by Queener Law | Jan 21, 2015 | Auto Accident, Tennessee
The motor vehicle fatality rate in Tennessee fluctuates from year to year, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. As a way to combat this fluctuation and lower the fatality rate, state officials implemented a program that may have played a role in lowering Tennessee’s fatal crash rate. At the end of 2014, the state reported the lowest number of people killed in traffic accidents since 1963, according to WSMV News. TDOT and the Tennessee Highway Patrol believe that these numbers are no accident, and credit the new program with reducing deadly traffic accidents and saving lives.
According to WSMV, a Clarksville man was recently arrested and charged with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and vehicular assault. His alleged victim, a mother of five, still struggles with pain from her injuries. Sadly, this type of story is all too common to any Murfreesboro lawyer for car accident victims.
How the program works
The motor vehicle accident fatality rate in Tennessee increased by 8 percent, jumping from 937 deaths in 2011 to 1,014 deaths in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In an attempt to lower the number of traffic accident deaths that occur on state roadways each year, Tennessee officials initiated a program that now predicts and prevents potential car accidents.
A Murfreesboro lawyer for car accident victims knows that the program works by breaking down the entire state into specific areas, which are carefully monitored for accident information. The program can predict where a serious accident will occur within four hours. Areas that have a high rate of car accident fatalities are saturated with patrolling law enforcement officers. The officers work to deter people from drinking and driving and catch negligent drivers before they cause collisions and serious injuries.
Multi-faceted approach to curbing negligent drivers
Not only has law enforcement flooded problematic areas around the state, but Tennessee Highway Patrol has increased the state’s DUI enforcement by 150 percent over the past three years. During that time, seat belt enforcement has also been increased by 240 percent. Along with heavy use of billboard advertising campaigns warning motorists that they will get caught if they choose to drive while impaired, this multi-faceted approach has worked to lower the number of traffic accident deaths to 902 in December of 2014. Although this number does not include car accident deaths from the last two weeks of the year, TDOT and the highway patrol feel very optimistic that the numbers will stay low.
When motorists climb behind the wheel of a vehicle, they may be in danger of becoming involved in a tragic accident caused by a distracted, drowsy or drunk driver. Motorists who have been injured in such an accident may want to consider contacting a Murfreesboro lawyer for car accident legal assistance
by Queener Law | Jan 20, 2015 | Tennessee, Trucking Accident
The Tennessee roadways are filled with massive tractor trailers that are responsible for transporting essential goods across the state and around the country. While most motorists are somewhat used to navigating around these giant vehicles, drivers who have a better understanding of how commercial trucks operate may be able to prevent a catastrophic accident from occurring. Lebanon tractor trailer accident attorneys know that in some cases, large truck accidents are caused by negligent truck drivers and poorly maintained semi-trucks. There are some behaviors drivers can practice to maximize their safety on the freeway.
- Trucks need a greater distance to stop
Tractor trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and may exceed 70 feet in length, making them much harder to maneuver than a traditional motor vehicle, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Semi-trucks require a longer stopping distance to compensate for their length and weight. For example, a car going 55 mph will take an average of 240 feet to come to a complete stop. A tractor trailer, on the other hand, can take 450 feet or more to stop, depending on its exact weight, length and how fast the truck is going. Drivers should avoid pulling out in front of trucks or cutting them off while making lane changes to prevent getting rear-ended in a truck accident.
- Trucks make wide turns
Whether tractor trailers pull out wide to make a right or left turn, drivers should give them plenty of room on both sides. Motorists should never attempt to squeeze in the lane between the truck and the curb, but rather should look for the truck’s turn signal and be patient. Lebanon tractor trailer accident attorneys know that getting too close to a turning tractor trailer may cause a devastating truck accident.
- Trucks have large blind spots
Tractor trailers have larger-than-normal blind spots, also referred to as no-zones. Truck drivers cannot see vehicles that ride in these zones, which are located behind and on each side of the truck. The largest blind spots occur on the right-hand side and behind the truck. Motorists should not linger in these particular areas in order to avoid truck accidents and truck crash injuries. It is crucial for motorists to understand that if they cannot see the mirror on the side of the tractor trailer, the truck driver cannot see them.
- Trucks are bigger than cars
It is important for motorists to remember that a tractor trailer is often four times the size of their vehicle. If a semi is pulling a double trailer, that size difference changes dramatically. This means tractor trailers need a lot of room when changing lanes or entering freeways. Motorists who try to compete with semis for the same space are not going to win against a vehicle this large.
Whether a large truck operator is driving while drowsy, distracted or impaired, motorists need to stay focused in order to identify the key signs that a truck driver is driving negligently. If a motorist is injured as a result of truck driver negligence, he or she may want to seek legal counsel from Lebanon tractor trailer accident attorneys as soon as possible.
by Queener Law | Jan 19, 2015 | Bus Accident, Tennessee
Out of the 43 people who were traveling on two buses that were involved in a tragic collision in November of 2014, 24 people were injured, three lost their lives and 16 escaped without harm, according to Local 8 Now News. As the Knoxville Police Department continues to investigate this bus accident, they have released information stating that both bus drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident.
Although both drivers have been tested for alcohol and drugs, officials will not find out whether these substances were involved in the accident until they receive the results from the tests, which may take weeks to complete. It is unclear as to what caused one bus to make an unexpected left-hand turn and crash into an oncoming bus traveling in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, these tragic occurrences are all too common to an accident attorney Cookeville.
Ensuring passenger safety on buses
Local 8 Now reported that both buses involved in the accident had received recent inspections, ensuring that all parts on the large vehicles were working correctly. While state school buses are not currently required to have seat belts, state officials are now looking into passing legislation which would require all new buses purchased after July 1, 2015 to have seat belts. The Southeastern Transportation Center and the University of Tennessee explains how buses are designed with high-backed seats, which function to cushion and protect passengers if the bus should collide with a smaller vehicle. When the bus crashed into another large bus while traveling at a high rate of speed, the safety mechanism was simply not enough to protect passengers from serious injury and death.
Bus accidents can cause serious injuries
With no safety restraints available, a large impact with a massive object may cause children and adults alike to fly out of their seats. Not only are they susceptible to broken bones and lacerations from flying objects, but they may develop a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage or internal organ damage from the impact. In some cases, mild brain injuries or certain spinal cord injuries may not show symptoms for several days after the incident occurs. A knowledgeable accident attorney in Cookeville knows that these injuries can cause severe damage if left unattended. All of the medical expenses, including surgical intervention, therapy and medication can become quite expensive.
Fortunately, an accident attorney Cookeville may be able to help the injured victim receive compensation to cover these expenses.
by Queener Law | Jan 18, 2015 | Auto Accident, DUI, Tennessee
When people choose to climb behind the wheel after drinking, they put the lives of everyone else on the road in danger. Many automobile accident attorneys Gallatin know that in a split second, a bad decision can lead to a catastrophic accident. That is what happened to a young Tennessee teen celebrating spring break with his friends in Panama Beach. According to the Panama City News Herald, the 18-year-old had a brief interaction with law enforcement when he backed up into another vehicle approximately 30 minutes before the fatal crash occurred. Although the teen admitted that he was slightly buzzed from drinking, he climbed behind the wheel again. He then continued to drive with a blood alcohol content level of 0.159 percent. That was when he allegedly fell asleep while driving and smashed into another car, killing the 22-year-old driver of the vehicle.
Rather than try the now 19-year-old as a youth and sentence him to receive treatment, the judge presiding over the case ordered the boy to spend 10 years in prison for DUI manslaughter. The teen is mandated to create a talk on how the fatal crash has influenced his life, and present it to the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. He must also talk to high school students about the dangers of drinking and driving at least twice a year.
Teen driver alcohol consumption
Teenager motorists and alcohol are a deadly combination. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that while traffic accidents were the leading cause of teen fatalities in 2011, nearly one-quarter of those accidents involved alcohol. Inexperience and the inability to make wise choices in certain situations, makes teenage drivers three times more likely than experienced drivers to be involved in a serious car accident, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol can make the situation even worse.
DUIs change lives
Mothers Against Drunk Driving reported that 10,076 people were killed in drunk driving auto accidents in 2013, and another 290,000 people were seriously injured. In Tennessee alone, 295 people were fatally injured in DUI accidents in 2012, which was a 14 percent increase from the previous year. Unfortunately, drunk driving cases are familiar territory for automobile accident attorneys in Gallatin.
Injured victims of drunk driving collisions may find it helpful to partner with automobile accident attorneys in Gallatin. Some people may be eligible to receive compensation for their medical expenses, property damage and lost wages from work.
by Queener Law | Jan 16, 2015 | Auto Accident, Tennessee
Although talking or texting on a cellular device may be one of the most common forms of distracted driving, there are many other activities that drivers engage in that can be considered distracting and dangerous as well. An auto collision accident involving distracted driving is a case that a Nashville car accident lawyer would be familiar with. All forms of distracted driving can be arranged into three main categories, according to Distraction.gov. These include:
- Visual distractions
Any activity that requires a driver to remove his or her eyes from the road is considered a visual distraction. This includes looking away from the road to adjust the radio, change a CD, dial a phone number, read a text or even search for an item in the glove compartment. A study performed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that people who text and drive remove their eyes from the road for an average of five seconds. That is long enough for a car going 55 mph to travel the length of a football field.
- Manual distractions
Manually distractive tasks occur when a driver removes his or her hands off of the steering wheel. Whether drivers are reaching for their cellphones or eating, they do not have full control over their car because they are using their hands to do something else. Some other manual distractions include picking up items off of the floor, handing items to passengers in the backseat, drinking and updating social media profiles while driving.
- Cognitive distractions
A Nashville car accident lawyer knows that one of the most overlooked, yet deadly forms of driver interference are cognitive distractions. These distractions occur when motorists take their mental focus off of driving and attempt to multitask. According to studies evaluated by the National Safety Council, the human brain is incapable of multitasking, or effectively completing two complex tasks at once. Instead, the mind quickly switches back and forth from one task to the other. This leaves moments where the motorist isn’t concentrating on driving at all. It creates a sort of mental blindness where drivers are unable to process up to 50 percent of the information in their driving environment.
Many distracted driving tasks can be categorized into more than one form of distraction. Texting and talking on a cellphone is considered especially dangerous because it involves all three types of distractions. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that when drivers perform manual-visual tasks, they are three times more likely to be involved in an auto collision.
People who have been involved in a distracted driving collision often turn to an established Nashville car accident lawyer for legal assistance and to receive compensation for their injuries, lost wages and property damage.
by Queener Law | Dec 23, 2014 | Auto Accident, Tennessee
The few moments following a car accident can be extremely stressful and overwhelming, especially if there are injuries or deaths involved. Even minor fender benders can place a significant amount of pressure on Tennessee motorists who may have to file accident claims with their insurance company.
While some motorists may believe that they can handle a car accident on their own, it is extremely important to call law enforcement and let them perform a full car accident investigation. The information from the investigation may prove vital when motorists are filing insurance claims or discussing the accident with an attorney.
Evidence at the scene and vehicle evidence
Law enforcement officers are trained in the correct way to identify and collect evidence. Crashforensics.com states that law enforcement will look at evidence at the site of the accident such as skid marks, gouge marks, point of impact, scrub marks and final resting position. Skid marks could indicate to law enforcement that the driver of that vehicle was speeding, following the other vehicle too closely or was distracted. The point of impact helps officers reconstruct the events that led up to the accident.
In some cases, law enforcement will conduct a car accident reconstruction to determine exactly what happened during the collision. As part of the reconstruction, lights, steering, tires, suspension, brakes and other key components of the vehicle’s mechanical structure are checked to determine if an equipment malfunction may have been the cause of the accident. Not only is the vehicle that was involved in the crash inspected, but the driver is also evaluated to ensure they are in full compliance with the law.
Witness statements
Witness statements are extremely valuable in a law enforcement investigation, as they can be used to corroborate the evidence collected at the scene. For example, witnesses who saw a driver texting or speeding could be used along with skid marks found at the accident site to show that the driver was indeed at fault.
Hit-and-run accidents and uninsured motorists
Motorists who are involved in a car accident where the negligent party is uninsured will need a report from law enforcement in order to file an uninsured motorist claim. When a hit-and-run accident occurs, the perpetrator is often left unidentified, which can make it extremely difficult to receive compensation for any injuries or property damage that occurs. However, an accident report can increase an accident victim’s chances of receiving the compensation he or she needs and deserves.
More than 386,000 Tennessee motorists were involved in motor vehicle accidents in 2013, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Over 60,000 of those accidents involved physical injuries and 977 resulted in fatalities. If a car accident is caused by driver distraction, speeding or erratic behavior, accident victims are better able to prove negligence and seek compensation in a case that has been evaluated by law enforcement.
