Spokane drivers can be going along great on I-90 or along busy highways like U.S. 195. But then a stream of cars from an on-ramp appears. A merging driver’s indecision or recklessness can cause an accident for someone who is already on the highway and has a right to the lane they are in.
These merging mistakes may lead to devastating accidents and, at times, multi-car pile-ups. The blame for an accident would usually rest with the motorist trying to enter a highway. And anyone injured due to a driver’s mistake could file a claim and seek help with recovery costs from the at-fault driver’s car insurance provider.
When you have questions about your options and how much you may earn, contact our Spokane Car Accident Lawyers for a free case consultation. There’s no obligation for this informational session.
Merging Dangers on Spokane Highways
We can all get a bit nervous when we try to merge onto a busy highway around Spokane. We might get jumpy, but no matter how much pressure drivers feel, they aren’t allowed to make a reckless move and cause an accident.
Ideally, cars entering a highway like U.S. 2 would keep a reasonable speed and wait to merge into traffic when it’s safe, much like closing a coat zipper. The “zipper” method is a new way to describe how cars can avoid jumping over into a highway lane and just wait to join traffic as the on-ramp lane ends. It asks that drivers merge a bit later when the lanes are busy. You can check out a video on the zipper method from the WSDOT.
It’s a good strategy that can prove safer and keep traffic from backing up. However, drivers already on the interstate aren’t legally required to speed up or slow down, or make room for another car. It’s up to the merging driver to enter the highway safely.
They must accept the responsibility to merge without endangering anyone, and can receive a fine when they merge recklessly.
“(1) The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a highway from a private road or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles lawfully approaching on said highway.
(2)(a) When right-of-way has not been yielded in accordance with this section to a vehicle that is a vulnerable user of a public way, a driver of a motor vehicle found to be in violation of this section must be assessed an additional fine equal to the base penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110(3).”
Of course, not all merging cars do so successfully. They can go when the way isn’t clear and end up rear-ending or sideswiping other vehicles. At busy times, these impacts can spread to affect multiple cars, SUVs, pick-ups, Big Rigs, vans, and motorcycles.
The Biggest Reasons Merging Drivers Cause Highway Accidents
These are just a few of the ways drivers entering a busy road like I-90 can cause collisions:
- Drivers not monitoring their mirrors and blind spots to check if a merge is safe
- Drivers going too fast or too slow to make a safe entry onto the highway
- Drivers who come to a stop when they can’t merge
- Failure to yield to the drivers already on the road
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Drivers checking out texts and music while they should be focused on the road
A driver may clearly make a mistake while merging and cause you to suffer a collision. But that may not be how an insurance company sees it, or an officer with the Washington State Police or the Spokane Police rules on it. They won’t have witnessed what happened, so innocent drivers can sometimes get stuck with the blame.
A skilled CCD Law attorney would fully investigate an accident and gather evidence so that the blame couldn’t be shifted. We can also use accident reconstruction teams to show where vehicles were when a collision occurred. It’s the best way to ensure you get the help you need to recover from any accident.
Merging in Spokane Work Zones
Another spot where you may have merging accidents is along construction zones or after an accident in the roadway ahead. You can suddenly have your lane taken away from you. Again, transportation officials recommend the zipper approach, and not feeling the pressure to get over into the other lane until it’s ending (unless there’s plenty of room).
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) provides a handbook for Spokane drivers approaching a lane closure.
WSDOT explains the situation this way:
“From a legal standpoint, it is the merging driver’s responsibility to merge in a safe manner. However, it is illegal for drivers in the open lane to actively block merging traffic, including blocking part of the merging lane to prevent perceived cutting in line.”
Merging drivers bear the responsibility to do so safely, but all drivers should slow down when necessary, move over to make room when necessary, and work together to keep traffic flowing. Remember, you may be the merging driver next time.
How to Know When You Need a Lawyer for Your Spokane Car Accident Case
If a merging driver’s mistake leaves you with a serious injury, it’s a good indicator that you may do much better with a lawyer’s help. That might include a broken bone, a head injury, or a serious back or neck injury.
A lawyer can help you get the most to pay off your medical bills and replace the work income you’ve lost. A skilled lawyer would also fight to win you support for the pain you’ve endured and the emotional trauma a frightening highway can leave you with.
Contact CCD Law for a free, no-obligation case review. Find out what your injuries are worth before an insurance adjuster tries to “lowball” your needs.
And if you require our help to get the most from your claim, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay an attorney’s fee. CCD Law doesn’t charge anything unless we win your case. Then we are paid out of the settlement check that the insurer is forced to send you.