Personal Injury Lawsuit

Accidents On The Hard Shoulder - Get Out Of Your Car To Avoid Injury

If you find yourself on a motorway hard shoulder, it is absolutely vital that you get out of your car and climb the motorway embankment. Failing to do so could cost you a great deal more than the cold you will catch standing out in the rain whilst you wait for a recovery vehicle. This article explains why you must get out of your car if you ever find yourself on a hard shoulder on the motorway.

Why Must I Get Out Of My Car?

People who remain in their car on the hard shoulder are seven times more likely to be injured than those who get out of their car and walk away from it and climb or walk up the motorway embankment. This is especially important if you are on the hard shoulder when it is dark. Although many women may feel nervous away from their cars and be scared of a possible attack by leaving their car, the truth is that they will have far more chances of being seriously injured by another vehicle colliding with their car if they stay in it on the hard shoulder. Please remember this and get out of your car if you ever find yourself on the hard shoulder. The reasons why appear further on in this article.

Why Is It Safer Out Of The Car?

The main reason, and this is especially true at night, is that often the heavy good vehicles travel in the near side lane (ie the one next to the hard shoulder) and often these commercial drivers have been driving for long periods of time. If they are tired they can mistake the lights on your car as showing that you are in the inside lane and move over to join the hard shoulder, realising their mistake too later and crushing your car (and causing injury to you if you are still in it).

How Should I Get Out Of The Car?

You should ensure that everyone gets out of the car on the near side of it; the side that is next to the motorway bank. No one should get out of the driver’s side of the car in case a driver drifts over and collides with your car door, or worse still, you. Even if you have young children or babies, getting them out of the car as soon as possible, even if it is raining, could be the best thing that you ever do for them. What would you rather, a cold from being out in the rain, or possible fatal injuries through leaving them in the car that was subsequently crushed by a lorry? I am sorry to be so brutal, but it is much better that you hear real and beneficial advice to protect your family than I try and flower up this article.

What If I Have A Puncture?

Once you have safely pulled your vehicle over t the hard shoulder, turn the wheels of your car to face into the bank of the motorway. This way, if anyone collides with your car it will not cause more damage to it and other cars by swerving back onto the carriageway. It will simply be pushed up the motorway bank and away from causing harm to anyone else.

Do not attempt to repair the puncture yourself, call your emergency vehicle recovery company to come and make the repair or switch the tyre for you. They will be trained to do it in the safest possible way. Many people have been killed whilst trying to repair a puncture on the hard shoulder. Once again, which would you prefer a bill for the repair or keeping your health? It really can be that choice that you are making if you decide to attempt the puncture repair yourself.

Summary

I hope that we have convinced you that if you every find yourself on the hard shoulder, following an accident or a breakdown, you must get yourself and your family out of your vehicle as soon as possible. You may take a lot of shouting from your family, but that will be a small price to pay if you save yours and their lives.