Play Audio
Practice Areas
- Georgia Wrongful Death
- Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Automobile Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Premises Liability
- Animal Attacks/Dog Bites
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Blog 
Automobile Accidents
- Allstate Named America’s Worst Insurance Company
- Gov. Sonny Perdue Signs SB 276 UM Stacking Bill into Law
- Over Correcting Likely Cause of School Bus Accident in Georgia
General
- Have I Made a Difference?
- Why I Like Lawyers
- Train Safety
- Progressive Investigated by Georgia Insurance Commissioner
- Progressive Insurance Company Goes Way Too Far
Legal News
Appeals court upholds $16 million verdict against Allstate
Brain Injuries Account for Half the Deaths When Elderly Fall
KB Home to Pay Fine in EPA Probe of Alleged Water Run Off Violations
Emotional Distress Claim Allowed in Car Crash Lawsuit
Lawsuit Alleges Negligence Led to Toddler's Death
Nursing Home Sued after Losing 94 Year Old Patient
Settlement Would Move Brain Injury Patients from Nursing Homes
Near Fatal Drug Mix Up - Quaid Testifies of Peril to Newborn Twins
Trasylol Again Strongly Linked to Increased Risk of Death
Library
Georgia Wrongful Death
Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Discovery in Trucking Cases
- The Sleepy Killer: The Tired Truck Driver
- Truck Seminar Materials
- New Hours of Service Regulation
- Overview of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
Automobile Accidents
- Drunk Driver Accident Victims
- Auto Accidents - Continue All Therapies
- Georgia's Move Over Law
- Teenager Parent Driving Contract
- SUV Rollovers
Medical Malpractice
- Georgia Ranks Poorly in Health Care Poll
- Pennsylvania Malpractice Suits Fell in 2003
- Physician Apologies
- Alzheimer's and Patient Care
Premises Liability
Newsletters
General
- Juries Protect Us All
- Why Should I Vote?
- Fire-loss claims
- I've never filed a personal injury lawsuit - What should I know about timing?
- Retail Customer Safety
Georgia's Move Over Law
GEORGIA'S MOVE OVER LAW SAVES LIVESGeorgia’s new Move-Over Law says drivers must move-over for emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the highway. The law is meant to keep officers AND traffic violators safe from crashes with passing cars.
The Move-Over Law was passed in the aftermath of growing numbers of police, emergency technicians and DOT workers being killed during routine traffic stops, crash responses and highway construction projects around the nation. Right now, more than thirty states have Move-Over Laws on the books, with fines that range as high as a thousand dollars or more in some jurisdictions. The Move-Over fine in Georgia is an “attention-getting” five-hundred-dollars.
However, failure to obey the Move-Over Law can lead to consequences far more serious than fines. According to FBI statistics, traffic crashes claim the lives of more police personnel than any other cause of death in the line of duty, including shootings. The FBI says last year, forty-nine officers died in crashes across the country. Thirteen of those law enforcement officers were struck and killed by passing vehicles while they worked outside their patrol cars.
“Georgia’s Move-Over Law was meant to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to police officers, paramedics, firefighters, tow truck operators and highway maintenance workers,” said Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Reports show emergency vehicles of all types have been struck while parked beside Georgia highways, even while their emergency lights were flashing.
The Georgia Move-Over Law requires drivers to move-over one lane when possible if an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the shoulder of the highway. And if traffic is too heavy to move-over safely, the law requires drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit instead AND to be prepared to stop.
Move-Over-Law: Georgia Code, Title 40-6-16.
a. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, white, red, or blue lights shall approach the authorized emergency vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a peace officer, proceed as follows:
1. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
2. If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
b. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary towing or recovery vehicle or a stationary highway maintenance vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, or red lights shall approach the vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a peace officer, proceed as follows:
1. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the towing, recovery, or highway maintenance vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
2. If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
c . Violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this Code section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00.
Free Consultation
Jason R. Schultz
PO Box 2270
Peachtree City, GA 30269
Phone: (404) 474-0804
Fax: (770) 692-3326
FAQs
Tractor Trailer Accidents
How is an automobile accident case different from a tractor trailer accident case?...
How much insurance are trucks required to carry by federal and/or state law?...
Automobile Accidents
How do I handle the property damage to my car?...
Do I have to get the car repaired where the insurance company tells me to get it repaired?...
Will the other person's insurance company get an estimate of their own?...
Do I have to get three estimates?...
What if my estimate and the insurance company's estimate do not match?...
Medical Malpractice
Under what circumstances can I sue for medical malpractice?...
What needs to be proven in my medical malpractice case?...
Premises Liability
What happens if one trips on a brick near a construction site while on a public sidewalk?...
Animal Attacks/Dog Bites
What should I do if I or a loved one is attack by an animal? ...
Who will pay for the medical expenses after an animal attack?...
Case Results
Tractor Trailer Accidents
$933,100 - Wilson v. Sanifill, Inc. State Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia
$562,000 - Banks v. Canal Insurance Company, et. al. State Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia
Automobile Accidents
$105,000 - Tweed v. Moriles. State Court of Clayton, Jonesboro, Georgia
$275,000 - Ray v. Smiley. State Court of Forsyth County, Cumming, Georgia
$100,000 - Johnsen v. Smithson. State Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia
$40,000 - Price v. Sellers. Superior Court of Carroll County, Carrollton, Georgia
$100,000 - Silver v. Upton. State Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia
Medical Malpractice
$160,500 - Sponge left in abdomen by surgeon
$1,047,000 - Hospital negligently released patient
$510,000 - Nurse Failed to Set and/or Monitor Sedative Diprivan Killing 68 year old.
Premises Liability
$325,000 - Broadnax v. Autozone, Inc., Fulton Superior Court, Atlanta, Georgia
$65,000 - Hector v. Sears Roebuck and Co. State Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia
$75,000 - Davis v. AATC and Kone, Inc. State Court of Clayton County, Jonesboro, Georgia
$30,000 - D’Hollosy v. Rich’s Department Stores, Superior Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia