Changing lanes is a common cause of accidents on busy highways. Highways often serve as major commuter routes and regularly experience heavy traffic, increasing the likelihood of auto collisions. If you suffered injuries in a lane-change accident, right-of-way rules can help establish liability and determine whether you qualify for compensation.
Understanding right-of-way when switching lanes
Under Maryland law, a driver merging or changing lanes must yield to other vehicles already in the lane. In other words, you must wait until it is safe to switch lanes without disrupting the flow of traffic.
Vehicles on a highway tend to travel at an accelerated speed. When drivers miscalculate the speed or distance of other vehicles on the road while making a lane change, a collision or accident is more likely to occur. Due to high speeds, the impact can be serious or even fatal. This is why it is important to adjust speeds accordingly and use proper signaling when crossing into another lane.
How Maryland’s contributory negligence affects injury claims
Unlike most states that allow victims partial recovery despite sharing fault, Maryland is one of the few states that follow a pure contributory negligence standard. Therefore, having the right-of-way does not eliminate a driver’s responsibility to exercise reasonable care. For example, speeding or a momentary failure to react could suggest contributory negligence even if the other driver made an unsafe lane change.
If you sustained injuries but are deemed partially responsible for the accident, you may not be able to recover any damages.
Maintaining safety on the road
Preventing lane-change accidents starts with attentive driving. Signal in advance and check blind spots before switching lanes. When crossing to another lane, adjust your speed to match traffic conditions and always ensure a safe following distance between vehicles.If you are involved in an auto accident and are unsure who is at fault, keep detailed accounts of the incident. A clear and accurate record can guide your insurance company or legal counsel on how to move forward when a claim is disputed.
