North Carolina Car Accident Injury Attorneys: Road Side Car Maintenance Can Lead to Serious Injuries | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

car accident lawyerRecently a car broke down along Highway 72 near Clinton, South Carolina (SC). The female driver got out of her vehicle to check and see what the problem was when an 18-wheeler slammed into the rear end of her car and hit Mrs. Tucker. She died at the scene due to blunt force body trauma, according to WSPA.com. My deepest condolences go out to her friends and family.

What happened to Mrs. Tucker can happen to any of us. A vehicle breakdown on the highway is a nail-biting, stressful experience and dramatically increases the risk of serious injury. You try to maneuver your car to the side of the road and all the other cars are blowing by you. The real danger is when a distracted driver doesn’t recognize you’re having problems and wind up crashing into you.

Even when you successfully get the vehicle on the side of the road, the danger does not dissipate. Many cars and trucks are known to drift and could wind up smacking the side of your vehicle, or you if you’re trying to change a flat tire on the driver side of the automobile. The end result is not only repair bills for your car, but medical bills for your serious injury.

Some basic guidelines that should help you navigate through a highway breakdown include:

·         Turn on your hazard lights immediately

o   This is the most important step since it sends a signal to the other drivers that you’re having problems and it’s the most accessible alert device (should be on or near your steering wheel)

·         Do not get out of the car until traffic in the closest lane to the emergency lane has decreased

o   Be patient and wait until you have some time to get out of the car and properly inspect it. Pulling over and immediately hopping out of your vehicle is a recipe for disaster since the other cars on the highway may not have enough time to swerve and could wind up colliding with you and your car.

·         Consider keeping road flares in the trunk.

o   This is an extra alert device to notify other vehicles that you’re having problems and they should steer clear.