Changing lanes is a routine part of driving, but an unsafe lane change can have devastating consequences when the vehicle moving over is a motorcycle.
A car or truck may move into a motorcycle’s lane without seeing the rider. The motorcycle may have nowhere to go, leaving the rider trapped between vehicles or forced toward another lane, shoulder, barrier, or ditch.
Because motorcycles offer little protection in a collision, a seemingly minor lane-change error can result in a life-changing injury.
How Lane-Change Motorcycle Crashes Happen
Drivers are expected to make sure a lane is clear before moving into it. Problems can arise when a motorist relies only on a quick mirror check or fails to account for a motorcycle traveling nearby.
Examples include:
- Failing to check a blind spot
- Moving over without signaling
- Changing lanes while distracted
- Drifting across lane markings
- Merging without yielding
- Misjudging the motorcycle’s location
- Failing to check mirrors a second time before moving over
A motorcycle may be beside the vehicle for only a moment before the driver begins moving into the rider’s lane.
A Motorcycle Does Not Have to Be Hit Directly
A motorcyclist can be injured even when the other vehicle never makes direct contact with the motorcycle.
For example, a rider may swerve to avoid a vehicle entering their lane. The motorcycle could then strike another vehicle, a guardrail, a curb, or another fixed object.
The rider may also lose control and be thrown onto the roadway.
That is why an investigation should consider the entire sequence of events rather than looking only for physical contact between the motorcycle and another vehicle.
Injuries From Lane-Change Crashes
Motorcyclists can suffer serious injuries when they are forced off the roadway or collide with another vehicle.
Potential injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Fractured vertebrae
- Broken arms and legs
- Shoulder injuries
- Internal injuries
- Severe road rash
- Nerve damage
- Permanent disability
Some injuries may require extensive rehabilitation and prevent the victim from returning to work for an extended period.
How Can You Prove an Unsafe Lane Change?
Evidence can be especially important when the other driver claims they never saw the motorcycle.
Potential evidence includes:
Witness statements: Someone traveling behind or beside the vehicles may have seen the lane change.
Dashcam footage: A nearby vehicle may have recorded the collision or the moments leading up to it.
Surveillance video: Businesses, residences, and other properties near the roadway may have cameras facing traffic.
Vehicle damage: Damage patterns can help establish where the vehicles were positioned when the collision occurred.
Police documentation: The responding officer may document statements, roadway conditions, vehicle positions, and other observations.
What If You Swerved to Avoid the Vehicle?
Motorcyclists sometimes believe they cannot pursue a claim because they avoided direct contact with the vehicle.
That is not necessarily true.
If a driver’s unsafe maneuver caused you to take evasive action and crash, the circumstances should be investigated. The absence of physical contact does not automatically mean the other driver’s conduct was unrelated to your injuries.
The evidence must establish the connection between the driver’s actions and the resulting crash.
Alabama Fault Rules Can Matter
Motorcycle accident claims can involve disputes about which driver caused the collision.
Insurance companies may attempt to place some or all of the blame on the motorcyclist. In Alabama, contributory negligence can make fault particularly important to an injury claim.
That makes evidence especially valuable when liability is disputed.
Get Help After a Serious Motorcycle Crash
A lane-change accident can happen in seconds, but its consequences can last for years.
If you were injured because a driver moved into your lane or forced you to take evasive action, Shaun Capps Injury Law can investigate the circumstances of your Birmingham motorcycle accident and explain your potential legal options.