Lane Departure Crashes in Massachusetts
Dedicated Accident Attorneys Helping Residents of the Boston Region
Improper lane departures are a common cause of motor vehicle collisions in Massachusetts . Even a momentary distraction behind the wheel can result in a driver drifting into another lane and putting nearby motorists at serious risk. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, roughly 25,000 fatalities happen each year due to lane departure crashes, or situations in which one vehicle veers out of its lane in a highway or another multiple-lane road.
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our Boston car accident lawyers are prepared to assist you with seeking compensation for your injuries and damages. We understand how frustrating and devastating this experience can be for you and your family. Our team will provide you with timely legal advice and ensure that your legal rights are protected at all stages of the legal process.
Understanding Liability for Lane Departure Crashes
After suffering injuries in a lane departure collision, you may be entitled to compensation from the driver who caused your injuries. Massachusetts law allows injured people to obtain compensation when an at-fault driver failed to use appropriate care and skill behind the wheel. In general, drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles with reasonable care and skill, taking into consideration any road hazards or unexpected traffic events. This standard encompasses all of Massachusetts’ traffic laws as well. Some of these laws require drivers to stay within their lane unless the way is clear and to use appropriate signals when making lane changes or turning.
Massachusetts has also enacted laws prohibiting drivers from texting while driving and banning drivers younger than 18 from using a cell phone for any purpose while behind the wheel. Many lane departure collisions happen while drivers are looking at their phones, adjusting the stereo, or talking to passengers. If you can show that a driver violated a traffic law at the time of the accident, this can be used as evidence to assist in establishing the defendant’s negligence. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine if any traffic law violations were involved in your lane departure crash.
Once you have established that the defendant was negligent in departing from their lane, you must next show that this was the cause of the injuries that you sustained. This means that you must show that you would not have been injured but for the defendant’s lack of due care. If the defendant can show that some other factor was the primary cause of your injuries, such as your own conduct, your damages may be reduced or eliminated.
The next phase of a car accident lawsuit involves determining the amount of compensation that the plaintiff is entitled to receive. There are many different items of damages that you can potentially claim in a lawsuit, including medical expenses. These include past medical expenses incurred immediately after the collision , as well as future medical care costs associated with any permanent or ongoing medical conditions that you suffered as a result of the crash. Lane departure accidents that occur at high speeds are especially likely to result in catastrophic injuries or even fatalities in some tragic instances.
Seek Counsel from a Compassionate Boston Accident Lawyer
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, we have seen how devastating a car accident can be for a victim. Whether you are suffering through painful injuries or facing a serious disruption to your professional career, an accident can have a significant impact on your life for a substantial period of time after it happens. Our car accident attorneys have handled a wide variety of cases on behalf of injured people in Boston, Cambridge, Waltham, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Quincy, Dedham, Norwood, Brookline, Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Plymouth, Worcester, Lawrence, and Springfield. Understanding your legal rights and whether you may have a viable claim is the first step to obtaining a fair settlement or judgment. To schedule your free consultation, call us at 1-800-379-1244 or contact us online.