Skip to Content
Top

What to Do When You See a Road Obstruction When Driving

fallen tree in the middle of the road
|

In ideal scenarios, roadways will be clear when you’re driving, and you won’t have any problems navigating. However, sometimes situations are not ideal, and you come upon a road obstruction while driving. When an object is unlawfully blocking your passage on a road, it is considered a road obstruction. These can sometimes make driving dangerous and put you at risk for getting into an accident.

When someone—or something—else was the cause of your collision, you could use the help of a car accident lawyer to get justice for the injuries and damages you suffered as a result. One of our attorneys at Buckingham & Vega Law Firm will be able to guide you through the legal process and get you the compensation you deserve.

How to Handle a Road Obstruction

When you come upon a roadway obstruction, it’s likely you can’t get past it and it makes you stop in your tracks. Subsequently, all the cars travelling behind you will also have to stop. So what should you do? No matter what, you should always drive the speed limit and leave enough room between you and other cars. That way, when something blocking the roadway does come along, you have plenty of time to slow down and avoid a collision.

Here are some of the road obstructions you might encounter and how to handle each situation:

  • Tractors and farming equipment. Sometimes farmers need to use regular roadways to get their equipment to their fields. When the tractor or other piece of equipment takes up the whole lane and is moving slowly, you might be tempted to pass it. However, if someone is coming in the other direction, it could be unsafe to pass. Your safest option is to follow the tractor slowly until you reach a point you can pass or until they get out of the road.
  • Road work. Construction and other road work can sometimes cause roads to be closed off. When this happens, it’s safest to follow all the signs and detours posted. Including detour signs, it’s important to follow the posted construction zone speed limit so that you’re traveling at a safe speed.
  • Fallen tree or another object. Sometimes trees fall on the road and block the path. There could also be other objects in the road that might not completely stop you from travelling, but slow traffic down to get around the obstruction. In these cases, you should stop and report the road obstruction to 911. In New Mexico, they’ll send out courtesy patrol to check on what’s blocking the road and how to clear it.
  • Car accident. Similarly to a fallen tree, it’s important to report a car accident to 911. This is another reason that the New Mexico Department of Transportation will send out a courtesy patrol so that the police can arrive on the accident scene and help any victims.
  • Weather. Sometimes the weather can form a road obstruction as well. If the weather is making it hard to proceed on the road, then you should slow down and drive more carefully. If it’s too bad to drive, pull over and have your flashers on so that you’re as visible as possible. Wait until the road is clear and visible again in order to safely continue driving to your destination.

While you might be able to drive around the obstruction in some cases, the object might still pose a risk to you and other drivers. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the road at all times while driving so that you can spot obstructions early and have plenty of time to react safely. If you can’t spot a blockage in the road quickly enough, though, you could get into a collision with the object or with other cars on the road.

Our Lawyers Will Help You

When you get into an accident that wasn’t your fault and it causes you injuries and other damages, then you’ll need the help of a car accident lawyer to get you compensation for your costs. At Buckingham & Vega Law Firm in Albuquerque, we understand that collisions can cause you plenty of physical, emotional, and financial suffering. That’s why we’re here.

Our experienced attorneys know that this is a vulnerable time for you, and that you want to go back to your normal life. That’s why we’ll handle the legal side of things for you so you can focus on what really matters—healing. Reach out to our firm today so we can start helping you right away.

Categories: 
Share To: