Texas traffic laws require drivers to exercise caution and maintain control of their vehicles, especially when changing lanes, to prevent sideswipe accidents. When determining liability in sideswipe accidents, factors such as negligence, driver behavior, road conditions, and applicable traffic laws are taken into consideration. Furthermore, Texas state law mandates that drivers involved in sideswipe accidents must stop and exchange information with each other, as failure to do so can result in criminal charges. For a claim for recovery from a sideswipe accident to prosper, the claimant must prove the following: 

• Duty of Care – Texas traffic laws impose a duty of care on motor vehicle operators to exercise prudence when changing lanes. This includes checking for vehicles prior to moving, being cautious about blind spots, and proper signaling. 
• Breach of Duty of Care – The claimant must properly demonstrate that the defendant did not operate the vehicle prudently and failed to properly check before changing lanes or make the proper signals before maneuvering. 
• Damage – The extent of the damage caused by the sideswipe accident must be duly established by the claimant. 
• Proximate Cause – The claimant must demonstrate that the defendant’s imprudent driving was the proximate cause of the damage. This entails that the damage caused was a foreseeable consequence of the defendant’s negligent behavior.