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Vehicle accidents can happen in many ways. Usually, collisions occur when vehicles are moving, but accidents with stopped vehicles are also common and are often complicated.

A study by the transportation data analysis firm, Impact Research, reported that hundreds of people are tragically killed, and thousands are injured every year in crashes that involve stopped or disabled vehicles. Impact Research used federal crash statistics to estimate that 566 people tragically died and 14,371 were injured in a two-year period.

"This study identifies a part of the road safety equation that doesn’t get much attention, despite the size of the problem,” says David Zuby, executive vice president and chief research officer at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

IIHS said the Impact Research study “…found that 95 percent of these vehicle crashes occur when a vehicle traveling down the roadway collides with a stationary one. However, more than half the deaths and almost 1 in 5 serious injuries occur when a vehicle strikes a pedestrian who is leaving, working on, or returning to a stopped vehicle. On average, this type of crash kills 300 pedestrians a year, a number that has risen by more than a quarter since 2014.”

Studies have shown the following 3 causes of stopped-vehicle accidents:

1. Distracted Driving – Drivers collide with stopped vehicles when they are not paying attention to the road and are texting while driving or being distracted by anything other than driving.
2. Speeding – When drivers speed, they do not have the time to adjust for road conditions and can crash into stopped vehicles.
3. Road Conditions – When the road conditions change due to such things as inclement weather and construction, drivers need to adjust and look out for other drivers and people alongside the road. 

Who Can be Held Responsible for Stopped Vehicle Accidents

If you or a loved one should be injured in an accident with a stopped vehicle, there are several who may be held responsible, such as the following:

• The stopped vehicle owner could be responsible, especially if the owner abandoned the vehicle on the road without leaving any lights on.
• The driver who hit the stopped vehicle may be responsible, especially if the driver was speeding or not paying attention.
• The stopped vehicle owner could be responsible for failing to maintain the vehicle leading to a breakdown.
• The stopped vehicle owner could be responsible for obstructing the roadway.

What You Should Do After a Stopped-Vehicle Accident

Stopped-vehicle accidents are the same as any other vehicle accident. Remain at the scene and seek medical attention immediately if you are injured. Florida has a 14-day accident law that requires any accident victims to seek medical care within 14 days of the accident to receive personal injury protection (PIP) benefits. PIP covers some of your medical expenses and other damages, such as lost wages and death benefits.

While at the scene, obtain as much information as possible; take pictures of all vehicles and their damage, and cooperate with law enforcement.

Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Randall Spivey provides recommendations in the firm’s Florida Accident Form. This form may be downloaded and should be kept in your glove compartment for easy accessibility.

Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Fight for the Rights of Accident Victims

Contact Spivey Law 24/7 at 239.337.7483, toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or online at SpiveyLaw.com. There are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you.

You may be entitled to recover reimbursement and damages for accident-related medical care, prescription medications, some out-of-pocket costs, loss of earnings and earning potential, emotional trauma, loss of companionship, consortium, pain and suffering, disability, and loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life.