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Author: Anthony Proffitt

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Back to the basics: motorcycle safety

Tennessee’s rolling valleys and gorgeous countrysides attract thousands of motorcyclists each year. Now that spring is here, the state’s roads will likely see a spike in its number of two-wheeled vehicles. While the alluring aspects of riding in the open wind are hard to ignore, there are a number of risks riders can avoid to keep the journey a safe one.

There may be worlds of differences between new and experienced riders, but sometimes even the experts can get rusty with the basics. Consumer Reports shares a piece on motorcycle safety, first noting that the type of bike one buys could make all the difference. Choosing a bike that fits one’s size and level of experience is the first step in avoiding accidents. CR also urges readers to invest in antilock breaks, arguing that such equipment can save lives. Other safety pointers include wearing a helmet, wearing appropriate gear and avoiding rides in dangerous weather.

Most riders would like to assume that the worst simply could not happen; unfortunately, accidents tend to occur when one least expects them. Motorcyclist magazine provides some additional safety tips for riding motorcycles:

  • Trust mirrors
  • Remain visible at all times
  • Stay aware of riding surfaces
  • Always ride in open zones 

When it comes to mirror usage, Motorcyclist warns riders that there is a happy medium in regard to trusting one’s mirrors. There are some hidden dangers in placing too much trust in mirrors, as they can sometimes skew the whole picture. Even though drivers of four-wheeled vehicles must pay special attention to cyclists, not everyone maintains a keen awareness. Because the road can become an open world of drivers of all varieties, it is important for motorcyclists to maintain awareness and visibility at all times.  

 

Categories
Car Accidents

Brain injuries: symptoms and recovery

A large majority of Tennesseans could agree that there is hardly a more frightening experience than a car accident. When an accident involves a serious injury such as brain trauma, those levels of fear can seem all the more magnified.

Dealing with a serious injury can make steps such as handling car insurance and addressing vehicle damage pale in comparison. While each situation can require varying levels of assistance and medical attention, there are some basic steps one can take to make a traumatic brain injury more manageable. 

Knowing the Symptoms

Depending on the seriousness of the crash, it may take extended periods of time for one to discover a TBI. The Brain Injury Society shares some common symptoms of this type of injury after a car accident, such as loss of consciousness, dizziness, changes in sleep quality and patterns, memory problems and confusion. There are many other symptoms that could hint toward a TBI, but the BIS urges readers to never dismiss even the most insignificant symptoms, as they could reveal larger, otherwise hidden issues.

Starting the Recovery Process

As with most brain injuries, the length of time it can take to recover can vary. BrainLine points out that, in milder cases, one might expect a speedy and complete recovery; however, with more severe cases, brain injury recovery could take extended lengths of time (and, in extreme situations, could be impossible altogether). As BrainLine shares, most medical professionals gauge recovery time using the Rancho Los Amigos scale, which measures the severity of brain injuries through eight different levels. Once a doctor gets a clear picture on one’s injury and the projected recovery timeframe, they can then move on to the recovery process itself. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

5 ways other drivers make the roads unsafe for motorcyclists

Now that spring is here, you may be anxious to steer your motorcycle out of the garage and get back on the open road. It is nearly motorcycle season again, and bikers in Tennessee and elsewhere are impatient to feel the freedom of a good ride. However, as we at the law offices of Pryor, Priest, and Harber know, spring also marks the beginning of accident season for motorcyclists.

When you are on your bike, your greatest dangers come from other drivers, especially in the spring when people are not used to seeing an increase in motorcycles on the roads. According to the Cheat Sheet, some of the biggest hazards you face from other drivers include the following:

  • Drivers at intersections, especially those who are waiting to make a left turn and may not be watching out for motorcycles
  • Vehicles behind you, which may rear-end you if you are stopped at a light or if traffic slows
  • Drivers who open their doors without looking to see if any bikes are approaching from behind
  • People who switch lanes without checking their mirrors or signaling
  • Drivers who are paying attention to their cellphones or other distractions instead of the road

Those who drive cars and trucks have a great responsibility to watch for motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians, who are smaller than their vehicles but share the roads nonetheless. You may increase your own safety by never letting your guard down in traffic, but a driver may be held responsible for your injuries if he or she was negligent behind the wheel, as our page on motorcycle accidents explains.

Categories
Car Accidents

The effect a car accident has on insurance

When Tennessee residents are involved in a car accident, they may not think about what the collision might do to their insurance. A crash can easily raise a driver’s insurance premium, though, depending on the severity of the accident and whether he or she is considered at-fault.

Sometimes people may find that their car insurance rates go up after they are in an accident. Esurance says this is because someone’s driving record usually plays a role in setting his or her insurance premium. When people have a collision on their record, they are sometimes more likely to have a higher premium, particularly if the crash was serious and they were the driver who caused the accident. A crash typically does not raise someone’s rates permanently. People are usually able to get lower rates the longer they remain accident-free after the collision.

In some situations, people may find that their insurance is not affected by the collision. This can be the case when someone was not responsible or if there was no damage to any of the vehicles involved. People may also retain a low premium if they do not have prior collisions on their driving record. 

Sometimes people may be able to take steps to keep their rates from rising too much. According to Money Under 30,  people may want to consider enrolling in a driving class. This typically demonstrates that someone is committed to being a safe driver, and may sometimes result in lower rates. Additionally, some people may want to speak to their insurance company about an accident forgiveness clause, particularly if the collision was the first one they were involved in. People should also tell their insurance company about the crash after it occurs, as this demonstrates their responsibility and can sometimes keep them from paying higher costs later on.

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

The reality of buzzed driving

With a Tennessee spring quickly approaching, warm weather festivities and outings are becoming a regular occurrence. The state’s hot cities on the map create extra perks to the upcoming warmer seasons, causing many to hit the road to adventure. One aspect that is not as thrilling, however, is that of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving after a drink or two may seem tempting, but even buzzed driving can result in a world of personal and legal issues.

Not all buzzed driving results in a ticket or an accident, but this type of influence can certainly increase one’s chances of running into these risks. Ad Council provides an article on buzzed driving and some common misconceptions, sharing in a study that only 49 percent of adults reported using taxi services when feeling buzzed. This statistic is especially concerning since one driver is killed every 51 minutes in an alcohol-related car wreck. And although this percentage dropped in the late 1990s, it has seen an increase in recent years. Ad Council also shared information on their campaign against drunk driving and other resources.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration gives another accessible overview of America’s drunk driving problem. According to the NHTSA, deaths and damages caused by drunk driving accidents cost the country over $40 billion per year. When it comes to distinguishing between buzzed driving and drunk driving, the NHTSA shares that a blood alcohol concentration of just .02 percent can skew one’s judgment; a BAC level of .05 percent can alter one’s behavior and cause the loss of muscle control and a lowered alertness. There are fine lines to draw between buzzed driving and drunk driving, but all Tennesseans should understand the potential risks at stake.    

 

 

 

      

 

Categories
Truck Accidents

Drowsy truck driving, the risks and the solutions

It can be difficult for those outside of the trucking industry to understand the hard labor involved in daily shifts. For countless Tennessee truck drivers, a regular day can mean long, grueling hours on the road — complete with pressing schedules. Although a position in truck driving can bring many benefits to the table, are truck drivers becoming too drowsy to drive? 

Millions of Americans climb behind the wheel without sufficient rest. CMV Driving Safety, a resource for safer and more productive trucking, dedicated an article to truck driver drowsiness and the ways it can make a major impact on the average employee. According to CMV, one in four commercial motor vehicle drivers in the country suffers from sleep apnea. Moreover, truck driver drowsiness and fatigue has to led to a crippling number of accidents every year. While some might assume the solution is to simply get more rest, CMV points out that the situation can become more complex than a night of lost sleep; driver drowsiness can stem from the choices a driver makes throughout the day, among other circumstances. CMV goes on to offer additional information and educational platforms regarding truck driver fatigue in the nation.

The answer to a drowsy driving problem may differ depending on the individual, but car enthusiast magazine Roadshow showcased one automaker’s innovative take on this widespread problem. According to Roadshow, Ford has invented a special cap to detect drowsy driving; this “Safe Cap” contains a detection system that can alert truckers when rest may be in order. The hat emits different signals when it detects a driver falling asleep, ideally resulting in a necessary break. Even though the invention may see years before it reaches potential production, this technology reflects a growing concern regarding drowsy driving in the trucking industry. 

 

 

Categories
Truck Accidents

Study evaluates truck crash causes

If you have ever seen or heard reports about a serious accident involving a semi truck or other large commercial vehicle in Tennessee, you may wonder what can be done to prevent these crashes from happening. Integral to finding ways to prevent crashes is to understand what may cause them in the first place. 

A study conducted jointly by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration focused on identifying causes of large truck collisions in which injury or death had occurred. Two types of causes were identified, one being a critical event that made avoiding the accident impossible and the other being a critical reason which was essentially the immediate cause of a crash.

The top three critical events were identified as a trucker rear-ending another vehicle, losing control of a rig or running out of drivable lane. Together these events were attributed to 83 percentof the crashes that were included in the study. When it came to critical reasons, three percent were identified as environmental, ten percent were identified as vehicle problems and a whopping 87 percent related to the trucker drivers themselves. The driver factors ranged from over compensating, fatigue, distraction, excessive speed, poor decisions and more.

If you would like to learn more about the types of factors that may contribute to serious truck accidents and how to seek help after such an incident, please feel free to visit the tractor trailer crash page of our Tennessee personal injury and truck accident website.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Man with three prior DUIs kills woman in crash

People in Tennessee may often hear about how tough the penalties for impaired driving have become. While it may well be true that the consequences for people convicted of driving under the influence offenses might be harsher than they were decades ago, some may believe they are not strong enough as too many people continue to die in accidents in which a drunk or drugged driver were involved.

An example can be see in the recent death of a woman in an accident caused by a driver who has been convicted of not only one or two previous DUI offenses but three. The fatal crash marked the man’s fourth impaired driving offense and also found him with drug paraphenalia in his vehicle and a stolen license plate. In addition, the man is said to have been operating the vehicle without either a valid driver’s license or automobile insurance.

The wreck happened just before 7:00 a.m. when the alleged impaired driver maneuvered the sport utility vehicle he was driving into the oncoming lane of traffic, hitting another SUV directly head-on. Another person was seriously injured and the at-fault driver left the scene of the crash but was apprehended later. He has been charged with multiple offenses including aggravated assault and aggravated vehicular homicide.

People who experience accidents caused by such recklessness may find talking to an attorney in Tennessee a useful way of learning how they might be compensated for their injuries and losses.

Source: WJHL.com, “Woman killed in Kingsport crash; Wanted man charged,” February 23, 2018

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Push to eliminate drunk driving deaths

Any person in Tennessee who has ever known someone who has been killed due to the negligence of a drunk driver understands the senselessness of these accidents. Despite some improvements in the past several decades, too many lives continue to be lost in drunk driving crashes. Finally, some are starting to push for yet even tougher actions in order to prevent more of these deaths.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recently published data that shows strong researched-based support for the fact that after consuming alcohol, a person’s cognitive functioning begins to decline far sooner than when their blood alcohol content reaches 0.08 percent. In fact, such reduced abilities are seen when BAC levels reach 0.05 percent. That is nearly half of the current legal limit at which a person may be arrested for drunk driving.

With this in mind, the organization is calling for states to amend their laws and lower the 0.08 threshold to 0.05 percent. This would mean that a driver may be considered drunk and able to be arrested at a much lower BAC level. The goal of this change is to not only reduce but to completely eradicate crashes in which alcohol is a factor. 

WebMD explains that additional efforts are sought to support this goal. These include making the sale of alcoholic beverages more controlled so as to prevent minors from obtaining alcohol. Increasing taxation on beverages may raise prices and therefore making it slightly harder or less enticing for people to want to afford alcoholic beverages.

 

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists face increased risk in accidents

Anyone who has ever ridden on a motorcycle in Tennessee knows the joy of being on two wheels and the feeling of freedom that may accompany the experience. Unfortunately bikers and their passengers also must be keenly aware of the increased risk they face relative to people in passenger vehicles if they are to be involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Science Daily indicates that the Canadian Medical Association Journal recently published research that shows exactly how much greater the risk of injury or death is to a motorcyclist than to someone in a regular car. A biker is three times more likely to be hurt in a crash than a driver or passenger in a car. When it comes to the chance of dying, that increases by five times for a person on a bike compared to a person in a car. Costs associated with accident injuries are also greater for bikers than for passenger car occupants and drivers by as much as six times.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2016 alone motorcyclist deaths accounted for more than 14 percent of all vehicular fatalities in the state of Tennessee. In Knox County, biker deaths accounted for 18.5 percent of the county’s total deaths in vehicle crashes.

Between 2012 and 2016, a total of 667 people on motorcycles were killed in collisions across the state. Of those, 36 were killed in Knox County. Records also show that the number of bikers killed increased significantly in 2016 over 2015 both statewide and in Knox County on its own.