Merging Accidents in Oklahoma City
In Oklahoma City, merging into moving traffic is one of the most stressful experiences for inexperienced drivers. Even long-time drivers may feel anxious when merging onto a congested roadway or one with fast-moving traffic. Merging drivers do not have the right of way and must yield to vehicles already in the lane. When a merging driver fails to yield the right of way and causes an accident, they are liable for the damages to injury victims, like property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.
If you were injured in a merging accident caused by a negligent driver, an experienced Oklahoma City car accident lawyer at Dan Davis Law can help you pursue full compensation for your losses. Call (405) 930-4210 for a free consultation.
How Should Oklahoma City Drivers Safely Merge Into Traffic?
The term “merging” usually refers to moving into a lane of parallel moving traffic, such as when entering a four-lane highway from an entrance ramp. It may also refer to merging into another lane to pass or in preparation for a turn or exit.
Driving safety experts recommend that drivers adjust their speed to match the moving traffic before moving into the lane. Drivers should use the appropriate turn signal from 100 to 300 feet before merging. Drivers should only merge into traffic when there is a three to four-second gap between moving vehicles and check for additional traffic on all sides, including double-checking blind spots by looking over the shoulder before entering the lane. A driver attempting to merge should not stop their vehicle unless necessary to avoid an accident.
What Is a Zipper-Merge In Oklahoma City?
A “zipper merge” refers to Oklahoma’s recommended method of merging to accommodate road construction and lane closures caused by accidents. Zipper merging requires drivers to use both lanes of traffic until reaching the merge point and then alternating entries from the left and right in a zipper-like fashion. Traffic experts consider this the most efficient way to merge for lane closures to prevent traffic backups and unnecessary delays. Unfortunately, zipper-merging is only effective when all drivers understand what’s expected of them and participate correctly.
What Causes Unsafe Merging In Oklahoma City?
Improper merging is a significant contributor to the number of car accidents in Oklahoma City and elsewhere. Drivers have a legal duty of reasonable care when merging into traffic. This duty of care requires them to follow traffic laws, yield the right of way, avoid distractions, and merge safely into moving traffic to prevent causing an accident. Common causes of merging accidents in Oklahoma City include the following:
- Failure to double-check blind spots
- Aggressive driving
- Speeding
- Slowing or stopping during merging
- Distracted driving
- Alcohol or drug-impaired driving
In some cases, confusing road design, obstructed vision, or road hazards may contribute to merging accidents in Oklahoma City. In these cases, a negligent road planning or road construction agency could be liable or partly liable for an injury victim’s damages. When multiple parties may share liability, an experienced Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer can investigate the circumstances and help identify all potential sources of compensation.
What Types of OKC Car Accidents are Caused by Unsafe Merging?
Improperly merging into moving traffic causes accidents such as sideswipes, rear-end collisions, angle collisions, and multi-vehicle pileups. Multi-car accidents occur when fast-moving traffic does not allow drivers enough time to maneuver or stop before colliding with damaged vehicles after an initial collision, resulting in one or more secondary collisions. These types of crashes can be especially severe when large commercial vehicles are involved. If this applies to your case, consider speaking with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Oklahoma City to explore your legal options.
How Can an Oklahoma Car Accident Attorney Help?
Proving liability in Oklahoma City merging accidents requires clear and compelling evidence of the responsible party’s fault for the accident. Insurance companies may dispute claims or attempt to assign an undue percentage of fault to an accident victim to protect their profits.
If you or a close family member suffered injuries in a merging accident in Oklahoma City, contact the OKC car accident lawyers at Dan Davis Law to protect your rights and safeguard your best interests throughout the car accident claim process.