Posted in Car Accident,Tennessee Accident Law on July 26, 2017
TDOT Workers Injured At Job Site in Fayette County
Two workers with the Tennessee Department of Transportation were struck by a vehicle while working at a job site in Fayette County on Monday morning.
Per a report by WKRN.com, the accident happened on Highway 59 south of Interstate 40. A spokesperson with TDOT says that the workers thankfully suffered only minor injuries.
TDOT is currently urging all drivers to pledge to follow its “Work with Us” program, which is designed to help more drivers follow the state’s Move Over Law.
The Move Over Law was passed in 2006 and has had a few major changes in recent years. In 2011, it was expanded to include all vehicles with flashing lights, including utility vehicles.
On July 1, 2017, it was changed again to include any vehicles with active hazard lights, including civilian passenger vehicles.
The Move Over Law requires that drivers change lanes and slow down when approaching any stopped emergency vehicles or cars with active flashing lights. Drivers who fail to do so can be charged up to $500 and sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Why Is the Move Over Law So Important?
Move Over Laws began to be instituted in states throughout the country in response to the number of police officers and emergency responders who suffered serious and even fatal injuries after being struck by vehicles. As of 2017, all states in the U.S. have Move Over Laws that require that drivers change lanes when approaching stopped emergency vehicles, and many states have further restrictions.
This law is important for several reasons, such as:
Although the law has expanded to include utility vehicles and even passenger vehicles, it was originally designed to protect emergency responders, who often must work outside of their vehicles near fast-moving traffic. Unfortunately, not all drivers are aware of the Move Over Law or adhere to it when they see stopped police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and rescue vehicles on Tennessee’s streets, highways, and interstates.
Emergency responders and people stopped on the side of the road aren’t the only ones who are safer because of Move Over Laws—all drivers also benefit from the law. Accidents can occur when drivers drift into the path of stopped vehicles, whether it’s due to distraction, fatigue, or impaired driving. When drivers learn to instinctively move into the other lane, they reduce their risks of being involved in an accident.
Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics often need to reach victims in a matter of minutes—especially when they’re trapped inside their vehicles or facing life-or-death situations. The Move Over Law not only gives emergency responders more room to work when they stop on the side of a street, highway, or interstate, but it also clears a path for them to reach disabled or damaged vehicles.
Matt Hardin Law’s team of Nashville auto accident attorneys knows that anyone who stops on the side of a roadway in Tennessee is at risk of being involved in a serious accident. The Move Over Law helps protect emergency responders, utility workers, and now ordinary drivers, but many people are still injured or even killed every year when people drift into the path of stopped vehicles.
If you or someone you know was hurt in an accident that was caused by a driver who committed a traffic violation, including failing to observe the Move Over Law, you may be eligible to pursue a claim for compensation. Get in touch with our legal team today by dialing (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form. We’re ready to put our 20 years of experience to work for your family.
