Car Broken Down In The Middle Of The Road? How To Avoid An Accident
No one wants their car to break down in the middle of the road. However, this is a scenario that many people find themselves in for a variety of reasons. They may run out of gas or their car may die at a traffic light. If you have found yourself in this situation, it is important to understand that it can be a dangerous one. Here are a few tips to help you avoid an accident if your car breaks down in the middle of the road.
Get Your Car Off the Road
Leaving a dead car in traffic can expose you to being hit by another driver who doesn't realize your car is not operating. And unfortunately, if a driver hits your broken down car when traffic is flowing, you may be found liable for the accident. If it is safe to do so, it is strongly recommended that you push your vehicle to the side of the road or into a parking lot. This helps to prevent other drivers from hitting you, while also allowing traffic to flow until a tow truck or roadside assistance company can come assist you.
Put on Your Hazard Lights
If you are unable to safely move your car out of the roadway, or once you have moved your car onto the shoulder, be sure to pull up the emergency brake and then put on your hazard lights. Pulling up your emergency brake helps to ensure that your car remains stationary if someone does accidentally hit you from behind. This helps to prevent your car from then moving and hitting someone else. And hazards help other drivers to see your car and identify that there is a problem with the vehicle. If you have road flares or safety cones, you may also want to place these out around the back of your vehicle to draw even more attention to your broken down car.
A vehicle that has broken down in the roadway is a safety hazard. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help minimize the risk of someone hitting you if your car does break down in the middle of the road. If you have been involved in an accident where your car broke down or where you hit a car that has broken down, you may wish to contact an auto accident legal team like Zavodnick, Perlmutter & Boccia LLC. They can help determine who was at fault and help defend or win your case.