Lane Change Crash in Nevada

You were driving down the highway, and all of a sudden, someone made an unsafe lane change causing you to get in an accident. You and your passengers were injured, resulting in time off from work and lost wages. Your medical appointments and bills are piling up, and your car sits at the auto shop. What legal action can you take?
Nevada is the third fastest-growing population in the country. More homes and businesses are being built in the Las Vegas area, which comes with more people in vehicles on the roadways. Busier highways increase the chances of getting in a car accident.

Lane change accident statistics

The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety has a motorist campaign to reduce fatalities on the highway to zero. Statistics are kept yearly, and in 2021, it was shown that 37.1% of all crashes involved a lane departure, otherwise known as an unsafe lane change. 

“During 2015 to 2019, there were a total of 593 fatalities and 535 fatal lane departure crashes that occurred on Nevada roadways.” – ZeroFatalitiesNV.com

Two-thirds of the fatal lane crashes occurred in Clark County on urban roadways. Of those crashes, 56% were single vehicles hitting a fixed object. The next highest category shows single-vehicle rollover at 22%. Further data shows “hit other moving vehicle” as a high rate of incidences. The intent of gathering this data is to understand all the factors contributing to lane change crashes. 

Reasons why unsafe lane changes happen

The causes of lane departures can most often be attributed to drivers who:

• Fail to check their blindspot
• Fail to signal
• Speed up or slow down in an unsafe manner
• Cross several lanes at once
• Drift over the lines
• Drive at night without headlights on

Those are some of the possible reasons that unsafe lane changes occur, causing roadway accidents with people suffering personal injuries and property damage. Anytime anyone disobeys the rules of the road or drives recklessly, they are liable for causing an accident. That’s why we recommend contacting a car accident attorney that specializes in these types of accidents. We can determine the facts surrounding a lane change collision and who is at fault.

Types of injury suffered in accidents 

The types of injuries people suffer due to a driver making an unsafe lane change are numerous and can include the following:

• Back injuries
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Whiplash
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injury
• Knee trauma

The injuries listed above are physical; however, people can suffer non-physical injuries as well. A harrowing highway accident can result in psychological trauma known as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At the law offices of Adam S. Kutner, our experienced team is well-versed in making sure our clients receive monetary compensation for non-visible injuries as well as visible ones. 

Lane change crash negligence and liability: What legal action can you take?

Because Nevada is an at-fault state, it’s imperative to prove the driver’s (defendant) negligence so you, as the victim (plaintiff), receive financial compensation in a lane change crash lawsuit. Establishing fault requires a thorough investigation into all the facts taken from police and medical reports and witnesses. Our expertise in this area is what can help you take the legal action necessary to file and win your case. You only need to focus on recovering your health and getting back to your life. We’ll help you with the rest. We have convenient locations in the Las Vegas area including Henderson and the Paradise area of Las Vegas.

Sources:

Lane Departures. 

Nevada Crash Data – Zero Fatalities.

Nevada named 3rd fastest-growing state in the U.S. (2022).

NRS 484B.413. (2023).