Car Accident Liability: Who is Responsible in this Viral Video?

You never know what cars are going to do on the road. This viral video will make you ask questions about car accident liability.

In the video, we see a white Camry trailing a Lexus. The Lexus catches the Camry’s activity in his POV camera.

The Camry follows the Lexus as they both make a right turn. The Lexus moves into the right lane after the turn and then shifts into the left lane when the Camry hits it from behind.

If the Lexus driver’s sudden change of lanes causes the accident, they would have the car accident liability. But other factors come into play.

At one point, the Camry swerves out of the far lane into oncoming traffic for no apparent reason. Additionally, the Lexus fully occupied the left-hand lane before shifting into the right.

If the Lexus driver was riding between lanes when the accident occurred, they may have been liable, but that wasn’t the case.

But what further establishes car accident liability is that the Camry flees the accident making them responsible for a hit and run.

Lane Change Car Accident Liability

This incident may be considered a lane change accident. During a lane change, the driver must activate their turn signals, and check their mirrors and blind spots before proceeding. They are also prohibited from crossing multiple lanes of traffic at once without stopping in any lane.

It is unclear whether the Lexus driver checked their blind spots or signaled before the turn, but we can see that they stopped in their lane before changing lanes. Assuming the driver turned on their signal and checked for blind spots, they would not be liable for the accident.

A driver could also be at fault for a lane change accident if they exhibited reckless, distracted, or impaired driving behavior. The Camry’s attempt to move into ongoing traffic is considered reckless and could be due to impaired or distracted driving.

Drivers could also be guilty if they rear-end someone who has completed a lane change. This would indicate that they were driving too fast. The Camry hit the Lexus after they completed a lane change and their reckless driving contributed to their actions.

Hit and Run Accidents

The Camry driver is also guilty of a hit-and-run. A driver may be guilty of a hit and run if they:

• Leave the scene of an accident
• Fail to identify themselves to the involved parties
• Damage property or injure someone

Hit-and-run laws vary from state to state, but if you are guilty of a hit-and-run, you could be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony.  You could be accused of a misdemeanor if the hit and run resulted in property damage. You could be charged with a felony if the hit and run resulted in an injury.

It is unclear if the Lexus driver was injured in the accident. However, it’s likely their car was damaged by the collision’s impact.

Can I Get Compensated for Damages in a Hit and Run Accident?

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run and can identify the driver, you may be able to make a claim against their liability coverage. If you cannot identify the driver, collision coverage may cover your damage.

To increase the likelihood of finding the driver, do your best to collect evidence at the scene. Call the police and give them as much information as you can. If possible, provide the car’s make, model, and color, license plate number, and driver’s appearance.

You can also attempt to collect evidence at the crime scene, such as paint scrapes or broken-off car pieces.