Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Alabama Road Trip and Vehicular Slaughter

"Isn't that a morbid title?" Why yes, it is, but it's an important topic. A lot of people, especially those from Alabama, are soon going to be flocking to Florida for the BCS Championship. That's about a 13 hour drive from central Alabama. It's a lot of mileage, a lot of sitting in the car, and a lot of "Are we there yets?" Miami is busy enough as it is, and it's probably going to be pretty hectic when all the fans and ticket holders rush in to see arguably the most exciting game of college football all year.

If at some point during your road trip (outlined in this map) you happen to fall asleep at the wheel, get into an accident, hit a pedestrian, or cause the death of someone by any other means, it's important to know what to do instead of just flying into a panic. Accidents happen, and you don't want to be like those individuals in The First 48 who bawl after a little police pressure, give everything up without a lawyer present, and end up in jail while the police smile at the camera.

No, you need to know your rights. You might feel terrible and that's understandble, and the police might throw threatening words like "vehicular manslaughter" at you. Even if you weren't drinking, on drugs, or doing anything else illegal (and moreso if you were), you still should have a lawyer present. It might have been an unavoidable accident and if so, say that to the officers but not much else. You want to be represented fairly and not get in any more trouble than you deserve to be in.

So, be safe in your travels and road trips, but if something awful happens, it's best to contact your insurance company and a lawyer right away. If you're feeling tired or unable to drive, let someone else in the car drive. If everyone needs some rest, stop on the way there and check into a hotel. Short on cash? Nap at a rest area. It's better to be safe than sorry.