U.S. Capital

Florida Officials Say Violations of Florida Move Over Law Cause Car Accidents

Jul 28, 2016

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) July 28, 2016 – Florida law enforcement officials and advocates for injured people say violations of Florida’s Move Over Law cause car accidents that result in serious injury and death.

“Failing to move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles is a cause of numerous very serious accidents,” said Robert Joyce, a car accident attorney with Joyce & Reyes in Tampa. “Not only is it against the law, but a person who causes an accident through such negligence can be held liable for damages.”

In Florida, drivers who encounter police or emergency vehicles pulled over onto the highway shoulder or the side of the road are not permitted to maintain speed in the lane closest to the shoulder. Instead, on multi-lane roads, drivers must vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicles. On two-lane roads, or multi-lane roads when it is not possible to move over safely, drivers must slow down to 20 mph under the posted speed limit. If the posted speed limit is 20 mph or slower, drivers must slow down to 5 mph.

Officials say the law saves lives, and violations result in tragic accidents. On May 26, a multi-vehicle car crash on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa left a Road Ranger in serious condition. The Florida Highway Patrol said there was an initial crash involving two vehicles, and a Road Ranger had pulled over to assist them. Then, for unknown reasons, a utility truck carrying drywall barrelled into the Road Ranger vehicle, sending another vehicle up onto the guard rail. The Road Ranger driver, Omer Duncan was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in critical condition.

Officials said that failure to obey the Move Over Law was a likely factor in the seriousness of the crash.

Learn more at http://www.joyceandreyespa.com

Joyce and Reyes Law Firm, P.A.
307 S Hyde Park Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
Call: 813.251.2007

View Larger Map

  • Tampa mother seeks changes to Florida medical malpractice law
    A Tampa mother wants changes to medical malpractice laws in Florida, after, she says, a hospital refused to release her son’s medical records until after it was too late to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Jane Muino’s son Charlie is 11 years old and cannot walk or talk due to brain damage. Muino said Charlie […]
  • Florida jury awards 10 million dollars in wrongful death lawsuit
    A jury in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit found Domino’s Pizza liable for car accident that left a man paralyzed from the waist down and ultimately resulted in his death. After Richard Wiederhold, a Brevard County fire chief, was hit by a pizza delivery driver, he was left paralyzed, and his wife had to take […]
  • Learn the facts about medical malpractice
    Medical malpractice causes thousands of injuries and deaths every year. Here are the facts you should be aware of. • Medical malpractice is the third most common cause of death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer, according to research published in the Journal of Patient Safety, which estimates that up to 440,000 […]
  • Robert Joyce honored with 2016 Champion of Justice award
    Attorney Robert Joyce will receive the 2016 Champion of Justice award from the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association. This prestigious award has only been given seven times in the past, and it is only presented to attorneys who have demonstrated an exceptional lifetime commitment to the service of justice. The Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association […]
  • Tampa Bay area pill mill doctor and wife convicted on drug charges
    A Tampa doctor who practiced in Pinellas Park, and his wife, were convicted of federal drug conspiracy charges, for prescribing oxycodone and other medications that a jury found led to three patient deaths. Dr. Edward Neil Feldman, a 76-year-old orthopedist, and his wife Kim Feldman, were both convicted on five related counts in a case […]