The North Carolina (NC) move over law is more than just an excuse for police to give motorists tickets. It’s meant to save the lives of tow truck drivers, first responders and anyone who happens to be unlucky enough to be stuck on the side of the road. However if a driver isn’t even aware of their surroundings such in the case of distracted, drunk or drugged drivers, the move over law does little to protect the innocent. This was the case for a drowsy driver who apparently fell asleep at the wheel and struck two Virginia men on the side of Interstate 15 about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, killing one and critically injuring the other. The men were on the side of the road with their tractor-trailer that had broken down. A tow truck driver who was hooking the semi up to his vehicle was also injured when the car struck all three men.
This terrible tragedy highlights the reason this law was put into effect in the first place. Often secondary accidents are even more deadly than the first accident which they follow. A similar accident involving the death of a tow truck driver prompted legislators to extend Virginia’s “move over law” which applied to law enforcement personnel and paramedics, to include tow truck drivers, in 2010. The law means drivers have to move to another lane or slow down when they see emergency vehicles or tow trucks on the side of a highway. As North Carolina (NC) personal injury attorneys, we strongly support the state’s “move over law.”
If you’ve been seriously injured by a negligent driver, you should contact a NC personal injury attorney to find out what damages you may be entitled to. Our North Carolina personal injury law firm has successfully represented many clients who were injured in car accidents and helped put their life back together.
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