It’s nearly impossible to travel about Florida without using one of the state’s many expressways. These high-speed roadways usually have multiple lanes used by locals and tourists alike. It’s more than likely that you’ll have to deal with car trouble on an expressway at some point, and hopefully not at the dreaded crossover between Interstate 4 and State Road 408.
If your vehicle becomes disabled on an expressway, there are a few things you should do.
Move Your Car
Turn on your hazard lights, and, if possible, get your car to the shoulder of the expressway or at least out of traffic.
A stopped car in the middle of an expressway is extremely dangerous. Drivers may not notice that your car isn’t moving until it’s too late to avoid a collision. If your vehicle becomes disabled on an expressway you should keep your hazard or emergency lights on to help alert other motorists to your presence.
In addition to the safety risks posed by staying put in the roadway, Florida law requires drivers to move disabled vehicles so they don’t obstruct the regular flow of traffic.
What if my car isn’t running at all?
If you cannot drive or push your car to the side of the road due to mechanical or safety issues, Florida law requires you to get help and make every reasonable effort to move your vehicle. You can always try waving down fellow drivers and asking for help pushing your vehicle, but your best bet is contacting roadside assistance.
You may have roadside assistance through your auto insurance, car dealership, or a third-party service like AAA or OnStar. If you do not have roadside assistance, contact the Florida Highway Patrol Road Ranger Service Patrol. The Road Ranger Service Patrol is sponsored by State Farm and provides stranded drivers with limited roadside assistance for free. You can contact them by dialing *347.
If all else fails, you can call your local police department or sheriff’s office non-emergency line to request guidance and assistance or reach out to a towing service. Depending on your situation, if you do not know local law enforcement’s non-emergency line, contact 911 and they will patch you through.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
Once your vehicle becomes disabled on an expressway, take a few minutes to analyze the flow of traffic and your situation. Is your car visible to others? Did your disabled vehicle cause a backup in traffic that’s now speeding to clear the area?
The side of the road or shoulder of the expressway is as dangerous as it feels. Even Florida drivers who pull their disabled vehicle as far from an expressway as possible, maybe into a nearby patch of grass, aren’t totally safe. In February, a Florida man was driving near Interstate 75 and U.S. 301 when he got a flat tire. He pulled off to the side of the road to change the tire and was fatally hit by a passing car.
Florida does have a law that requires drivers to slow down or change lanes when near stopped vehicles, but that law only applies to emergency vehicles, law enforcement, or similar entities.
What if I can fix my disabled car?
If your vehicle becomes disabled on an expressway, prepare to stay put. Law enforcement says that once your vehicle is off the roadway, you should stay in or near your vehicle until help arrives.
Authorities recommend having an emergency repair kit in your vehicle. Kits vary, but yours may include a help flag and reflectors. Both can help passing motorists realize that your car is disabled and not moving.
If you don’t happen to have a flag on hand, Florida Highway Patrol says you can pop your hood or tie a white cloth to your driver’s side window to alert passersby to your predicament. The aforementioned Road Rangers do patrol the state’s highways in search of stranded motorists, so they may spot you sooner than you expect.
Depending on where your car broke down, you may be near a Florida Highway Patrol alert button, which can be used to contact and request help from the nearest FHP station.
Think your car broke down due to product liability or damage suffered in a recent accident?
If your breakdown was due to someone else’s negligence, it may not be too late to get compensation. Contact the attorneys at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath today for a free case evaluation.
Locations we serve:
Click for the EXACT
questions on the DMV test Click for the Exact questions on the DMV test. 99.2% pass rate
Click Here
Full Cheat Sheet Click Here for the Full Cheat Sheet
A major truck accident recently occurred in Chicago that left the Dan Ryan Expressway shut down for nearly two hours. According to Patch.com, a semi-tractor trailer was transporting wrecked cars when it hit a disabled vehicle that was pulled off into a local right lane on the expressway. As a result of the impact, the side of the semi broke open and the wrecked vehicles it was carrying spilled out. The Illinois State Police reported that the accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. and one person sustained injuries, although they were said to be minor. That individual happened to be the driver of the disabled car that was pulled off into the right lane.
Most often in accidents like these where a large truck or load-carrying semi-trailer is involved, many individuals sustain severe injuries. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt in this incident. But, because the truck did hit the disabled vehicle, our Chicago truck accident lawyers feel obligated to review the steps you should take in the event your vehicle becomes disabled on the highway or expressway to help prevent an accident such as this one from occurring.
Steps to Take After Your Vehicle Becomes Disabled on a Major Roadway
- Whether you are having mechanical issues or your vehicle has run out of gas, whatever the case may be, you are going to want to turn your flashers on immediately. This signals to other drivers that your car or truck is not properly functioning and that you are having trouble. If you are able to move your vehicle to a safer location aside from the middle of the highway, be sure to do so. The shoulder of the highway is an ideal place to get your vehicle to or in an emergency lane if one is nearby.
- Because the highway is a busy place to be, there is a great deal of risk by being stuck on it in a disabled vehicle. But, the (use IL or federal website) recommends that you stay inside your vehicle with your doors locked. However, if you weren’t able to move your vehicle onto to the shoulder or into an emergency lane, consider the next step.
- Use your cellphone to call for help. Perhaps you have a relative or friend that can come pick you up and remove you from this vulnerable situation you have now fallen into. If you don’t have someone to call, dial 911 for help. If your cellphone isn’t working, put a sign in the rear window asking for someone to call 911 for you.
- If you decide to leave the vehicle, place a note under the dash or under a windshield wiper explaining the problem and where you have gone.
- Lock your doors and take any valuables you may have inside with you. Things like electronics or even mail are items you will want to take with you.
In the event you were recently involved in a truck accident in the Chicago area, don’t hesitate to contact the personal injury lawyers here at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. as we are here to serve you and answer any accident-related questions you may have. Our legal representatives also have the ability to assess your accident and determine the parties who might be liable for providing you with compensation. To speak with a legal professional now, simply call 1-312-384-1920.
Vehicle breakdowns happen all the time, and they can happen to anyone. First and foremost, don’t panic—as soon as you realize your car or big rig is having trouble, take measures to get off the road safely. Here are five steps to follow when you’re behind the wheel of a disabled vehicle in Salt Lake City, UT:
- Pull off the road: Leaving your vehicle in the middle of the road is a dangerous thing to do, so start making your way to the side of the road the moment you notice a problem. Ideally, you want to get over to the right shoulder. This is the safest spot to pull over and wait for help, but be cautious while merging over, since other drivers may not be paying attention.
- Engage your hazard lights: Use your turn signals to make your way over to the right, then engage your hazard lights. Turning on your hazard lights alerts other drivers that you’re stopped with no intention of moving anytime soon. If you have road flares, set them out behind your vehicle in addition to your hazards (or in place of hazard lights that are not working).
- Call for help: Once safely off the road, you need to call for help. Call 911 if you’re stopped in an unsafe section of the highway or smoke is coming out from under the hood of your vehicle. In all other situations, call for roadside assistance. You might have this service through your auto insurance company, credit card, AAA, etc.
- Stay inside your vehicle: No matter how far off the road you are, stay in the vehicle and keep your seatbelt on. Exiting the vehicle is a risk—especially when you’re on or near a busy roadway. Other vehicles could drift onto the shoulder where you’re standing and hit you.
- Stay safe if getting out: If you must get out of your car, exit on the side farthest away from traffic. Check what you need to check, then get back inside, put your seatbelt on and wait for roadside assistance to arrive.
Luckily, there are things you can do to help prevent vehicle breakdowns:
- Schedule routine maintenance: Keeping up with routine vehicle maintenance is the key to avoiding breakdowns. Record important maintenance and services, and ask your auto mechanic to send reminders.
- Check fluid levels often: Inadequate oil, coolant or other fluid levels is the main reason for vehicle breakdowns. It only takes a few minutes to check all the fluids in your car. Do this at least once a month and before road trips.
- Pay attention to dashboard warning lights: Your dashboard warning lights will alert you of any issues with car components, including the engine, oil, battery, brakes, tire pressure and more. Don’t ignore these warning lights.
- Drive safely: Your driving habits affect the performance of your vehicle. Slamming your brakes can wear down brake pads and rotors, while excessively accelerating wastes gas and strains the drivetrain.
If you’re ever broken down on the highway in the Salt Lake City, UT area, call AMR Auto Repair & Towing for help. Contact us for roadside assistance and we will send a trained professional your way!
Categorised in: Roadside Assistance
This post was written by Writer