Author: Anthony Proffitt

Tennessee residents might be familiar with the news report about Bruce Jenner’s recent car accident and the wrongful death lawsuit he faces. According to reports, surviving family members of a woman who died in the car accident on Feb. 7 have filed civil charges against Jenner, claiming that the 65-year-old ex-athlete is to blame for driving in a negligent manner that caused the crash.

The chain-reaction accident reportedly transpired when Jenner, whose vehicle was pulling a trailer carrying an all-terrain vehicle, smashed into the back of another vehicle, pushing it into a third vehicle. The force of the impact sent the third vehicle into the opposite lane, where it collided head-on with a fourth vehicle. The driver who got sent into oncoming traffic, a 69-year-old woman, died in the crash.

Authorities have used details from traffic camera footage to assist in their investigation. They stated that the footage does not reveal that Jenner was using a mobile device when the crash occurred. At the time of reporting, investigators were still working to determine the cause of the accident, and no criminal charges were filed against Jenner. Although the suit, which is being filed by two of the decedent’s stepchildren, did not disclose the monetary amount of damages the family is claiming, it was reported that the family has suffered a large amount of losses.

A person who was injured or who has lost a loved one in a car crash due to a driver’s negligent actions might consider pursuing compensation through a civil court action. A personal injury lawyer may be able to evaluate the police report, witness statements and camera footage for evidence that might point to the driver responsible for the accident. If negligence was found to be a factor in the crash, the plaintiffs may receive a monetary award for their accident-related losses. In some wrongful death suits, the surviving family members may recover non-economic losses such as loss of companionship.

Source: FOX News, “Bruce Jenner being sued for wrongful death in fatal traffic accident,” May 1, 2015

A car accident that occurred in Tennessee on May 2 left one person dead and two others injured. According to authorities, the incident took place near the intersection of 40th Avenue North and Albion Street close to Tennessee State University.

Police stated that a 37-year-old man was traveling along Clifton Avenue in a black Chevrolet Camaro at a high rate of speed when a police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop. When the man turned onto 40th Avenue North, the officer reportedly decided not to pursue the vehicle. At approximately 5:40 p.m., the Camaro collided with a Chevrolet Trailblazer that he was attempting to pass. The impact caused the Camaro to leave the roadway and strike a building while the Trailblazer rolled over.

The driver of the Camaro was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. A passenger who was in the Camaro, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Chevrolet SUV was also taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Authorities reported that they retrieved a handgun, cash and an unknown amount of marijuana from the Camaro and that charges may be filed once the investigation is completed.

Those who incur an accident injury after becoming involved in a crash with a reckless or careless driver may wish to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to seek compensation for any losses that they sustained. This type of civil lawsuit, which often seeks the costs of medical care and treatment as well as other damages, is possible even if no criminal charges are issued to the responsible driver.

Source: WKRN, “1 killed, 2 injured in crash near TSU“, 05/04/2015

The Lewisburg police chief was involved in a car accident on April 18. The police chief, a 57-year-old man, was on his way to breakfast around 6 a.m. when a vehicle that was being driven by a 68-year-old woman rear-ended him at a stoplight, pushing his vehicle into the intersection. His vehicle then crashed into a light pole nearby.

Patrolmen on the scene say that there were no drugs or alcohol involved in the motor vehicle accident. However, the troopers did state that fog was heavy that morning. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts, and the police chief’s vehicle had its lights on. The police chief could not recall if lights were on on the woman’s vehicle.

Both individuals were injured, but the woman’s injuries were not as severe as the police chief’s injuries. The female driver was transferred to Marshall Medical Center, where she was later released. The police chief was transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He suffered major injuries in his spine. Luckily, he did not sustain head injuries or any organ damage.

Car accidents like these happen without warning. Drivers may be doing everything right and paying good attention to the road when another driver makes a serious error. The injuries that ensue can be catastrophic. Victims of these accidents can end up with thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages and serious personal injuries that change their lives. In cases like these, a lawyer may be able to help victims file insurance claims or cases against distracted and negligent drivers.

Source: Marshall County Tribune, “Chief Chuck Forbis hospitalized following car accident,” Ivory Riner, April 22, 2015

Research continues to show how dangerous distracted driving can be. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month, and insurance companies, among other groups, are promoting awareness of the true dangers of texting or engaging in other distracted behavior while driving. Since many Tennessee drivers and passengers are injured by distracted drivers each year, it is very important that everyone understand how dangerous cell phone use behind the wheel can be.

According to experts, even a two-second glance away from the road can contribute to an accident. During a two-second distraction, while reading a text message for example, a driver traveling at 70 mph can drive half the length of a football field. This means that an automobile accident could occur before the driver realizes that there is danger ahead.

Research using driving simulators that include eye-tracking equipment supports the conclusions that drivers who experience a two-second distraction have slower reaction time to road hazards, such as a vehicle pulling out or stopping ahead. Furthermore, drivers who were tested using this equipment rated their driving ability as high, suggesting that they were unaware that their performance had been impaired by the distraction.

Victims injured in a distracted driving accident may be able to pursue a personal injury claim against the negligent driver. However, without the help of a car accident attorney who has experience in handling distracted driving claims, it may be difficult for victims to recover compensation. An attorney may be able to help the victim collect the necessary evidence to show negligence and claim compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses related to the accident.

Some Tennessee residents may have heard about a deadly car accident that took place at the Walt Disney World Speedway on April 12. A 36-year-old man who worked as an operations manager at the Florida park was killed while riding in the passenger seat of a Lamborghini. The deceased man began working at the Speedway in 2001.

The fatal car accident took place at the Exotic Driving Experience section of the Walt Disney World Speedway. The driver of the vehicle, a 24-year-old man, reportedly lost control and drove into a guardrail. Both of the occupants of the car had seat belts on when the crash occurred. According to police, the exact cause of the accident is being investigated.

Although the Exotic Driving Experience is located on Disney property, Petty Holdings LLC operates the attraction. Guests of both the Exotic Driving Experience and the Richard Petty Driving Experience are allowed to drive or ride in performance vehicles and NASCAR racing cars at high speeds around a racetrack. Following the fatal crash, representatives of both Walt Disney World and Petty Holdings expressed their sympathy for the people involved in the accident.

Those who have suffered serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident that took place at a racetrack may want to speak to an attorney. After an accident like this, there may be other parties who bear responsibility for injuries besides the driver. An attorney might help victims to determine who is liable for their injuries and pursue a lawsuit seeking damages on their behalf.

Source: Huffington Post, “1 Dead In Accident At Walt Disney World Speedway,” Ed Mazza, April 12, 2015

Illegal street races in Tennessee pose a major threat to drivers, pedestrians and spectators. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other transportation agencies, illegal street racing is growing in popularity across the country. To combat this problem, authorities are imposing serious penalties on people found street racing or viewing a street race.

According to the NHTSA, there were 72 fatalities from illegal street races in 2000. NHTSA statistics that were gathered in 2001 showed that the number of fatalities related to illegal street racing had risen to 135 fatal crashes. The NHTSA claims that car accidents are the leading cause of death for individuals between 16 and 20 years old.

Penalties for participating in illegal street racing vary in different jurisdictions. However, some of the penalties that street racers could face include loss of their driver’s license, imprisonment for up to three months and fines of up to $1,000. Street racers could have their vehicle impounded for 30 days or seized permanently and crushed. People caught viewing a street race might be charged for aiding and abetting an unlawful street race.

Illegal street races sometimes lead to car accidents that involve other drivers or passengers who were not involved or aware that the activity was going on. A person who has been injured as a result of a street race that they were not involved in might be able to file a personal injury complaint against the participants and organizers of the race. An attorney may be able to help such a client file a claim in court.

The American Auto Association reports that 1.2 million motor vehicle accidents are caused by wet weather crashes a year. Tennessee drivers can take precautions to avoid accidents during rainy springtime weather, and staying alert and being ready to take action is most important when driving under these types of conditions.

When pavement is dry, a minimum of two seconds should be between a vehicle and the one in front of it. This space should be larger when the pavement is wet even if it is no longer raining, and there should be four seconds between a vehicle and the one in front of it on wet pavement. This could give a motorist enough room to prevent a collision when the roads are wet or slick.

What a driver does regardless of the weather can have an impact on a vehicle while it is raining. Potholes can mess with a vehicle’s alignment and harm the wheels and tires, which can then make driving in the rain harder. Motorists should break before going over potholes when they are unavoidable. This helps slow the car down and avoid damage to the wheels. Tires also need to be correctly aligned and have the proper tread so that the vehicle can stop quickly when the pavement is wet.

A motorist may not be responsible for a car accident when weather conditions make driving difficult and lead to a wreck. However, drivers might be deemed negligent when not taking the proper precautions during bad weather, such as the failure to slow down to a safe speed when rain or snow makes a roadway slippery and harder to drive on.

One of the more serious injuries a person can incur in a motor vehicle accident is a fractured sternum. Because the sternum serves to protect the heart, lungs and important blood vessels beneath it, a fracture may cause concomitant damage to those organs and vessels.

Sternum fractures may occur when a person suffers a hard strike to their chest in a car accident. They are more likely when a person is not wearing a seat belt or if the airbags do not deploy. The fractured bone may then puncture the person’s lungs, rupture the aorta or bruise the person’s heart. Their chest cavity may also fill with blood from the damaged tissues.

People who suffer from a sternum fracture often have other fractures as well, including those to their ribs or vertebrae. Symptoms of a sternum fracture include the appearance of deformity in the area, swelling and bruising across the injury site or difficulty with breathing. People may feel pain when coughing, laughing or sneezing. They may also experience a grinding sound in the area and have sudden muscle spasms. Those who have a sternum fracture are also at risk to develop osteomyelitis or pneumonia, further complicating the injury received.

If people suspect they have suffered a sternum fracture in a car accident, it is important for them to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Getting prompt treatment can aid the victim’s long-term recovery and minimize the risk of developing other illnesses due to the injury. Those who have been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver may also want to consider meeting with a personal injury attorney to determine the remedies that may be available for the recovery of the resulting damages.

On March 27, a car accident that occurred in Tennessee left one person dead and three others with injuries. Authorities reported that the crash took place near the Highland on-ramp on Sam Cooper at approximately 2:30 p.m.

A witness who saw the crash scene stated that two of the vehicles were turned sideways in the eastbound lanes. One of the vehicles appeared to have caught fire at some point. Authorities were not clear on how the crash happened, though it was believed that a 2004 Saturn Vue was heading west when it collided with another vehicle. It appeared that the second vehicle, a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, traveled through the median and entered traffic that was heading east. The Elantra collided with a 2014 Nissan Rogue, which was then struck by a GMC.

The 67-year-old driver of the Saturn reportedly died at the scene of the accident. The three other individuals, all females aged 25, 27 and 30, who were involved in the incident were transported to a nearby hospital with injuries that were considered to be not serious.

A car accident can result in serious injuries for anyone who becomes involved. If it was determined that an injured person did not cause the crash, a personal injury attorney may assist the person with filing a lawsuit seeking compensation for damages, such as medical bill, against the driver who was found to be liable. This lawsuit can potentially be filed even if the liable driver did not survive the crash.

Source: WREG, “One killed in crash on Sam Cooper near Highland,” Ashley Crockett and Jessica Gertler, March 27, 2015

Source: WMC Action News 5, “Victim in fatal crash at Sam Cooper & Graham identified,” March 27, 2015