Shoulder Of The Road Car Accidents In Buffalo, New York

When driving on New York State roads, you may be in a situation in which you need to pull over to the shoulder of the road. It may appear to be a safe place to stop to deal with any problems; however, it is one of the most dangerous places to be on the road.

In fact, there were 499 fatal crashes on the shoulder of roads in 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

When a vehicle pulls onto the shoulder of a road, it is possible that the driver may not pull over far enough and will obstruct the closest lane. This increases the likelihood of an accident. The probability of an accident is drastically increased during the evening as oncoming traffic will often confuse cars on the shoulder as vehicles in another lane. Often times, this mistake results in a crash.

These accidents are extremely dangerous and often cause injury or even death. If you, or a loved one, have been seriously injured in an accident, you want the most experienced Buffalo, New York personal injury lawyer. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of top rated and superior personal injury attorneys and paralegals are dedicated and determined to get you the maximum compensation possible for your personal injury accident in Buffalo, New York and beyond. We are ready to fight for you! Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York have settled over $175,000,000.00 on behalf of their clients. Call us today for a free consultation at 716-839-3939.

The shoulder of the road is a very convenient, yet dangerous place to stop a vehicle. Drivers often stop on the shoulder of the road if there is something wrong with their vehicle. Motorists will pull over more frequently during the winter and summer as both the extreme heat and cold can lead to vehicle breakdown.

The most common reasons for motorists to pull over are:

1. Problems with tires;
2. Issues with the engine;
3. Running out of fuel;
4. Poor weather;
5. Distractions that require immediate attention; and
6. Problems with braking systems.

All of these are valid reason to stop a vehicle in a safe place, but parking a vehicle on the shoulder of the road is extremely dangerous. Vehicles are at increased risk of collision when there is a car parked on the shoulder, especially if the vehicle on the shoulder is blocking the closest lane. Both oncoming traffic and vehicles on the shoulder of the road are equally likely to be injured in the case of an accident.

Contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. now at 716-839-3939 if you, or a loved one, have been injured in a shoulder of the road car accident. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his elite team of Buffalo, New York shoulder of the road accident lawyers, will fight relentlessly for your best result. Contact us today. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

We strongly recommend that you do not pull your vehicle onto the shoulder to stop because of its inherent danger, especially during the evening. If you must stop, it is best to follow these guidelines:

1. Pull as far off of the road as possible, making certain that your car is not blocking part of any lane;
2. Do not stand around your vehicle and try to distance yourself from the road by climbing over guard rails, if possible. (Even if you have been in an accident and need to exchange information with the other driver);
3. Stop on the right shoulder, rather than the left, if possible; and
4. Make your vehicle visible on the shoulder by turning on your hazard lights and using road flares if you have them.

Also, if you are driving and see a car that is pulled over on the shoulder, it is safest to move one lane over from them to decrease likelihood of collision. It is legally required to move one lane over from the shoulder if there is a police or hazard vehicle parked with flashing red, red and white or amber lights on, as stated in New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1144-A.

If you, or a loved one, have been involved in a shoulder of the road accident, you want the most experienced shoulder of the road accident attorneys to preserve your rights. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his experienced team of shoulder of the road accident attorneys are ready to aggressively and tenaciously fight for the best result possible. Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately for your free consultation at 716-839-3939. We are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we win for you!

Causes of a shoulder of the road accident can vary from case to case. It may be difficult to determine fault with this type of accident, but with the right representation, you can still pursue the maximum compensation for your damages and losses.

When determining fault in a shoulder of the road accident, many factors are taken into account. These factors are:

1. The location of the parked vehicle and if the vehicle blocked any lane of traffic;
2. If the driver on the shoulder had their vehicle’s hazard lights turned on;
3. Weather conditions;
4. The driver’s motivation for pulling over and whether there was an alternative option;
5. The time of day; and
6. Why the driver of the moving vehicle hit the vehicle on the shoulder.

In most cases, the driver presumed at fault must be proven negligent in order to pursue compensation for damages. Negligence is proven by showing that the presumed driver at fault had a duty to the other party to either avoid the vehicle on the shoulder or to not impede upon traffic, the driver breached their duty by not driving with due care, the failure to drive with care was the cause of the accident and that the plaintiff suffered damages.

These multiple, complex factors can make a shoulder of the road accidents very complicated. If you, or a loved one, have been involved in a shoulder of the road accident, you want the most experienced Buffalo, New York car accident attorney on your side. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of superior car accident attorneys are highly experienced car accident attorneys in Buffalo, New York and are ready to aggressively and tenaciously fight for you.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!