Man Hit Just Outside Atlanta While Changing a Tire on the Side of the Road
While suffering a flat tire can be an extremely inconvenient and frustrating experience, many drivers do not realize the potential risk motorists face when trying to change a tire by the side of the road. A fatal crash tragically claimed the life of a Covington truck driver and minister when he was struck by a passing vehicle according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report (AJC). While the fatal traffic accident is still under investigation, the Fulton County police officers who investigated the collision made a preliminary determination that the driver who died was attempting to change a flat tire. Our Atlanta car crash lawyers and staff at Montlick and Associates are saddened by this tragedy and extend our condolences to the family of the accident victim.
Unfortunately, stranded motorists trying to deal with car trouble, tire blowouts and flats face a greater risk of being hit by inattentive or careless motorists than they may realize. The AJC article that described the roadside collision indicated that three people have been killed during the last six months on metro Atlanta interstates while they were stopped by the side of the roadway. In a prior August accident, siblings were killed when they were hit as they changed a tire on the I-75 near Morrow. About a month ago, a motorist in DeKalb County died when he stopped to assist someone changing a tire.
Anytime a driver is forced to exit the safety of his or her vehicle because of a stall, flat tire, overheating problem or other mechanical difficulty, motorists need to exercise extreme caution because they have no protection from drunk, distracted or reckless drivers. AAA provides the following suggestions to drivers who are forced to stop their vehicle to deal with a mechanical problem:
• Locate warning triangles or flares behind the stranded vehicle to alert approaching motorists
• Turn on the vehicle's blinking hazard lights
• Open the hood of the vehicle and attach a bright colored piece of fabric like a scarf to the vehicle
• Get the vehicle out of traffic onto the shoulder if it is safe to do so
It is important to understand that all situations are unique, but the key point to keep in mind is that those dealing with a mechanical problem by the side of the road are extremely vulnerable to drivers who are negligent or reckless. There are many approved vehicle safety courses that offer other suggestions for remaining safe when dealing with a vehicle breakdown.
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If you or someone close to you has been injured by a careless, inattentive or alcohol-impaired driver, our Georgia auto accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates have been representing injury victims for over thirty years throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
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