The Florida Highway Patrol is vowing to crack down on violators of state “move-over” laws after one of their own was hit and injured while on the side of the road. The officer, who is a member of FHP’s Troop D in Orlando, was on his motorcycle and preparing to leave from the emergency shoulder on State Road 528, when a Pembroke Pines motorist inexplicably veered from the center lane and struck him.
Luckily, the trooper was wearing his helmet as he was thrown head first into the windshield of the motorist’s car. The impact of the Orlando motorcycle crash knocked down a speed-limit sign that then fell on the officer. Three people stopped to help the patrolman. According to an FHP spokesman, the driver of the vehicle who struck the motorcycle officer didn’t hit the brakes until impact.
The “move-over” law in Florida was enacted nearly ten years ago. It requires motorists to move out of the lane closest to a patrol car or emergency vehicle and to slow down to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit when in the vicinity of an emergency scene.
The trooper has undergone several surgeries and is recovering. The motorist was cited for reckless driving.
The Orlando motorcycle accident attorneys at Farah and Farah have years of legal experience protecting the rights of those injured in motorcycle collisions. The sad truth is that many accidents involving motorcycles could be avoided if only people in cars were paying closer attention to the road. Please give our law firm a call at (800) 533-3555 for a free consultation if you, or somebody you know, has been injured in a motorcycle crash. We can help you seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, from negligent drivers.
Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-move-over-law-florida-fhp-20120203,0,5722381.story