Vehicle collisions in Ohio didn’t go on lockdown for the coronavirus. Although the overall crash rate is down significantly due to more people working from home and fewer vehicles on the road, it’s not all good news on Ohio’s roadways. Fatal accidents are actually up in 2020 compared to a year ago.
For injured victims, being involved in a vehicle accident can be life altering. Insurance settlements are rarely enoughto cover the pain, suffering, and related losses. Graham Law has been taking negligent parties to court and winning car accident cases for decades. We fight to recover everything possible to help victims mend and restore their bodies, lives, and peace of mind. If you are injured in an accident, our Ohio car accident lawyers are just a phone call away. Let us help you navigate the legal, medical, and insurance coverage systems.
Ohio’s Move Over Law Covers All Flashing Light Vehicles
Ohio’s Move Over law requires motorists to move over one lane when passing a stationary vehicle with flashing lights parked on the roadside, including law enforcement officers, emergency responders, tow trucks, road construction vehicles, maintenance and utility crews, snow plows, and waste collection vehicles. In situations where a motorist cannot move over one lane to accommodate these vehicles—for example, a second lane does not exist, or traffic or weather conditions prevent it—motorists are required to slow down and pass them with caution.
Drivers must move over or slow down for flashing light vehicles on all Ohio interstates and state highways. Other types of roads are not covered under the law, but common sense suggests, for the safety of everyone, that it’s a good practice to move over, when possible, at all times.
Ohio’s Move Over law was designed with safety in mind. The Ohio Department of Transportation reports that hundreds of people are killed or injured every year when they’re hit by a vehicle after pulling over to the side of the road or highway. There were 49 move over-related OSHP patrol car crashes from 2015 to 2019, resulting in one death and 49 injuries, reports WHIZ News. Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers wrote more than 18,000 tickets for move over violations between 2014 and 2018, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
Move Over Injuries
If you were struck and injured as a result of a motorist’s failure to move over, you should discuss the situation with a lawyer. Drivers who fail to obey the Move Over law could be found negligent and held accountable for your injuries. A lawsuit can provide compensation for surgeries, long term physical therapy, permanent disabilities, and lost income and quality of life. For workers hurt in a car accident on the job, any compensation you recover against a negligent third party does not affect your ability to receive workers’ compensation.
Car Accident Lawyers Serving Southeast Ohio
If you or someone you know is on the wrong end of a vehicle accident—car, semi-truck, motorcycle, RV, or bicycle—Graham Law can help. Our lawyers are proud to call Southeastern Ohio home, and have served the region for nearly 100 years. We cover the full range of accident and injury matters with dedication, skill, and attention to detail. To schedule a free consultation, call 740-454-8585 or Contact Us.
