Did you know that Tennessee has a law aimed at protecting police officers and other workers from accidents when they are on the side of the road? The Move Over Law was passed nearly a decade ago, requiring drivers to move to another lane of traffic (when it is safe to do so), if an emergency or utility service vehicle is on the side of the road.
Through the Move Over Law, if you have space around your vehicle while driving and there is an emergency vehicle on the road, if you do not change lanes and come close to approaching the vehicle, you can be fined up to $500 and/or face 30 days in jail.
Since 2004, more than 140 motorists in Davidson County have been issued citations due to violating the Move Over Law. For more information about the law, you can visit the Department of Safety & Homeland Security’s website.
A TRAGIC ROADSIDE ACCIDENT
We decided to write about the Move Over Law because a man has been charged criminally in Davidson County after striking and killing a Metro officer in 2014. The accident resulted in #MoveOver going viral on Twitter and other social media sites.
In November 2014, Dean Diver, 72, was indicted on charges of reckless homicide and failure to yield resulting in death. Last May, Diver was operating a motor home that crashed into Officer Michael Petrina, who was trying to direct traffic on I-65, near the Old Hickory Boulevard exit.
Petrina died at the scene of the accident. At the time of his death, Petrina was the 43rd city police officer killed in the line of duty over the course of its history.
DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF A FATAL ACCIDENT
Remember, if your loved one dies because of a driver’s negligence, you could potentially hold him or her liable. Through wrongful death lawsuits, our attorney has helped grieving families obtain compensation for matters like the loss of income, emotional distress, medical bills and pain and suffering.
While no amount of money can ever bring your loved one back following a fatal car accident, a lawsuit may be able to help you recover financially. For more information about our firm’s success, visit our verdicts and settlements page.
“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” – Psalms 100:2
Davis’ Words of Wisdom: From 2003-2012, more than 9,300 people were issued tickets for Move Over Law violations.