Involved in a HOV or Carpool Lane Accident in San Jose or the San Francisco Bay Area?
Get Legal Help From a Car Accident Lawyer in San Jose, CA
HOV and carpool lanes are particularly hazardous. Some drivers creep into the lanes too slowly. Others roar into the lanes too fast. At Needham Kepner & Fish LLP, we have more than 100 years of combined experience handling injury cases, so we know how to represent you after a HOV or carpool lane accident in the San Francisco Bay Area. Speak with a car accident lawyer in San Jose, CA from our firm after an accident.
California’s Laws On HOV And Carpool Lanes
HOV stands for high occupancy vehicle. California HOV lanes restrict traffic to vehicles carrying at least two, sometimes three, people. Electric and natural gas vehicles and motorcycles can use the lanes at all times.
HOV Lanes in the Bay Area Carry Risks
In the HOV lane, you face the same dangers as drivers in other lanes, including distracted drivers, reckless drivers and drunk drivers. But, in HOV lanes you face additional risks. Since carpool lanes are rarely congested, motorists tend to speed. If you are injured in a collision in a carpool lane, our experienced car accident lawyers can help.
Listed below are some of the unique hazards associated with driving in HOV lanes:
- Cars enter HOV lanes more slowly: Traffic in HOV lanes moves along at a constant speed. Drivers entering these lanes join the flow at a much slower speed. This can lead to rear-end collisions.
- Cars leave HOV lanes at greater speed: Drivers who exit HOV lanes sometimes enter non-HOV lanes with excessive speed, which can cause devastating crashes.
- Insufficient barriers: On some stretches of roadway, medians separate HOV lanes from the other lanes. However, some sections of roadway have no physical barrier dividing HOV lanes from standard lanes. This allows motorists to switch lanes freely — and sometimes recklessly.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in San Jose, CA After an Auto Accident
When you retain Needham Kepner & Fish LLP, you get guidance from a respected legal team that is focused on winning compensation for you. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today at (408) 956-6949 or online. We handle injury cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay us nothing unless you recover compensation.
