Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 16, 2015
Woman Struck by Car After Exiting Her Vehicle in South Nashville
A woman who got out of her stalled SUV was struck by another car in South Nashville Friday morning and suffered severe injuries.
According to a report by newschannel5.com, the accident occurred around 5:30 a.m. Friday on Murfreesboro Pike near Smith Springs Road. A spokesperson with Metro Nashville Police said the woman’s vehicle began having mechanical problems while she was driving on Murfreesboro Pike.
After stopping on the side of the road, the woman got out of her vehicle to investigate the problem. Metro Police say she was then struck by the other vehicle shortly after she left her own car.
The woman’s injuries left her unresponsive by the time emergency medical services crews arrived, and she was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment. According to police, she was last listed in critical condition. In addition, the woman who struck her told police she never saw the victim before the accident occurred.
The Franklin car accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law hope the woman who was injured this pedestrian accident is able to recover from her injuries.
What Should You Do if Your Car Breaks Down?
Experiencing car trouble is a common situation for most drivers. While most car issues, such as leaky tires, transmission problems, or exhaust issues are rarely dangerous on their own, they pose serious risks when drivers stop their vehicles and attend to the problems on the side of the road.
While the shoulder of the road exists to allow drivers to pull over when there is an emergency, it’s not a safe space for drivers to get out of their cars and walk around. Oncoming traffic, especially on highways and interstates, travels at high rates of speed and drivers may strike pedestrians standing on the side of the road.
If your vehicle breaks down on the side of the road, follow these tips to stay safe:
It’s tempting to get out and see what’s wrong with your car, but leaving your vehicle puts you at risk of suffering severe injuries from passing motorists. Unless there’s a true emergency, it’s best to stay in your vehicle until help arrives.
Instead of leaving your car, call Roadside Assistance on your cellphone. Tennessee Roadside Assistance is designed to help drivers who experience any type of vehicle troubles. Not only do they have the equipment on hand to fix a wide variety of issues, but they also can set out traffic cones and traffic control signs to route oncoming traffic away from your vehicle.
After your vehicle has been repaired, be extra careful before re-entering the roadway, especially if there is heavy traffic or vehicles are traveling at high speed. On-ramps are designed to allow vehicles sufficient time to build up speed and enter with the flow of traffic—and that can be difficult to do on the shoulder of the road. It’s best to wait for a break in traffic before merging back into the roadway.
The Franklin car accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law know that auto accident victims and people who experience car trouble are even more at risk when they pull their vehicles over to the side of the road. That’s why it’s best to let professionals repair your vehicle, or if that’s not possible, get it towed to an auto repair shop instead.
If you were injured in a car accident, whether you were inside your vehicle or a pedestrian, we can help you get compensation for your accident-related expenses. Contact us today—just dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free online form.
