Truck Accidents Caused by Unsafe Lane Changes in Los Angeles
A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh 20 to 30 times more than a passenger car, and its massive blind spots often hide the cars beside it. When a trucker changes lanes without carefully checking their surroundings, the results are often catastrophic. If a careless driver caused your crash, our truck injury attorneys can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
At LNN, we handle truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in Los Angeles and fight aggressively for the people these crashes leave injured. Trucking companies and their insurers move fast to protect themselves, often before you have left the hospital. We move faster, building your case with hard evidence and holding every responsible party accountable.
How Unsafe Lane Changes Cause Truck Crashes
Large trucks have enormous blind spots, often called no-zones, along both sides, in front, and behind the trailer. When a trucker fails to check these areas before changing lanes, a smaller vehicle can be sideswiped, forced off the road, or crushed. These crashes happen in several common ways:
- Merging into a lane that is already occupied
- Drifting across lanes while distracted or drowsy
- Changing lanes without signaling in time
- Making wide turns that swing into another lane
- Failing to account for a vehicle in the right-side no-zone
- Speeding up or slowing down without checking surrounding traffic
Any one of these errors can turn a routine drive into a life-changing collision. Our Los Angeles truck accident attorney can examine how your crash happened and pinpoint the trucker’s mistake.
California Law on Unsafe Lane Changes
California law is clear about a driver’s duty before changing lanes. Under California Vehicle Code § 22107, a driver may change lanes or turn only after confirming the path is clear and signaling the movement in advance. A related law, Cal. Veh. Code § 21658 requires drivers to stay within a single lane until it is safe to move.
These laws apply fully to commercial truck drivers. When a trucker violates them and causes a crash, that violation can establish negligence on its own, a concept known as negligence per se. This means we may not have to prove the driver was careless in the usual way, because breaking the safety law proves fault. A truck crash attorney on our team in Los Angeles can use these statutes to build a powerful case for you after an unsafe lane change causes a wreck.
Which Parties Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Lane-Change Crash?
A Los Angeles unsafe lane change truck accident rarely comes down to just one at-fault party. The driver may be liable for the unsafe lane change, but the trucking company can also share fault for pushing unrealistic schedules, skipping maintenance, or failing to train its drivers. Identifying every responsible party is key to recovering the full compensation you are owed.
Proving these cases takes fast action, because critical evidence can disappear quickly. The truck’s electronic logging device, onboard data, and dashcam footage can show exactly what happened, but a company may erase or lose it. California also follows comparative fault, and you generally have two years to file under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Our team can move quickly to preserve the evidence and protect your right to recover.
Injured in a Los Angeles Truck Lane-Change Crash? Contact LNN Today
If you were hurt in one of the many truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in Los Angeles, LNN is ready to fight for you. We will investigate the crash, stand up to the insurance company, and pursue every dollar you are owed. Contact LNN today, and let us get started on your case.