Road Debris and New Haven Auto Accidents

When you drive down the road and see tree branch fallen across the street what do you do? Do you swerve to avoid it? Do you turn around? What about when something flies off of a car?

With only a split second to decide, it makes sense how road debris causes over 25,000 crashes and 80 fatalities per year in North America. If a tree branch doesn’t make you flinch, most road debris moves especially as other cars drive past it or hit it. This makes it even more difficult to determine what you need to do

Most road debris that injures us isn’t from the environment. Blown tires, mufflers, bumpers, or cargo like mattresses, firewood, or bicycles that fall off cars are extremely tricky to steer around. Even if you’re an advanced driver, you can never be sure how something is going to bounce. With other cars on the road and distractions you’re already dealing with like a phone or a child, lost cargo can be absolutely fatal.

That being said, we each need to do our part to not contribute to road debris. Here are some things you can try to keep your roads safer:

• Use ropes, straps, and chains to hold down items. Don’t trust the weight of an object or flimsy materials like bungee cords or string.
• Anchor your ropes. If you’re going to spend the time tying your cargo down, finish the job correctly by tying a knot on something sturdy.
• Try to keep cargo below the top edge of the truck bed.
• Be sure all bags, boxes, and containers are 100% closed
• Cover loose items.

If you find yourself behind a vehicle with a lot of cargo, make sure you give them ample space in case something flies off. If you or a loved one were in a crash and believe someone else was negligent, contact the New Haven auto accident attorneys at The LoRicco Law Firm. Our team is experienced to handle cases like this and will protect your long term interests.