Just two days after a drunk driver hit and killed Senior Police Office Gail Thomas as she was investigating a traffic accident on the side of the road, another Atlanta officer found himself in the path of an oncoming car as he aided a stranded motorist.
Officer Scott Wallins was out of his patrol car while helping a driver on the side of I-285 at Donald Lee Holloway Parkway when another motorist slammed into his squad car, then into the stranded vehicle. Thankfully, Officer Wallins was not hurt.
The driver who struck both the police cruiser and the stranded vehicle was cited for failing to adhere to Georgia’s Move Over Law. The law states that if an emergency vehicle is stopped with flashing lights by the side of the highway, drivers must move over one lane. If it is unsafe to move over, drivers must slow down to below the speed limit and prepare to stop. More than 30 states now have move over laws, and in Georgia, failing to move over will earn you a $500 fine.
Traffic crashes kill more officers than any other cause of death in the line of duty, including shootings, according to the FBI. Move over laws not only protect police officers who are dealing with stranded motorists and traffic accidents but also tow truck operators, paramedics and other emergency workers. These citizens put their lives on the line every day to protect the people of Georgia, and we owe absolutely every courtesy.
Remember, if you see an emergency vehicle by the side of the road, move over to the next lane as soon as safely possible. It’s not just considerate, it’s the law.
Ty Wilson is an Atlanta car accident lawyer who provides the public with a wide variety of FREE information about Georgia personal injury claims on his website www.TyWilsonLaw.com. Check out his many articles, videos and order his FREE books BEFORE you hire an attorney or even speak to the insurance adjuster. The valuable information offered can help keep a bad situation from getting even worse.
If you have specific questions to ask an attorney, please give Ty a call at 1-866-937-5454.
