Under Florida law, it is illegal to obstruct the roadway with your vehicle. For example, if you are in a car accident in Miami, you are expected to get your car off the road if you are able to do so safely before exchanging your information with the other driver. Similarly, if you pull over to the side of the road you are expected to do so in a safe manner that will not obstruct traffic and will not cause an accident. Unfortunately, some drivers pull over to the side of the road without taking precautions to keep other motorists. For example, they may not leave their flashers on or may not otherwise visually indicate that there is a car parked on side of the road. This can cause traffic accidents if another motorist does not notice the vehicle in time. In other cases, motorists may not pull over far enough, leaving part of their car in the way of traffic.
What to do if You are Injured in a Car Accident in MiamiIf you've been injured in a car accident in Miami caused by someone irresponsibly pulling over to the shoulder of the road, you will need to contact a local personal injury attorney in order to learn more about your rights and in order to secure fair compensation for your injuries. With an office in Miami as well as other offices across South Florida, the Flaxman Law Group is always there when you need them. The phone lines at the Flaxman Law Group are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can always reach a live operator when you have been injured. In addition, the Flaxman Law Group legal team is willing to make house calls and is willing to visit your hospital room or workplace if you are too injured to travel to our offices to meet with an attorney for your free accident consultation.
Avoiding a Car Accident When Pulling OverIf you need to pull over to the side of the road in order to make a phone call or because your car is experiencing mechanical difficulties, it is important to do so in a safe manner. You should use turn signals to indicate that you are pulling over and you will want to pull over as smoothly as possible, even if your car is experiencing mechanical problems. One you are on the shoulder of the road, try to pull over as far as over as possible so that you will not obstruct traffic. Make sure that your car is highly visible, especially in poor visibility conditions. Use your flashers or other signals to ensure that approaching vehicles can see you. Make every effort not to park in area that is not visible to oncoming traffic. For example, parking just around a turn or a bend the road will make it harder for approaching traffic to see you in time.
Even if you take all these precautions, other drivers may not be so conscientious. If you are injured in a car accident in Miami because a driver has pulled over to the side of the road in a reckless manner, contact the Flaxman Law Group for a free, no obligation consultation.