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Author: Anthony Proffitt

Categories
Truck Accidents

Examining priorities in trucking safety

Tennessee motorists may have heard that the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is concerned with the failure of regulators to act on many matters related to trucking safety in recent years. The board has stated its belief that changes are necessary in the coming year. In a recent news conference, the NTSB referenced the injury of comedian Tracy Morgan as it highlighted statistics that reflect a need for aggressive action.

Technology is highlighted as one of the areas for promoting a reduction in truck crashes. Sensors that could warn drivers of potential lane changes or collision risks could minimize the potential for accidents. Additional points of emphasis should include improved oversight of hour limits for drivers as well as more effective regulation of trucking entities that have reported high rates of accidents.

Statistically, the board notes a four-year trend of increasing numbers of fatalities connected with trucking accidents. From 2009 to 2013, the incidentshave increased by 17 percent. Fatigue was a concern in the Tracy Morgan situation, and the NTSB recommends more thorough screening for sleep disorders and other related conditions that could jeopardize motorists. Safety enforcement is also cited as a potential area that may be tied to problems with trucking accidents. Meanwhile, some regulations may have been weakened because of congressional efforts to promote further research of the effects of rush-hour driving on trucking incidents.

Although national efforts to tighten regulations may be important, those future actions do little to help a motorist who is currently suffering damages and injuries because of an accident involving a fatigued or otherwise negligent truck driver. A successful personal injury claim could assist in covering past, current and future medical expenses as well as providing compensation for other damages incurred.

Source: Bloomberg News, “Trucking Safety Should Be a Higher U.S. Priority, NTSB Says”, Alan Levin, 01/13/2015

Categories
Car Accidents

Tennessee man seriously injured in wrong-way accident

A part-time musician faces extensive rehabilitation after being seriously hurt in a deadly collision in Tennessee on Jan. 10. At press time, the man was undergoing treatment for his injuries at Skyline Medical Center in the neurological intensive care unit. News sources say that the injured man was traveling in a fellow musician’s Corvette when it was hit by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 65. The driver of the Corvette lost his life in the crash.

The incident happened near Old Hickory Boulevard at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Reports indicate that the 38-year-old woman who allegedly caused the fatal car accident is expected to be charged with vehicular assault and vehicular homicide by intoxication upon her release from the hospital where she is also undergoing treatment for serious injuries.

Few details about the accident are available. According to news sources, authorities received a number of emergency calls from drivers who spotted the wrong-way driver prior to the incident. However, police were not able to stop the alleged drunk driver in time to prevent the collision.

When a person is catastrophically injured in an accident, mounting medical bills and lost wages may represent only a fraction of the total loss that the individual might suffer. Knoxville residents facing such circumstances may find it beneficial to ask a personal injury attorney for help. An attorney may be able to determine the true value of a claim as well as negotiate a favorable settlement for clients outside of the courtroom. The attorney could also establish liability of all negligent parties in a claim.

Source: WATE, “Family of fatal wrong-way I-65 crash survivor asks for prayers,” Joseph Pleasant, Jan. 12, 2015

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

1 dead, 1 injured in Tennessee head-on crash

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, a man was killed in a head-on collision that occurred on Jan. 9. The accident occurred around 7:40 a.m. on Highway 107 in the 1600 block.

The 42-year-old man was driving his Chevy S-10 pickup truck on the highway. A 43-year-old man driving a Honda Accord had been weaving in and out of traffic and passing other vehicles, according to witness reports. The Honda’s driver allegedly swerved out in front of the man’s pickup truck. The victim attempted to avoid hitting the Honda, but witnesses indicated the Honda also swerved, colliding head-on into the man’s truck.

Responding medical personnel declared the 42-year-old dead at the accident scene. The Honda’s driver was flown for treatment of his injuries to Johnson City Medical Center. Authorities indicate the Honda’s driver is currently in stable condition. They also indicated their investigation into the accident is continuing and that criminal charges may be filed against the man.

The families of those who are unexpectedly killed due to the wrongful actions of another driver must deal with not only the grief of their unexpected loss but also significant financial expenses. Families of those killed may have been dependent on their loved one’s income. Additionally, there may be medical expenses for treatment that the decedent received as well as funeral arrangement costs to deal with. All of these damages are potentially recoverable by filing of a wrongful death lawsuit. A family might want to consider contacting a personal injury lawyer for assistance with preparing the suit.

Source: WJHL, “Man dies in Friday morning crash in Chuckey, TN”, Jan. 9, 2015

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Potential benefits of V2V technology in motorcycles

Tennessee motorcyclists may be aware of their vulnerability on the road, but vehicle-to-vehicle communications (V2V) that are currently being developed and tested in light vehicles could reduce the risks for motorcyclists as well. The most common motorcycle accidents are those in which another motorist doesn’t see the motorcycle in time to avoid an accident. V2V technology is designed to monitor driving conditions and provide drivers with warnings that allow time to adjust and avoid accidents.

Research by the Department of Transportation has demonstrated that most multi-vehicle accidents can be avoided with V2V technology as vehicles exchange data with each other. At the same time, concerns for privacy are addressed in that the technology does not identify vehicles. The technology is being tested in both controlled situations and on the roads, with a 2012 testing of almost 3,000 vehicles having provided an important perspective on how models from different manufacturers interact.

Some of the scenarios in which V2V is expected to make a dramatic difference include left turns across two lanes of traffic, potential head-on collisions related to passing on a two-lane highway and the approach of a vehicle on a collision course. A left turn is one of the most common motorcycle accident scenarios as well as one of the most serious with regard to injuries suffered by the motorcyclist. Although V2V testing may not involve motorcycles yet, the potential is encouraging to those who are concerned about their safety while riding.

Future technology and improvements may be great news to the motorcycling community, but an individual who is dealing with significant injuries after a motorcycle accident may need solutions for their situation now. If another motorist caused such an accident through negligent driving, personal injury litigation may be appropriate for seeking damages related to issues such as injuries, medical costs and lost work time.

Source: Ultimate Motorcycling, “Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications for Motorcycles?,” Gary Ilminen, Jan. 6, 2015

Categories
Car Accidents

The dangers of distracted driving

Tennessee readers may be familiar with the dangers associated with distracted driving, which is understood by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to include any activity done while driving that takes one’s attention away from the road. The public health agency reported that more than 9 people are killed in accidents related to distracted driving every day in the United States.

Distracted driving can be either visual, manual or cognitive. While taking one’s eyes or hands off the road or wheel can certainly be dangerous, cognitive distraction may be even more insidious because most people aren’t aware they’re distracted when it happens.

Studies have shown that younger drivers under the age of 20 tend to be most at risk for causing such distracted driving-related accidents; according to a 2011 CDC report, nearly half of high school students admitted to texting while driving, an activity that involves all three forms of distraction.

The problem has become large enough to spur action by the federal and state governments. For instance, the Federal Railroad Administration and Motor Carrier Safety Administration have both banned the use of cellphone texting while employees are on the job. In addition, multiple states have enacted laws seeking to mitigate the occurrence of cellphone-related accidents by raising awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

If someone causes serious injury to another driver while driving distractedly, they may be held accountable for all of the victim’s medical expenses and any additional damages related to their pain and suffering should the victim pursue a claim against them. Since some drivers attempt to dispute the extent of their liability or hide it entirely, the victim of such an accident may benefit from enlisting an attorney to advocate their case. The attorney may be able to present evidence against the opposing party and expedite the transfer of any compensation that is ultimately awarded.

Source: CDC, “Distracted Driving“, January 02, 2015

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Impaired driving in Tennessee

Drivers who operate their vehicles on the roads of Tennessee in a state of alcohol intoxication or other chemical impairment are among the most serious hazards presented on the highway. Drivers whose abilities have been influenced by drugs or drinking are responsible for a large number of injuries and fatalities across the United States every day. In fact, according to one authoritative estimate, almost 30 people are killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents every day.

This amounts to more than 10,000 fatalities in the average year. The collective costs associated with such accidents reach approximately $59 billion every year.

In addition, about 20 percent of the children under the age of 14 who die on the roads in an average year are killed in an accident involving alcohol. About half of these children were riding in the car with the intoxicated individual behind the wheel.

Those who have been hurt in a car accident involving an intoxicated driver may wish to pursue legal redress for their injuries and compensation for the economic harm that has been done to them. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a serious violation of the law in the state of Tennessee, and the state will prosecute when there is evidence that such a crime has been committed. This criminal prosecution would be carried out separately from any personal injury suit that may be pending against an allegedly intoxicated driver, as the lawsuit would be a civil action. However, any information that enters the public record at a criminal trial may be used by the plaintiff in a civil case. An attorney may be able to assist with filing a lawsuit and assembling the necessary evidence for presentation to the defendant, their representatives and the court.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Impaired Driving: Get the Facts“, January 03, 2015

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

How fatal wrecks impact Tennessee residents

An examination of data gleaned from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows a number of trends that might interest Tennessee motorists. These Fatality Analysis Reporting System statistics demonstrate that, while some places, like the District of Columbia, only had around 2.4 vehicle crash fatalities per 100,000 people, other locales, like Montana and North Dakota, played host to upwards of 20 fatalities per 100,000 residents.

According to statistics released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute, population density is a major contributing factor in motor vehicle death rates, but it isn’t necessarily the deciding parameter. Tennessee, with a population of under 7 million, experienced more than 1,000 traffic fatalities in 2012. This total was on the same order of magnitude as the number of deaths in some more populated states, like New York.

The institute noted that details like road speeds and local traffic laws could also play roles in fatal crashes. In Tennessee, where just under 50 percent of fatal accident motorists had known BAC results yet data remained unavailable on the total percentage of drivers who sustained fatal injuries with BACs over the limit, alcohol could be a critical ongoing road safety factor. The Highway Loss Data Institute also pointed out that not all states maintain reporting information on BAC crash involvement.

Criminal courts don’t always help survivors recover from vehicle accidents. For instance, a wreck that leads to the death of a primary caregiver or breadwinner might leave their relatives unable to afford their normal living expenses. Nonetheless, traffic courts and district attorneys aren’t responsible for offsetting survivors’ costs with judgment awards. Many victims consider wrongful death lawsuits and other civil court actions as a means of pursuing restitution.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, “Fatality Facts“, December 30, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

How to prevent common car crash injuries in Tennessee

A number of injuries that occur frequently in motor vehicle accidents might be avoided if drivers and passengers apply a few responsible and cautionary measures. First, everyone in a vehicle should be required to use a seat belt or the proper restraining system for his or her body size and location within the vehicle. Secondly, the driver ought to avoid distractions and remain alert to the vehicles’ surroundings and the road signs.

In the event of a car wreck, preventable bodily injuries include those from the neck up. It may be helpful to tell passengers to use the natural instinct to protect the head by wrapping their arms around their head and possibly covering their face. The hope is to lessen the impact or soften the blow during a crash in an effort to escape severe head injuries such as skull or jaw fractures. Data collected by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that front and side air bags are instrumental in decreasing the risk of serious brain injuries resulting from car accidents.

The proper use of lap and shoulder restraints can help limit back and lower limb injuries because seat belts help to keep the body immobile during a crash. A decrease in the severity of motor vehicle wreck related whiplash and spinal injuries is possible. Riding in a vehicle with feet placed together in front of the body and toward the floorboard as intended is the ideal position to decrease injury to the lower extremities.

When an accident injury occurs, a car accident victim may decide to pursue compensation for damages. A personal injury attorney could help answer questions and obtain accident reports. He or she might represent an injured party in a civil lawsuit or assist with insurance company negotiations.

Source: Cars Direct, “Most Common Preventable Injuries that Happen in a Car Crash“, December 26, 2014

Categories
Truck Accidents

Truck accidents in Tennessee

Motorists in Tennessee may be interested in understanding more about trends involving large trucks. Information about truck accidents has been collected and published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. During 2012, there were 1,379 vehicles involved in fatal crashes that occurred in Tennessee. Large trucks accounted for 7.8 percent of the state’s total deadly accidents, and the 107 fatal crashes involving large trucks in Tennessee accounted for less than 3 percent of the U.S. total.

There were nearly 105,000 injuries and more than 3,900 fatalities in crashes that involved large trucks during 2012. The number of fatalities represented a 4 percent increase from the previous year. Approximately 18 percent of the fatalities were occupants in large trucks, 73 percent of the deaths were people in other vehicles and 10 percent were not inside any vehicle. The total number of fatalities for occupants inside large trucks and occupants in other vehicles increased by 9 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

The number of injuries associated with large trucking accidents increased by 18 percent from the previous year. Among those injured in trucking accidents during 2012, 24 percent were occupants of large trucks and 73 percent were inside other vehicles. Approximately 3 percent of the injuries were attributed to occupants not riding in any vehicle. The NHTSA considers large trucks to be those with a gross weight that exceeds 10,000 pounds.

People who are injured in a large truck accident may benefit from confiding in legal counsel. A lawyer might be able to investigate the accident and help determine any party may be held culpable for ensuing damages. In order to collect restitution, legal counsel may have to prove that the defendant’s negligence was the cause of the damages.

Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis, “Traffic Safety Facts – Large Trucks“, December 23, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

Man fatally wounded in two-car accident on Interstate 40

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the 40-year-old driver of a 2003 Toyota was fatally wounded in a two-car accident that occurred on Dec. 18. The accident happened on Interstate 40 near Lovell Road at 3:58 a.m. Two other drivers were taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center; one person was treated and released and the hospital said they had no record of treatment of the other individual.

According to a Trooper with the Highway Patrol, the accident took place when the driver of a 2014 Toyota RAV4 was traveling westbound on I-40 near the 375 exit and slowed down because of traffic associated with an accident that had happened earlier around 3:39 a.m. at mile marker 374. The man who was driving the 2003 Toyota struck the Toyota RAV4 from behind, forcing it off the road.

Police said both the driver and passenger in the Toyota RAV4 were wearing their seat belts; however, the man who was fatally wounded was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the car crash. He was a substitute carrier who was en route to pick up newspapers from the News Sentinel and deliver them for his wife, who was the regular carrier for the paper. The interstate was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

When an accident has caused a fatality, police may conduct a thorough investigation to determine if a wrongful death occurred. If it can be established that a circumstance such as texting while driving, distracted driving or hazardous road conditions contributed to the cause of the automobile accident, they may determine that a driver was responsible. It is possible that the injured parties or family members of the man who died may seek compensation for medical bills or lost wages.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel , “One killed in I-40 West crash near Lovell Road“, December 18, 2014