Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
As our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys recently reported, officials throughout the state are pushing the “Move Over Law” to help to keep roadside workers and officers safe.
Their efforts may not be as effective as planned as another Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officer was recently injured in a roadside accident by a passing motorist. According to CBS Miami, a 33-year-old trooper was pulled over to the side of the road to check out a three-car accident when the accident went down at roughly 5:00 p.m. along Interstate 95.
“I heard the rumble strips, turned around and looked. I heard the bang and saw the car about ten feet in the air,” said a man involved in the initial accident.
No one else was injured in the second accident. According to witness reports, the officer’s vehicle was crumpled in the wreck. The officer was inside of her cruiser when the accident happened. Witnesses say that they were surprised that she made it out alive, saying she opened her car door after the collision and began to mumble — still shaken up from the wreck. Her vehicle was “destroyed.”
The young officer was taken to the hospital and was listed in serious condition.
In the second accident, a witness’ vehicle was struck as well and was sent across 5 lanes of traffic. It came to rest after colliding with a tree on the other side of the highway.
Investigators are still working to determine whether he was impaired at the time of the crash. Criminal charges are pending depending on the outcome of that investigation.
While we expect drivers to be courteous of any stopped vehicle on the side of the road, they’re required to follow the state’s “Move Over Law.” This means that they are required to move over a lane when they see an official vehicle stopped on the side of the road. If there is no way to move over, they’re required to slow down and travel at least 20 miles an hour under the posted speed limit.
Drivers and others who find themselves stranded on the side of the road are asked to be extremely cautious.
Side of the Road Safety Tips:
-Stay in your car. If it’s after dark, put the interior light on so that you’re more visible. If the engine is operable, keep it running so that you don’t run the battery down.
-Roll down the driver’s side window, hang a white fabric or cloth out of the window and roll it back up. This will help to alert that you are in trouble.
-Put on your emergency/hazard lights.
-Call for help.
-If someone approaches your vehicle, simply crack your window and ask them to call for help.
-If you get a flat tire, do not attempt to change. Ride on the rim to a safe location. A damaged rim is nothing compared to your safety.
If you or your loved one has been the victim of a car crash, contact Freeman, Mallard, Sharp, & Gonzalez at 1-800-561-7777 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Speeding a Top Accident Cause to Avoid in 2013, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, December 31, 2012
Resolve to Be a Better Driver This New Years, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, December 30, 2012