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Sideswipe accidents occur as a driver tries to change lanes or a vehicle drifts out of its lane into an...","datePublished":"2024-03-24","dateModified":"2025-12-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/#Person","name":"Ken Bernard","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","width":300,"height":109}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/car-crash-2.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/car-crash-2.jpg","height":654,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/fault-for-sideswipe-accident\/","video":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H2p_MrBWZtU#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H2p_MrBWZtU","name":"Who Is At Fault for a Sideswipe Accident in Georgia? (Short Version) -  Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","description":"For more about car accident cases, visit  https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/fault-for-sideswipe-accident\/\n__________________________________\nSherrod & Bernard, P.C. - Personal Injury Lawyers in Douglasville\n8470 Price Ave \nDouglasville, GA 30134\nPhone: (770) 920 - 8350\nwww.sherrodandbernard.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H2p_MrBWZtU\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H2p_MrBWZtU\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H2p_MrBWZtU\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H2p_MrBWZtU\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H2p_MrBWZtU\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2023-06-06T14:19:44+00:00","duration":"PT58S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H2p_MrBWZtU","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w","name":"Sherrod and Bernard","description":"When you are in a legal bind, you need an experienced attorney you can count on to provide you with skilled representation and sound legal counsel. Every lawyer under the sun will tell you that he or she is the right person for the job, but you need a firm backed with a successful track record. You need the firm of Sherrod & Bernard, serving the Douglasville area.\n\nAfter attending the University of Georgia together, attorneys John Sherrod and Ken Bernard founded the law firm of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. in 1992. From the very beginning, the goal of our firm has been to provide each and every client with the quality personal service and skilled representation they deserve. You can count on our work ethic and our commitment to our clients.\n\nYou need a highly skilled attorney to successfully resolve your legal issues. One of our lawyers can help. 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This job starts with bringing the case against the proper driver and the insurance company.\n\n__________________________________\nSherrod & Bernard, P.C. - Personal Injury Lawyers in Douglasville\n8470 Price Ave \nDouglasville, GA 30134\nPhone: (770) 920 - 8350\nwww.sherrodandbernard.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2019-07-12T11:30:01+00:00","duration":"PT47S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FCnVGmLc6-0","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w","name":"Sherrod and Bernard","description":"When you are in a legal bind, you need an experienced attorney you can count on to provide you with skilled representation and sound legal counsel. 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Sideswipe accidents occur as a driver tries to change lanes or a vehicle drifts out of its lane into an occupied lane.Over-steering or under-steering in a curve or making an improper turn also can cause a sideswipe accident.A driver who is at fault for a sideswipe accident may be held financially liable for the medical bills and expenses incurred by those who sustained injuries in the crash.\u00a0 This includes compensation for medical bills, vehicle repair or replacement, lost income while recuperating, pain and suffering, and potentially more.To obtain compensation, the evidence must convince the insurance company or a jury that the other driver was at fault. This often requires an independent investigation by an experienced car accident lawyer to collect persuasive evidence and develop a claim.After a sideswipe car accident in Georgia, contact the attorneys at\u00a0Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., for experienced legal guidance. Our Douglasville car accident lawyers have close to 80 years of combined legal experience. Our attorneys have a proven track record of helping our clients seek significant compensation. We are ready to help you if you\u2019ve been injured by another driver in a sideswipe accident in Georgia.\ufeffHow Do Sideswipe Accidents Occur?Sideswipe accidents, in which the sides of two vehicles collide, may be described as either same direction or opposite direction collisions. A vehicle also may sideswipe a pedestrian, a cyclist, an animal, or an object, such as a roadside sign or guardrail.Sideswipe accidents are often referred to as lane change collisions because they often occur when one driver attempts to move out of one lane of traffic and merge into another lane. Many sideswipes occur because a vehicle accidentally leaves its lane and collides with another vehicle.\u00a0This may happen because the driver has taken a curve too fast and lost control or because the driver\u2019s lack of attention allowed the vehicle to drift out of its lane. Typical causes of sideswipe accidents include:Driver distractionDrunk or fatigued drivingExcessive speedAggressive drivingWeaving in and out of trafficFailure to adequately check blind spotsChanging lanes without using a turn signal.Two studies by the\u00a0National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u00a0(NHTSA) in\u00a02009\u00a0and\u00a02003\u00a0found that sideswipe accidents were most often caused by distracted driving. A driver taking his or her eyes off the road ahead for more than two seconds doubled the risk of a crash, the NHTSA said in 2009. Drivers who look away from the road are more likely to miss critical changes in traffic conditions ahead.NHTSA said drivers who \u201cinadequately monitored their side-view mirrors, side windows, and center mirrors prior to changing lanes\u201d were more likely to cause sideswipe accidents involving improper lane changes.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow Is Fault Determined in a Sideswipe Accident in Georgia?After being\u00a0injured\u00a0in a sideswipe accident that was not your fault, you would file a claim and seek to recover compensation through the at-fault driver\u2019s auto liability insurance.Georgia is an at-fault state, which means drivers who are negligent can legally be compelled to pay for the losses of others who have been injured.Insurance company adjusters review police reports and other evidence to determine fault after a car accident. They may question each driver and other witnesses to try to determine what happened. Once an adjuster has completed an investigation, the adjuster will decide who was at fault or whether the drivers share the blame and what amount of money the insurance company is willing to pay to settle the claim.The at-fault driver\u2019s insurance company may try to assign you the fault for the accident to avoid paying your claim or to reduce the amount it must pay. Under\u00a0Georgia\u2019s modified comparative negligence law, if the evidence shows that you were partially to blame for the crash, any compensation you receive may be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 50 percent or more at fault, you are not eligible for compensation.If an insurer denies your claim, you should notify them via phone and in writing that you dispute their finding. Then, you need to counter their claim with additional evidence or a counter explanation of existing evidence.Making a case that convinces an insurance company to accept liability and pay a claim usually requires professional experience with car accident investigations. An experienced Douglasville\u00a0car accident injury lawyer at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., can\u00a0conduct an independent investigation of your accident and compile evidence to demonstrate who was at fault.As your attorneys, we would calculate the full extent of your compensable costs and losses. When fault lies with the other driver, we will press aggressively for the maximum compensation available to help you put your life back together. If the insurer refuses to do the right thing, we will be ready to file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf and present a persuasive case in court.\ufeffIs There A Statute of Limitations for Georgia Car Accidents Claims?Yes, there is.\u00a0The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuit claims in Georgia is two years.\u00a0 If your lawsuit is not filed before that two years expires, you will be forfeiting your opportunity to have your lawsuit heard in court. Within that two year time-frame, your personal injury lawyers at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., will be extensive research on your accident claim. Two years can fly by quickly, so do not delay in contacting us to start the process for your claim.Contact Our Georgia Sideswipe Accident LawyersIf you have been injured in a sideswipe car crash and another driver was at fault, you should talk to an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. You don\u2019t have to wait for the insurance company to give you the run-around and then deny your claim or propose an inadequate settlement.Let an experienced Douglasville\u00a0car accident injury lawyer at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., investigate your accident and prepare a strong case on your behalf. We have been successfully representing car accident victims and their families in Georgia for more than 30 years. We can help you support your claim for full compensation.Contact\u00a0Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., for a free initial consultation today. All work we do for you is without legal fees unless and until we recover compensation for you. Call us now.Visit Our Georgia Car Accident Law Offices"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Who Is At Fault for a Sideswipe Accident in Georgia?","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/fault-for-sideswipe-accident\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]