by Queener Law | Jan 23, 2015 | Auto Accident, Tennessee
In 2009, Tennessee became the ninth state in the nation to prohibit motorists from texting and driving, according to The Tennessean. Unfortunately, the ban has not decreased the number of people who are killed or injured each year in distracted driving car accidents involving cellphones, as many Clarksville auto accident attorneys have seen. Statistics from the National Safety Council show that in 2011, 10.6 percent of all traffic accidents in Tennessee involved drivers who were using their cellphones. While 71 people were killed in distracted driving accidents involving cellular devices in 2010, the number rose to 93 deaths in 2011.
Texting and driving causes auto accidents
A 17-year-old faces charges of texting while driving and failure to exercise due care after he slammed into a law enforcement officer’s vehicle head-on, according to WRCB News. Both the officer and the teen driver involved in the accident were sent to the hospital with minor injuries, and are extremely fortunate to escape the incident with their lives. Tennessee Highway Patrol found that the young boy had allegedly sent a text message two minutes before the accident took place. This may explain why the boy turned his steering wheel just in time to collide with the officer who was traveling in the opposite direction.
Clarksville auto accident attorneys are no strangers to handling texting crashes. WRCB News reported that even an auto body repair shop in McMinn County has seen an increase in business as a result of distracted driving car accidents. Victims of auto accidents caused by distracted drivers may be eligible for compensation for any property damage, medical expenses or lost wages that stem from the collision.
More than just a statewide issue
Distracted driving and texting crashes are not just a problem for Tennessee motorists. Distraction.gov states that in 2012, 3,328 people were killed in these types of accidents nationwide. Approximately 421,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents that same year. The official U.S. government’s website dedicated to distracted driving also reported that 10 percent of all motorists under 20 years of age who were involved in deadly car accidents were distracted at the time of the collision. The Institute for Highway Safety has found that as many as 11 U.S. teenagers are killed each day as a result of texting and driving.
Studies show that texting while behind the wheel can be even more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. Negligent motorists who text while driving, may face charges of reckless driving, reckless endangerment, text messaging while operating a motor vehicle or criminally negligent homicide if they are apprehended by law enforcement. People who have been victimized by distracted drivers may want to seek legal assistance from Clarksville auto accident attorneys.
by Queener Law | Jan 22, 2015 | Tennessee, Trucking Accident
Unaware of the dangerous road that lies ahead, thousands of truck drivers choose to take a shortcut over U.S. Route 129, along the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s western edge, rather than drive an additional 100 miles around, according to The Jackson Sun. However, Tennessee has now banned trucks that measure greater than 30 feet from traversing the curvy road referred to as The Dragon. Many tractor trailer accident attorneys Nashville are well aware that this treacherous road has been the site of over 200 motor vehicle accidents from 2010 to 2012, and six of those accidents involved deaths.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2012, which is the most recent year that large truck fatality information is available, 107 people were killed in accidents involving large trucks across the state. This fatality rate has been climbing since 2009, where 86 lives were lost due to large truck collisions. State officials hope that the new ban will reduce the number of car, truck and motorcycle accidents that occur on the road each year.
The Dragon
Every year, people from around the country and some tourists from other countries are attracted to The Dragon’s amazing curves. According to tractor trailer accident attorneys in Nashville, the road has approximately 318 of them, all within its 11 mile span. Due to its twisty design, however, truckers can have an especially hard time maneuvering around the turns, and in some cases, cars and motorcycles are forced off of the road as a result.
When an accident does occur, the entire road can be blocked for hours during the cleanup process. The North Carolina side of the road has had a large truck ban in place for years, while Tennessee had a posted sign warning truckers of the dangerous curves. Now Tennessee will update their signs in January to inform all motorists of the new ban.
The dangers of large trucks
Even an extremely skilled and focused truck driver can unintentionally cause a devastating truck accident when they become stuck on risky terrain. Inclement weather conditions, including high winds, ice and snow, can make matters even worse. State officials, local residents and loyal tourists all hope that the large truck restriction on the winding Tennessee roadway will reduce the number of injured victims and help everyone enjoy the road’s vivacious curves.
Victims that have been seriously injured in truck accidents should consider the benefits of contacting tractor trailer accident attorneys in Nashville.
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 | CO Truck, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, Trucking Accident
Roadways are filled with massive tractor-trailers responsible for transporting essential goods across the state and 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. 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. According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, they may exceed 70 feet in length, making them much more challenging to maneuver than a traditional motor vehicle. Semi-trucks require a longer stopping distance to compensate for their size and weight. For example, a car going 55 mph will take an average of 240 feet to come to a complete stop. Conversely, a tractor-trailer 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, it’s important to 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. Remember, getting too close to a turning tractor-trailer may cause a devastating truck accident. Patience in these situations can prevent tragedy.
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, located behind and on each side of the truck. The most significant blind spots occur on the right-hand side and behind the truck. Motorists should not linger in these areas to avoid truck accidents and crash injuries. Motorists must 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
Drivers need 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 much room when changing lanes or entering freeways. Motorists who try to compete with semis for the same space will not win against a vehicle this large.
Whether a large truck operator is driving while drowsy, distracted, or impaired, motorists must stay focused. Identifying the critical signs that a truck driver is driving negligently can be a matter of life and death.
If you have been injured due to truck driver negligence, the next step would be seeking legal counsel from an experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney, like Henry Queener, 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.
