Who Is Liable for a Merging Accident?

All licensed drivers are responsible for understanding and following the rules of the road at all times. That means obeying the speed limit, signaling when necessary, avoiding distractions, and always wearing a seatbelt, to name a few. When entering a busy highway or making lane changes, motorists must also understand who has the right of way and the proactive steps they must take to safely merge with the traffic flow and avoid a severe car accident.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Merging Accidents?

In most cases, merging accidents occur when the motorist merging or changing lanes fails to yield to the right of way or misjudges the space between the vehicles. The following are additional causes of merging or lane-changing car accidents:

• Merging too quickly or too slowly when entering the highway
• Speeding
• Changing lanes without signaling
• Cutting off other vehicles to merge into traffic or change lanes
• Crossing multiple lanes of traffic at once
• Hesitating while making a lane change or merging into traffic
• Becoming aggressive from having to wait to merge
• Trying to merge or change lanes while distracted
• Failure to check blind spots or rear-view mirrors before merging or changing lanes
• Failure to match the speed of other vehicles once the merging vehicle has entered the flow of traffic

Is the Merging Driver Always At Fault for an Accident?

In most cases, the driver who failed to yield to the right of way will be found at fault for a merging accident. Merging onto a busy highway where other vehicles are traveling at high speed can be stressful, particularly for new or inexperienced drivers. Motorists have a responsibility to understand the merging laws. However, there are situations where the merging vehicle may not be liable, and the vehicle already in the flow of traffic may be at fault for a merging accident. The following are examples of scenarios where the merging driver may not be liable:

• The merging vehicle collided with another motorist who was speeding on the highway. When motorists already in the traffic flow are speeding, it can be more challenging to gauge the time needed to merge safely.
• If a merging driver moves from the inner to the middle lane and hits a driver moving from the outer to the middle lane, the merging driver may not be liable for the accident.
• If the motorist already in the flow of traffic is distracted, driving aggressively, or disobeying the traffic laws at the time of the merging accident, the merging driver may not be considered at fault for the accident.
• The driver already in traffic is tailgating to avoid a merge.
• The driver in the flow of traffic is brake-checking the merging driver.

A Macon Car Accident Lawyer at Childers & McCain, LLC Can Represent You After a Merging Accident

If you need legal help after being injured in a merging accident, contact a Macon car accident lawyer at Childers & McCain, LLC. To schedule a free consultation, call 478-254-2007 or contact us online. Located in Macon, Georgia, we serve clients in Savannah, Albany, and Atlanta.