Dangers of Disabled Vehicles

We expect that our vehicles will be reliable and get us from place to place safely. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Vehicles break down from time to time. Sometimes they decide to do so on busy roads and highways, causing a lot of stress for everyone on the road.

Being stuck on America’s roadways is incredibly dangerous. It’s also a growing problem that will continue to grow as roads become more congested, speeds increase, and drivers become more distracted.

Accidents involving disabled roadside vehicles likely kill or injure more than 15,000 people every year in the United States alone. We say “likely” because these accidents are often underreported. That number could be much higher.

Of course, nobody wants to leave their vehicle stranded on a fast-moving highway. But even when a person has pulled over to the shoulder, they’re not always home free. Passing motor vehicles can still hit and kill them. A motorist repairing a flat tire, a first responder aiding people after a crash, a police officer stopping an impaired driver, or a construction worker repairing a roadway can be hit by passing motor vehicles.

Research shows that a disabled vehicle is hit by an oncoming driver every seven minutes. Roughly 72,000 people are affected every year. Nearly 80% of victims of these accidents are from low-income households. Black motorists are twice as likely to die in a disabled vehicle crash than other races. And disabled vehicles don’t just affect the driver and occupants. Good Samaritans are often affected while trying to help. Since 2014, the number killed while attending to disabled vehicles has increased by 27%.

What can be done to prevent these often deadly accidents? Last year, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Rudy Yakym (R-IN) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Roadside Deaths Act. This legislation would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect, analyze, and publish detailed data on disabled roadside vehicle accidents and find ways to prevent these accidents.

The Preventing Roadside Deaths Act aims to do the following:

• Improve reporting and accountability by requiring the Secretary of Transportation to collect, analyze, and publish detailed data on disabled roadside vehicle crashes
• Create a strategic plan from the Department of Transportation to combat this issue
• Use existing federal funding and authorization from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is already available for states and cities to implement programs that will prevent these accidents.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer 

Disabled vehicles can cause a lot of problems on the roadways. Other drivers are not expecting them and this can lead to catastrophic or even fatal crashes.

A Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can help determine liability in your crash. We’ll work to get you full and fair compensation for all your damages. Schedule a consultation with our office today by filling out the online form or calling (281) 347-3247.

Source:

troycarter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-carter-yakym-introduce-bill-end-roadside-deaths-involving-disabled#:~:text=According%20to%20peer%2Dreviewed%20research,15%2C000%20people%20injured%20or%20killed