Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A driver violated Florida’s Move Over Law last week, which resulted in a St. Johns County deputy getting hit by a minibus and suffering a broken hand and shoulder injury.
On Dec. 27 around 6 p.m., the deputy pulled over a man for reckless driving on US 1 and International Golf Parkway. As he approached the vehicle, a minibus in the right lane clipped him.
The accident could have been much worse, which is why everyone needs to be aware of the Move Over Law. You must pull over if you notice a construction worker, tow truck, road ranger, or emergency vehicle on the side of the road while you are driving. As of Jan. 1, the law has been extended to cover all disabled vehicles.
What happens if you cannot safely move over? You must reduce your speed to at least 20 mph below the legal limit. You must reduce your speed to 5 mph if the restriction is less than 20 mph.
According to state records, there have been 1,700 crashes since 2015 because of people failing to move over. As a result, there have been at least 8 fatalities and over 100 major injuries.
The purpose of the Move Over Law is to protect everyone who is stopped on the side of the road, including emergency medical personnel, police officers, construction workers, sanitation workers, utility workers, emergency personnel, and drivers of broken-down cars or those involved in wrecks. It is crucial to abide by the law to protect the lives of those who are stopped on the side of the road as well as to avoid consequences like fines and jail time.
If you have any questions about Florida’s updated Move Over Law, or if you have suffered injuries in a Florida car accident, please call our Florida Car Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. We can help you understand your rights and pursue all options for compensation for your suffering.