What Happens If Someone Collides With Your Car When It Is Stationary?

Shortly after Christmas in 2022, a 2016 Ford Explorer broke down on Highway 76 in Marion County.  While the Explorer was stationary in the westbound lane, a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, also in the westbound lane, collided with the Explorer.  The driver of the Explorer was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while the driver of the Escalade was transported by ambulance to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence.  News reports did not provide any additional information about the nature of the Escalade driver’s injuries, nor did they publish the names or ages of the people involved in the accident.  No matter the angle or speed of the collision, the occupants of the struck vehicle usually suffer more severe injuries than the occupants of the striking vehicle.  It is possible to sustain serious injuries if someone crashes into your car while your car is parked or inoperable.  If you got injured in a car accident that occurred while your car was not moving, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.

Staying Safe When Your Car Stalls in the Road

Accidents where one car strikes another because the second one is not moving are fairly common, but they are usually relatively minor.  Rear end collisions account for a substantial percentage of traffic collisions, but most of the time, they do not result in serious injuries.  The striking vehicle usually is not moving fast on an urban street with a lot of traffic lights or in a residential neighborhood with stop signs.  The biggest dangers happen when a car becomes disabled on a highway or other road where cars travel at high speed.

If your car breaks down in traffic, put on your hazard lights.  When it is safe to do so, push the car onto the road shoulder.  It is difficult to do this by yourself, so you may want to stand on the median or shoulder and flag someone down to help you push the car out of the road.  You should get out of the car as soon as it is safe to do so.  Once you are safely away from traffic, even if your inoperable car is still in the road, you should call a roadside assistance service.  Some car insurance companies offer roadside assistance to their policyholders.  If you do not have roadside assistance, share your location with a family member or friend so that someone can come to pick you up.  If you do not have a cell phone with you, flag down a police car or similar vehicle when one passes by.  Remember that preventing physical injury to yourself and the occupants of the vehicle is your first concern, and bringing the car to safety comes later.

Let Us Help You Today

The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you recover damages if you were injured in an accident resulting from someone hitting your car when it was stationary.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

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