Michigan Driver Killed in Roadside Accident
A roadside accident is a car accident that occurs on the shoulder, or side of the road. Roadside accidents usually happen when a driver pulls off onto the shoulder of the road and then is either struck themselves or their vehicle is struck, by another passing car or truck. However, these accidents also involve police officers, emergency responders, utility workers, tow truck drivers, and construction workers because they spend so much time on the side of the road. In fact, roadside accidents are what prompted lawmakers to pass the Michigan Move Over Law, which provides enhanced penalties to drivers who fail to change lanes as they approach emergency vehicles.
According to a local news report, one man was killed earlier this month when he was struck by a passing car while assessing damage from a minor accident. Evidently, the driver collided with a guardrail on I-75 at the off ramp to 8 Mile Road. The driver pulled his vehicle onto the shoulder, exited the car, and went to check on the damage.
As the driver was standing next to his car, another motorist crashed into the rear of the stopped vehicle. The force of the collision pushed the car into the driver, who was standing near the front of the vehicle. The driver of the stopped vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The other driver suffered minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
One witness to the accident told police that the second driver was traveling at a high rate of speed moments before the collision. Police are still investigating the accident, but told reporters that they will be referring the case to the local prosecutor’s office at the conclusion of their investigation.
Accident victims injured in a roadside accident may be entitled to monetary damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Similarly, families grieving the loss of a loved one killed in such an accident can pursue compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. One of the issues that will come up in either type of case, however, is whether the accident victim stopped their vehicle in a safe location. For example, it will be more difficult to prove another motorist was negligent if the stopped vehicle was partially blocking a lane of traffic. A personal injury lawyer can help accident victims understand what they must prove to successfully bring a claim.
Have You Been Injured in a Michigan Car Accident?
If you or a loved one was recently injured in a Michigan roadside car accident, reach out to the Neumann Law Group for immediate assistance. At the Neumann Law Group, our lawyers are committed to obtaining justice on behalf of car accident victims. We have more than 200 years of combined experience successfully bringing claims on behalf of our injured clients and have recovered millions of dollars on their behalf. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation to speak with a Michigan car accident lawyer at the Neumann Law Group, give us a call at 800-525-6386. You can also reach us through our online contact form.
