Atlanta Shoulder of Road Car Accident Lawyers

Advocates for Injured Auto Accident Victims in Atlanta

Most drivers have had to pull over on the side of the road at some point in time. You may have a tire go flat, run out of gas, have a timing belt break, or suddenly see steam coming out of your radiator. Situations can happen, and when they do, you have no choice but to pull over. The side of the highway or shoulder on the road is a dangerous place to be.

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How Do Shoulder of the Road Car Accidents Happen?

Serious or fatal accidents can occur when motorists stopped on the shoulder of the road are struck by vehicles. An average of 515 people are struck and killed by motor vehicles on interstate highways every year, as stated by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. In Georgia, shoulder of the road accidents account for approximately 1.5% of all traffic fatalities.

Many individuals who are struck and killed become unintended pedestrians when their vehicles are disabled by some sort of incident, such as a tire blowout or vehicle breakdown. Shoulder of the road accidents can happen when:

• An aggressive driver makes a sudden lane change and collides with a stopped vehicle.
• An inattentive or distracted driver hits a person standing or walking on the side of the road.
• A driver fails to see a vehicle stopped on the shoulder and rear-ends or sideswipes the vehicle.

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What Types of Injuries Are Sustained in Shoulder of the Road Crashes?

Injuries can be catastrophic or fatal for people on the shoulder of the road who are struck by a vehicle at highway speeds. This is true whether the victim is inside or outside the vehicle, but a pedestrian with no protection is even more vulnerable. Common injuries when a pedestrian is struck by a car include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Fractured bones
• Death
• Spinal cord injury
• Chest and abdominal injuries
• Musculoskeletal injuries

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What Is the Duty of Drivers to Cars Pulled Over on the Shoulder?

All drivers have a duty to others on the roadway to take reasonable precautions to help prevent collisions. When a vehicle is pulled over on the shoulder of the road, it is reasonable to slow down and move over, if possible, to help keep stranded motorists safe. Under Georgia’s Move Over law, motorists in the lane adjacent to the shoulder are required to move over one lane when emergency or utility vehicles are stopped on the side of the road, operating in an official capacity.

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How Can You Stay Safer If You Are Stranded on the Side of the Road?

• If possible, avoid pulling over on the side of the road entirely. It is safer to get off at the next exit to change a flat.
• If an emergency forces you to pull over, do not slam on your brakes. Signal your intentions, take your foot off the accelerator gradually, and pull over on the right side of the highway as smoothly as you can.
• Pull your vehicle as far as possible off the road. Put as much space as you can between yourself and the roadway.
• Set the parking brake and turn on your hazard lights. Flares can make you more visible to other drivers at night.
• Stay in the vehicle if possible. If you must exit, do so on the side farthest from traffic and stand off to the side a few hundred feet away from your car.

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How Can Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys Help?

If you have been injured while present on the shoulder of a road or highway, contact Grant Law Office at (404) 995-3955. Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers can investigate your accident to determine fault and liability and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

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