In Minnesota, every driver on the road has a responsibility to keep themselves and others around them safe. This applies to every part of driving, including merging. When two vehicles collide while merging, who is liable?
Liability often depends on which driver had the right-of-way and on the specific facts surrounding the collision.
Who has the right-of-way?
In Minnesota, during merging, the driver who is continuing in their lane has the right-of-way and the driver who is merging should await their opportunity. In other words, if a driver hastily merges and causes an accident, they might be held liable. Nevertheless, in certain circumstances, drivers in an established lane can also share fault.
How is fault shared?
Drivers in an established lane may occasionally be at fault. In merging-related auto accidents, they may bear fault in the following scenarios:
- The driver sped up to block the merging vehicle.
- The driver was distracted, such as by using a mobile phone.
- The driver abruptly entered the lane into which the other car was merging.
When two vehicles attempt to merge into the middle lane at the same time, and it ends in a collision, determining who is primarily at fault can be difficult.
What to do after a merging accident in Minnesota?
A merging accident is a complex situation. It requires a thorough investigation of the facts to determine liability. Under Minnesota’s modified comparative fault rule, an individual who is found to be 51% or more at fault generally cannot recover damages from another party. If you have been in an accident, you may be able to protect your rights with the help of an attorney experienced in motor vehicle accidents.
