Author: Anthony Proffitt

Almost every driver has been there before: a recent wreck seen on the side of the road, blue and red lights flashing and a long line of drivers curious to know what happened. To be on this side of an accident is fortunate; countless Tennesseeans experience dangerous — and even deadly — accidents while on the road. Still, the curiosity of why wrecks happen in the first place plagues the minds of many. How do these tragic accidents occur, and can anything be done to prevent them? 

Complex magazine runs through a list of preventable car accidents, joining readers in their everyday frustrations. Failing to check mirrors, brake checking other drivers and running red lights are some of the most common causes of fender-benders, but not all of these situations end this way. Although many coast through a traffic light unscathed, the reality is that those chances are much too slim. Complex considers those who drive without checking mirrors to be a threat to all surrounding drivers, and most would likely agree. Even though acts such as door dings and poor parking generally fizzle down to mere annoyances, others can end on a much bleaker note.

The scary part of otherwise benign roadway mistakes is that they can ultimately result in serious injury or death. An article in Slate praised a 2008 study by the University of Michigan that analyzed almost 7,000 car accidents on a scientific level, shedding light on how they occurred. These naturalistic driving studies offer another scope into crash causation by supplying cars with accelerometers, sensors and cameras. Among some of the common causes of dangerous wrecks are rolling stops and loss of control. Slate concludes that, even with self-driving cars right around the corner, practicing safer driving habits now may be the only answer to a tragic issue.

When most people in the Knoxville area think about car crashes, they immediately think about the incidents that involve other motorists. Very few of them realize that not all accidents are the direct cause of another person’s negligence. Sometimes, motor vehicle wrecks occur because of wildlife in the area. Each year, thousands of people are injured and more than 200 people die in motor vehicle accidents that involve deer and wildlife, states Geico.com. 

Many car accidents caused by deer and animals are preventable. Motorists should think before they react and make errors that impact their safety and that of other drivers. Distractions are a common reason why many of these accidents happen. Drivers who are distracted are not capable of spotting wildlife on the roads in time, so they can make the right driving decisions to avoid them. Instead, they panic, overact and jerk their vehicles into oncoming traffic and other motorists without looking first. 

Drivers should also follow all posted traffic signs, especially in areas that have frequent deer sightings They should drive slower and use their high beams in areas where there is less visibility and be prepared to apply their brakes when they see wildlife. According to Wate.com, drivers should be extra cautious when driving on the roads, especially during the evening and early morning hours. Deer and other seasonal wildlife creatures are more likely to be out, searching for food, shelter and mates. 

With the proper precautions, motorists can avoid collisions with animals and prevent the loss of life.

Tennessee residents often hear about how strict the state’s laws on drunk or drugged driving are. However, at the same time they also hear about too many cases of an impaired driver seeming to get off without full consequences despite their reckless and negligent behavior.

Sadly, there may be yet another such example as the Supreme Court of Tennessee has recently handed down a ruling that opens up the chance that a drugged driver who killed an innocent woman may not spend time in jail. The case goes back five years when the defendant, operating his pickup truck under the influence of an opioid pain medication, stuck another person who ended up dying as a result of her injuries.

Originally sentenced to spend eight years in prison as part of a plea deal, the defendant lodged a successful appeal and was given a sentence of eight years’ probation instead. In turn, the state took the case to the highest court in the state and now a new sentencing hearing has been ordered. The defendant is an amputee due to a previous crash and this may have contributed to the appeals court’s willingness to grant him probation as he may have had a need to take the medication. For now, family members of the woman who was killed have to wait longer to see what level of justice might be served.

People who lose loved ones in accidents due to other people’s choices and actions may want to reach out to an attorney in Tennessee to learn how they might seek compensation for their losses.

Source: WATE.com, “New sentencing hearing in fatal DUI case for Clairborne County man,” November 4, 2017