If you park your car on the shoulder of the road, you’re never safe. In fact, you’re much more likely to end up getting into a car accident while parked on the side of the freeway than driving along the freeway.
Stopping your car on the side of the road when dozens of cars are passing you every minute at a high speed is dangerous. While this might sound like a no-brainer, many drivers still make this mistake over and over again.
In fact, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that out of every 10 car accidents involving fatalities in the U.S., four are caused by a parked car along the shoulder of the road.
This was the case this past summer, when four people, including two children, were killed in a car accident while pulled over on the side of the 10 Freeway in Fontana, California.
Two other people suffered minor injuries. According to authorities, an overheated Honda car was on the shoulder of the road when a Nissan Frontier pickup smashed into it.
The pickup was driven by a 64-year-old Los Angeles man, who authorities believe could be under the influence of alcohol (as there were several beer cars found in his vehicle).
The other driver among the deceased was a Good Samaritan who stopped his vehicle to offer aid to the occupants of the disabled Honda car parked on the side of the road.
Two 12-year-old children, who were in the backseat of the Honda, were pronounced dead at the scene of the horrific car accident. The driver’s mother was also killed, while the driver – mother of the two kids – survived.
What to do if your car was hit while parked on the side of the road?
Horrible car accidents on the side of the road like this happen in Los Angeles much more often than one might think. In fact, this type of car crash is very common at night, and when weather conditions make vehicles uncontrollable.
Here at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, our skilled car collision lawyer in Los Angeles has proven time and again that obtaining compensation for your injuries and damages is possible even if your car was hit while parked on the side of the road.
Our law firm, which has been navigating car accident claims in Los Angeles and all across California for decades, is oftentimes asked, “Is it illegal to stop on the shoulder of the road/freeway?”
Well, under California laws, a driver may stop on the freeway, but only when he/she absolutely has to (if you feel like you’re fainting, if your car overheated, if you lost control of your vehicle, etc.).
If you are going to remain in your car, keep your seatbelt on and call 911 for help. Also, make sure other drivers can see you miles away and keep your lights on.
If you were injured while your car was parked on the shoulder of the road, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. Through aggressive representation, our car accident attorney will walk you through all of your options when filing a car accident claim.
It’s imperative that you contact our experienced car accident attorney before calling your insurance company, as this may help you maximize financial compensation.
Contact the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg by calling our Los Angeles offices at 310-997-0904 or fill out this contact form to get a free initial consultation.
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