This obligation includes determining that a movement, such as changing lanes, can be made without endangering others. If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident caused by an improper lane departure, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami car crash attorneys can analyze the facts of your case and help you determine your legal rights and options.
Any time a car veers out of its designated lane, there is a significant risk that an accident will occur. Unfortunately, lane departure accidents are more common than you may think. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, approximately 25,000 fatalities are caused by lane departure crashes each year. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration found that over 18,000 individuals died in lane departure crashes in 2013 when a driver left his or her lane and either crossed the center line into oncoming traffic or went off the edge of the road altogether. A lane departure accident can happen for any number of reasons, including but not limited to:
- Excessive speeding;
- Distracted driving;
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
- Drowsy driving;
- Steering failure;
- Swerving to avoid another vehicle that suddenly stops.
The duties of keeping a lookout and signaling are often set out in state laws and require ordinary care on the part of the driver. In the vast majority of cases, a lane departure accident takes place due to the negligence of the driver who veered out of his or her lane. Negligence occurs when a person causes an accident and injuries by failing to use ordinary care behind the wheel. Ordinary care refers to using the level of care and caution that a reasonably prudent person would have used in the same situation.
In some cases, a lane departure accident is not the fault of the driver who left his or her lane. For example, a car whose tire suddenly blows out may cause the driver to lose control and leave his or her lane. If the tire blowout was caused by a design or manufacturing defect in the tire, the driver may be able to sue the manufacturer or retailer of the tire for damages under the theory of product liability. Our firm can examine your case and help you identify every potential liable party in your case.
Lane departure accidents can lead to serious, even deadly injuries. If you or your loved one has been injured in such an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our skilled Miami car accident attorneys are committed to assisting victims of car accidents with fighting for the compensation they need to deal with their injuries. With years of experience, we understand how to handle complicated lane departure accidents. We proudly represent clients from across South Florida. For a free consultation, call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or reach out to us online today.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Driver Killed by SunRail Train in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, March 14, 2018
Florida Workplace Deaths Rise While the National Average Declines, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, March 14, 2018
Fractures in Florida Nursing Homes, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, March 14, 2018