Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

How can you safely share the roads?

Driving is an exercise of cooperation, where one must be prepared to pay attention to other people while they are simultaneously paying attention to their own driving and situation. It is therefore important to learn the concept of sharing the road.

One important thing is for other, larger vehicles to remain aware of the fact that they should be sharing the road with smaller vehicles, including motorcyclists. According to the Traffic Safety Marketing administration, motorcyclists face a number of dangers that other drivers don’t face due to the small size of their mode of transportation and the fact that it is not as well protected as a fully covered car, truck or van. Sharing the road means that drivers should be mindful and alert while on the road with motorcycles.

The aim of “sharing the road” is to try raising awareness that the road is a place where all drivers must keep an eye out for each other. This is not only for self-protective safety reasons, but it is also to help other drivers, including motorcyclists, remain safe while they are riding. Sharing the road can include:

  •          Keeping an eye out for motorcyclists who are riding between lanes
  •          Making sure not to turn suddenly and checking both ways thoroughly
  •          Giving motorcyclists a wide enough berth on the road

By doing these things, the chances of an accident happening could be decreased, which is good for everyone involved. The additional safety measures could help keep all drivers just a little less likely to be involved in an accident.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

In the weeks following a fatal accident

If your loved one has been involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident, you may not know what to do next. It is a life-changing event that could shake the foundation of your life. Here at Pryor Priest & Harbor, we understand that this is a difficult time and wish to help you through it.

Though dealing with legal matters may be quite far from your mind at a time like this, it is important to understand that you might need the legal compensation in order to fortify your family structure at this crucial time. If the loved one that has passed contributed to the household income, you will need to fill the gap that they will leave. If the accident was caused by negligence, you will be able to legally pursue it as a wrongful death case. This means that another party can be held responsible for the death of your loved one.

Not only can this help you pay for any potential medical bills, insurance, or other lost expenses, but it may also give you peace of mind. In some cases, such as lethal accidents involving DUI charges, you may also be able to take a menace off of the roads. This could prevent further fatal accidents in the future, making the roads a safer place to be for everyone.

While it is difficult to move forward at this time, that is perhaps one of the most important things that you can do. For more information on dealing with the aftermath of a fatal vehicular accident, please visit our web page.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

The benefits and drawbacks of motorcycles

You may be one of many people recently deciding to switch from cars to motorcycles. You may be a long time rider with a lot of experience on the road already. In any situation, it is wise to understand both the benefits and drawbacks of choosing a motorcycle over other methods of transportation.

The benefits of motorcycles are growing in recent years. Not only are they smaller and easier to care for, but you may also be tempted by the lower gas prices. Cars will certainly cost you more money to fuel than a motorcycle will. Additionally, you may be aware of the fact that motorcycle safety has improved a lot over the years. While there is unfortunately no real way to protect a motorcyclist from every threat due to the fact that the riders are not enclosed, improvements to motorcycles and to roadway habits have lowered the number of fatal accidents.

On the other hand, you should also be aware of the downsides of motorcycles. For one, it can be difficult to use them frequently if you live in an area that does not have good weather. For example, driving a motorcycle in the snow or rain is very difficult or unpleasant. You also face the increased chance of having serious injuries from an accident. This is due to the fact that you are mostly exposed while on a motorcycle. You may face injuries such as road rash, broken bones, and traumatic injury to the brain or spinal column. Accidents are often a factor that put some people off of biking.

If you would like to learn more about the potential injuries you may face when on your motorcycle, please visit the given link. You will be able to read more about the subject on our web site.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Common causes of motorcycle accidents

Motorcycle accidents can be more fatal than car accidents for a number of reasons. The primary reason is because motorcyclists simply don’t have as much protection as drivers in covered vehicles do. Because of this, it is important for motorcyclists to know what their risks are and how to combat them.

First of all, certain types of motorcycle accidents are more common than others. As stated by the California Bikers Organization, upwards of 56% of fatal motor vehicle accidents are caused by head-on collisions. It is also noted that motorcycles are only struck from the rear in about 5% of accidents, making that risk a much smaller one, comparatively. Other common causes for accidents can include driving while under the influence or speeding. Running into road obstacles can also be dangerous to motorcyclists. Obstacles can include potholes, uneven heights between lanes, dead animals or bad pavement

Additionally, lane splitting and left hand turns make up a large percentage of accidents. 42% of motorcycle accidents involve cars making left hand turns. Lane splitting is the act of driving between two lanes when traffic is stopped. While there are safe ways to do this, doing it unsafely can cause accidents.

As for motorcycle accident prevention, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the best method of preventing accidents is to keep one’s wits about them. Unfortunately motorcyclists will always be at more risk in an accident between a motorcycle and a car, so they must watch out for themselves.

Being aware of the types of common accidents motorcyclists get into can help others be aware of their own driving patterns, which can therefore save someone from further accidents.

 

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

How many fatal car crashes happen in Tennessee?

If you have lost a loved one in an unnecessary to the accident due to the negligence of someone else, you know pain and suffering that is unmeasurable. Too many Knoxville residents have had to experience such grief. An automobile accident is a common cause of these tragic situations and whether caused by a drunk driver, a fatigued truck driver or a driver otherwise unaware or reckless, the impact of the wrongful death lingers on.

A look at statistics collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives an overview of how extensive the problem of fatal accidents really is in Tennessee. In 2013, 995 people died in a fatal car crash of some sort statewide. Of those, 60 died in Knox County. Further data suggests that every person in Tennessee can face the risk of these acccidents as follows:

  • Motorcyclists represented 137 of the state’s deaths and five of the county’s deaths.
  • Pedestrians represented 80 of the state’s deaths and four of the county’s deaths.
  • Bicyclists represented eight of the state’s deaths and one of the county’s deaths.
  • Large trucks were involved in 126 state fatalities and six county fatalities.

Alcohol and speeding were noted as factors in several of the crashes. Statewide, 277 lives were lost at the hands of drunk drivers and 236 deaths were impacted by speeding. In Knox County, drunk drivers claimed 16 lives and speeders another nine.

Knoxville residents interested in learning more about wrongful death cases can visit our website. Nothing can bring back a deceased family member but understanding options for compensation may be one way of processing such a loss.

 

 

Categories
Car Accidents

Head-on collision claims life of driver

Tennessee residents know that car accidents are a sad but true fact of life on area roads. The best defensive driving tactics are not enough to prevent every potential crash. Luckily, many such accidents are minor and may involve only a bit of damage to vehicles. However, when an accident injury occurs, the concerns can increase. When a person is killed in a car accident, friends and family members of the victim are left searching for answers and compensation.

Car accident injuries can range dramatically from a brain injury to broken bones and more. Emotional as well as physical trauma is also common in an automobile accident. For two families, the emotional pain is being experienced deeply after a fatal head-on accident that happened recently. For each family, the angst is slightly different as it appears that the actions of one driver were potentially responsible for the crash.

While driving along State Route 840, a 27-year-old woman veered of the road. In an attempt to get back in her lane, she may have over-corrected. This action put her on the other side of the median and in the path of oncoming traffic. A car driven by a 32-year-old Nashville resident was struck. That driver was taken by helicopter to the hospital and has survived. The first driver died after being ejected from her car. It is not known if any insurance claims or other actions have yet been initiated.

People in Tennessee who have been the victim of a serious car crash deserve help as they recover. Talking with an experienced lawyer may provide options for how best to receive the necessary help.

Source: wgnsradio.com, “Fatal Multi-Vehicle Crash on SR 840 – Names Released,” September 3, 2015

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Cars failing to stop for school buses, says Tennessee mother

As school starts up again this fall in Knoxville, many children will walk to and from school or their bus stops. When drivers fail to pay attention or obey traffic laws in school zones, children may be put in great danger of being injured in a pedestrian accident. Sometimes, children may not fully understand how to safely walk near traffic and might take risks a driver is not prepared for. However, in many other cases, a negligent, speeding or distracted driver may disregard safety laws and harm a child.

Already, a Tennessee mother has expressed worry for children who cross the street at a bus stop in Memphis. The woman’s concern may reflect the feelings of countless parents across the state with children who walk to their schools or bus stops. Reportedly, the woman took a cell phone video of vehicles driving past buses that were stopped to let children off. She said that she almost saw a young girl get hit by a car that continued driving past the stopped bus.

Tennessee law requires all drivers to stop when a school bus has its stop sign extended to allow children to safely cross the street. This includes large, multi-lane roadways with a center turn lane instead of a barrier or median. It is important for drivers to be vigilant for buses that have stopped, and to watch for children crossing the street. Those who fail to obey school zone laws may cause tragic fatal accidents and might therefore be held liable for the wrongful death of a child, funeral expenses for the family and criminal charges.

Source: News Channel 3, “Mother concerned about cars passing stopped school buses,” Caitlin Alexander, Sept. 3, 2015

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Typical dangers a motorcyclist may face at any time

Fall is underway, but for many Knoxville residents, autumn is the perfect time of year for a motorcycle ride. The combination of the crisp weather and beautiful fall scenery can create the perfect setting for an afternoon excursion. Motorcycle enthusiasts need to understand the unique dangers they face on the road and prepare as best they can to avoid serious injuries in a motorcycle accident.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that in 2013, there were 137 fatalities in motorcycle crashes in Tennessee. These numbers were similar nearly every year in the previous decade. In more than 80 percent of crashes reported throughout the United States, motorcyclists suffered a serious injury or were killed.

What are the most common factors that make motorcycle accidents so dangerous to bikers? Most of the time in a crash involving another vehicle, the motorcyclist is ejected from the bike. Unlike cars and trucks, bikers have no protection from seatbelts and airbags. A helmet may provide some protection against head injuries, but is not a guarantee of safety. The same applies for protective biker clothing completely preventing a motorcyclist from sustaining broken bones or severe road rash.

It may be difficult for a driver to notice a motorcycle in his or her blind spot. Also, it is not uncommon for drivers to fail to watch for bikers sharing the roads. Cars and trucks frequently turn in front of motorcycles or change lanes without noticing the bike nearby. They may also not realize that motorcycles need extra following distance due to their ability to stop faster than larger vehicles. Motorcyclists who are injured by negligent drivers have the right to seek compensation.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

What are skid injuries?

Motorcyclists have a number of issues to keep an eye on when they are on the road. This is because they are less protected by their vehicle than other drivers. As a direct result of that, many motorcyclists who get into accidents can end up facing severe injuries due to being unprotected.

One type of injury is known as road burn, road rash, or skid injuries. Road rash is defined as a moderate or severe case of abrasion by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. This type of injury occurs when a person’s body is dragged against the rough pavement of a road. The abrasive action usually causes a skid mark, or “burn”, on the person’s skin. This burn can vary in degrees of intensity. For example, some people may get a slight road burn beneath their clothing if they hit the ground at a fast speed.

On the other hand, there are very serious skid injuries. If someone comes into contact with the road and their skin is uncovered, there is no protective layer to keep them safe. This can result in massive areas of the skin being sanded down. Excessive bleeding and even muscle injury can occur in a very serious case of road burn. Additionally, some types of road burn may require a skin graft. This is to help aid in the healing process but it can be costly, painful, and can leave a person looking different than they did before.

Because of all of these factors, road burns are actually much more serious injuries than many people think when they first hear the name. For this reason, motorcyclists who get into an accident and suffer from skid injuries need to get care quickly.

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk drivers to face heavier penalties

Drinking and driving is still a nation-wide problem despite the many campaigns against it. When dealing with drunk drivers and the accidents that can be caused by them, many states including Illinois are beginning to instate harsher punishments and swifter reinforcements.

Illinois in particular is starting to crack down even harder on DUI offenders. Patrols will be picking up around the Labor Day holiday. Additionally, a campaign called Booze It and Lose It has been launched. Due to this program, DUI enforcement will be up from August 19 to September 7.This means that more patrols will be out and dedicated to finding DUI offenders.

It should also be known to drivers that the penalty for DUI charges can be harsh. This even includes first time charges. For example, drivers can face up to a $5,000 fine just for one DUI. This is on top of jail time that they might have to serve, which is a large enough deterrent on its own. Some officers speculate that the statistics are so high simply because no one ever believes that an accident or arrest will happen to them. However, statistics show that at least 18 people choose to drink and drive a day and are caught for it.

With the crackdown under way, anyone who enjoys recreational drinking should be prepared by having designated  drivers or other means of getting home. Anyone who ends up facing DUI charges may wish to contact an attorney, in the meantime, as they may be able to help.

Source: WBBJ, “Sheriff’s office to crack down on DUI enforcement,” Aug 19, 2015