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Florida, along with many other states, has what is commonly referred to as a "Move Over" law. Many drivers are aware of the fact that when they hear and/or see an oncoming emergency vehicle on the roadway, they need to get out of the way of that vehicle by moving over as soon as possible. However, some drivers may not be aware of the law concerning what to do with respect to emergency vehicles that are already pulled over on the side of the road. Most Fort Myers personal injury attorneys know that under state law, drivers who find themselves approaching emergency and/or law enforcement vehicles that are on the side of the road with their lights flashing must either move out of the lane closest to the stopped vehicle (if they can do so in a safe manner) or they must slow down to at least 20 miles an hour below the posted speed limit.

Motor vehicle operators should also note that recently, the Move Over law has been expanded to include a host of other vehicles for which drivers must move over or slow down, including trash and recycling trucks, as well as utility service vehicles such as cable trucks, phone truck, power trucks and water meter trucks. What this means is that if a driver is in a neighborhood in which a trash truck is operating, he or she must slow down to around 5 miles per hour (assuming the residential street has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour); otherwise, the driver can be given a ticket if caught by a police officer, which can lead to a fine and points on his or her driver's license.

The Importance of Moving Over

To be sure, Fort Myers personal injury attorneys like Randall Spivey are aware of the fact that if drivers abide by the Move Over law, it can go a long way toward cutting down on accidents and helping to save many first responders' lives. Unfortunately, there have been more and more incidents of accident injuries and fatalities stemming from drivers who fail to move over as required by law.

The director of the Florida Highway Patrol noted after a recent fatal accident that took place on I-75 that troopers typically work and investigate accidents along roadsides with cars speeding by only a few feet away from them. Because of that, those troopers are forced to deal with the very real possibility that they may get hit by a motor vehicle while on the side of the road all because drivers do not heed or obey the Move Over law.

Still, it is important for motor vehicle operators to note that, in their efforts to comply with the law, they should never stop in the roadway or block traffic flow, and they should make certain to approach any stopped motor vehicles with extreme caution.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an automobile accident and you believe that a violation of the Move Over law may have been what led to the accident, contact one of the Fort Myers personal injury attorneys at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. right away.