Rubbernecking: What it is and what to do if You’re Involved

“Rubbernecking” is when drivers slow down at a traffic accident site to stare at the aftermath of the crash. Rubbernecking is a form of distracted driving, and it can cause secondary accidents.

Why is rubbernecking dangerous?

Rubbernecking is dangerous because it diverts attention from the road. It slows down traffic significantly, and it puts both drivers and first responders at risk.

A police might be on the road ahead of you directing traffic.  Water from fire hoses mixed with motor oil might make the road unexpectedly slick. Paramedics or Emergency Medical Technicians might be tending to victims near the shoulder of the road or in one of the vehicles involved in the crash.

Smoke from the wreckage can drift across the road, obstructing vision for everyone.

Drivers who are craning their necks looking at the wreckage might not see first responders quickly enough to avoid striking them.

Avoid rubbernecking

To avoid this form of distracted driving, you, as a motorist, should stay focused on traffic flow ahead of you. Keep your eyes on the road, not the crash site. Be extra cautious. Always assume that other drivers are distracted by the crash site, and be prepared to act if another driver comes to a stop or makes a sudden lane change ahead of you.

Secondary accidents

Rubbernecking at crash sites often leads to secondary accidents. Rear-end collisions are common. Cars can be sideswiped by other vehicles when distracted drivers make sudden lane changes without looking first.

Secondary accidents can lead to traffic jams, causing other drivers to contribute to chain-reaction accidents.

Defensive driving

Humans are wired to pay more attention to negative or dramatic events. The urge to stare at a traffic accident is instinctive, but it is still no excuse for doing it.

Your best bet when approaching a crash on or near the roadside is to drive defensively. That includes being aware of your surroundings, but not letting them divert your attention from the road for an extended period of time.

Slow down, be prepared to stop, and use your turn signal before making any lane change. Check the lane you plan to move into before doing so.

Contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm

If you were involved in an accident with a rubbernecking driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and damages to your vehicle. The professional personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm are ready to speak with you to determine if you have a personal injury claim.

Our firm has decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies, and helping accident victims get fair compensation for their injuries. We are ready to help you, and it costs nothing to have an initial consultation with us.

You deserve the best representation available and you’ll get that at the J. Gonzalez law Firm. Contact us today to learn more. We can be reached via this website or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH.

San Juan expressway reopens following major crash

By: Benjamin Treviño

A portion of the I-2 expressway is reopened after an October 21 crash temporarily shut down the highway.

According to a San Juan Police Department social media post, a major accident about 9:45 a.m. caused all I-2 westbound traffic to take the Cesar Chavez Road exit.

Police reopened the westbound lanes by 10:40 a.m., and were “operating as usual,” the social media post said.

According to San Juan Police Chief Leandro Sifuentes Jr., two people were hospitalized with minor injuries. Failure to control speed may have been a factor in the crash, he added.

Source: https://www.krgv.com/news/road-closure-in-effect-on-the-expressway-in-san-juan-due-to-major-accident