A Fort Worth woman was killed when she was hit by a vehicle while she was checking on her disabled car on 22 September, 2017. The accident occurred at about 9p.m. The victim was later identified as 29-year-old Heather Butler.
According to authorities, Butler’s car was disabled on the left lane. She was standing right next to her door when a vehicle that was driving up tried getting around her car but ended up hitting it. The disabled car then hit Butler, killing her.
Roadside accidents can happen to anyone at any time. It could be a flat tire, a gas leak, smoke from the hood, steering problems, or even faulty brakes. Whatever it is, if your car is disabled, practicing roadside safety could just save your life and prevent one accident from becoming two. If you were injured in roadside accident, consult a Texas automobile accidents lawyer for a case evaluation.
What To Do When Your Car is Disabled
1. Pull off the road
The moment you experience a problem while on the road, pull onto the right shoulder of the highway. Do this slowly and safely while signaling your movements to fellow road users. Go far off the road. If you are on the interstate or a highway with multiple lanes, you can consider pulling off on the left but stay far away from traffic. Make sure to park on level ground. If it’s at night, pull over on a well-lit spot.
If your vehicle becomes completely inoperable so that you can’t pull off the road, switch on the emergency flashers, exit the vehicle and move out of the road. Never stand next to or in front of your disabled vehicle, even if it’s pulled off the road.
2. Alert other drivers
Turn the emergency flashers on. Place triangular warning signs or flares behind your car (the first should be 10 feet behind the car on the side close to the road while the other should be at least 20 feet further behind). Raise your vehicle’s hood and place a white handkerchief or piece of cloth on the antennae to notify oncoming motorists you need help.
3. Call for help
Once you have halted, take note of your exact location. Are you close to a major exit or intersection? What landmarks are around you? You could even use your phone’s or vehicle’s GPS to determine your exact location. Afterward, call 911 and notify them of your situation and location. If you are instructed to do something, do it. Next, call a friend or relative and inform them of your situation.
4. Stay in your vehicle
It is best to say inside your vehicle while waiting for help to arrive. Never stand outside it or beside it. Even worse, do not try to push it to a different location by yourself.
While inside, keep your doors locked and put your seatbelts on. If someone you don’t know offers help, be cautious. Only let the window down slightly to communicate and either inform them that you’ve already called for help or ask them to call an emergency road service. If in any instance you have to exit the vehicle, use the door that’s not on the roadway.
If you are ever involved in a car accident, schedule a consult with a Texas personal injury lawyer today to determine liability and fight for your rights.
