I-95 in Pompano Beach was the scene of a deadly accident over the weekend. Three men died and two more are critically injured from a car accident in Palm Beach County. The group of Broward roofing company workers were on their way to a job when they got a flat tire. Forced to fix the flat tire as cars raced past, three men lost their lives. Investigators say the three men were in the northbound emergency lane when a driver seemingly lost control and slammed into them. Two other men, who were with the disabled truck, were also struck and now face critical injuries.

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating why the driver, who had a suspended license, veered across three lanes of highway traffic and into the men. Police say the driver was issued tickets for careless driving and driving without insurance, which is an excellent reason to have uninsured/under-insured motorists insurance called UM coverage. You’ll need a qualified automobile accident lawyer to help you file a UM claim. Unfortunately, this type of scenario is common on Florida highways so what can you do to avoid personal injury when your car is disabled in a dangerous area?

ASSES THE SITUATION

• Is there a large shoulder on the road where you can safely park far from the traffic? If not, call a tow truck. It may not be worth the risk of fixing the flat yourself.
• If you are changing a tire on the side closest to the road, turn the car so the front end points, at an angle, away from traffic and toward the shoulder to shield yourself. This is what Florida State troopers do on traffic stops.

MAKE YOU AND YOUR CAR VISIBLE

• Turn on your hazard lights.
• Place road flares behind the car in such a manner that traffic is directed around your car.
• Keep a bright orange colored vest in your car similar to the ones construction workers use while working on the side of the highway.

DRIVE SLOWLY WITH YOUR SPARE

• Most spare tires are small, thin and lack the amount of tread you need for highway driving. Most spares are not to be driven faster than 30-35 mph.

BE PREPARED

• Practice changing a tire before you have to do it on the highway. A dress rehearsal will have you feeling more confident and able to move quickly in a real emergency.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Florida car accident, you may need an experienced Florida personal injury attorney to help you with your insurance claim. For answers to your questions, Contact the Law Offices of Robert Rubenstein at any of our offices in Miami-Dade, Broward, and West Palm Beach at 1-800-FL-Legal (355-3425) or visit our website at rubensteinlaw.com.