The Dangers of Road Debris

Road debris is a traffic accident waiting to happen. The reason it is such a serious issue is you are not prepared in advance. Even if you are an experienced driver, you do not think about objects in the roadway until something is directly in your path.

Risks

Stationary road debris is dangerous enough, but debris that moves can be much more hazardous. Perhaps a tree branch or some litter blows out into the street, or a mattress that was not securely tightly on the car in front of you suddenly falls off. You are leisurely driving down the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, and it seems there is no way to avoid a car crash. If you swerve you could hit another car, but if you slam on the brakes someone else could hit your car. Any road debris could result in a nasty vehicle accident.

When you drive in New York City, car accidents are not always avoidable. From Fordham Road to the Bronx River Pkwy, you may encounter road debris anywhere. While you cannot control the environment, or what other drivers do, you can take some steps so you are not personally contributing to debris in the roadways. You can do your part to keep the roads safe for yourself and other drivers. It can reduce your risk of needing to hire an automobile accident lawyer.

Tips to Avoid Leaving Debris on the Road

• When you carry any objects on top of your car, they must be tightly secured. Use strong, well-made chains, straps, or ropes. Always tie ropes and straps onto something sturdy.
• If you are transporting large items in the back of your truck, make sure the items are below the truck bed’s top edge.
• Whenever possible, carry containers, boxes, and bags in the trunk of your car. If you must carry these objects inside the car, make sure they are tightly closed.
• Everything that is inside your car must stay inside. You should never be tempted to toss litter out the window. If you have children in the car, make sure they know they must not throw toys out the window. If they are too young to understand this, it is better to use the air conditioning than drive with the windows open and risk an accident.
• Whenever you carry large or heavy items on top of your car, allow an extra car length between yourself and the cars in front. This will provide time to stop and reduce the chances the sudden deceleration will jolt the object and slide off.

When you start with these tips, you can help keep the roadways in NYC safer. However, this does not mean you will never have an accident. When road debris appears unexpectedly and you get into a fender bender, you may need to contact an experienced attorney. Whether your car has been damaged, you experienced an injury, or you have hit another car when trying to avoid objects in the roadway, your first step should be to call Kerner Law Group, P.C. at 718-796-7900. We can help you understand your legal rights.