Sideswipe Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts

Sideswipe Accidents in Massachusetts

A sideswipe accident occurs when two vehicles traveling in the same direction make contact along their sides. These accidents most commonly happen during lane changes when a driver fails to check mirrors and blind spots adequately before moving, merges without sufficient clearance, or drifts into an adjacent lane due to distraction or impairment. While sideswipes at highway speeds can cause severe loss-of-control crashes and significant injuries, they frequently result in disputed fault because each driver believes the other was in their lane. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey represents sideswipe accident victims throughout Massachusetts.

How Fault Is Established in Sideswipe Cases

Fault in sideswipe accidents is established through physical evidence, electronic data, and witness testimony. The location of the damage on each vehicle, which panel was struck, at what angle, can indicate which vehicle moved into the other. Paint transfer and the direction of gouge marks provide additional clues. Dashcam footage is often the most direct evidence of which driver crossed the lane line. Witness testimony from nearby drivers, and in some cases highway camera footage, can resolve disputed sideswipe cases. Attorney Lavey pursues all available evidence and retains accident reconstruction experts when the physical evidence requires expert interpretation.

Unsafe Lane Changes and Driver Obligations

Massachusetts law requires drivers to ensure that a lane change can be made safely before beginning the maneuver. This means checking the mirrors, checking the blind spot by physically looking, and ensuring adequate space exists in the target lane before moving. A driver who changes lanes without completing these checks and strikes another vehicle in the adjacent lane is liable for the resulting accident. The fact that the sideswipe contact occurred is itself evidence that the lane change was unsafe.

Sideswipes Caused by Distraction or Impairment

Many sideswipe accidents are caused by a driver drifting into an adjacent lane due to distraction, cell phone use, looking at a navigation system, eating, or impairment by alcohol, drugs, or fatigue. Cell phone records, toxicology results, and the prior driving behavior observed by other drivers all constitute relevant evidence. Attorney Lavey pursues this evidence in every distraction- or impairment-related sideswipe case.

Injuries in Sideswipe Accidents

While sideswipes at low speeds may cause only vehicle damage, high-speed sideswipes can trigger loss of control and secondary crashes that are far more severe than the initial contact. Drivers who overcorrect after a sideswipe may run off the road, cross into oncoming traffic, or roll over. These secondary accidents can cause traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and serious orthopedic injuries. Attorney Lavey documents the full sequence of events and all injuries in every sideswipe case.

Frequently Asked Questions