Author: Anthony Proffitt

A 30-year-old woman has been arrested near Kingston after reportedly causing a multiple vehicle accident on Highway 58. The Tennessee Highway Patrol states that she was driving under the influence of alcohol and has charged her with DUI. After the car accident, both she and a 44-year-old male driver who was seriously injured were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

According to WBIR News, the woman was driving along the highway when she crashed her vehicle into two others and then collided head-on with a Toyota Camry. Her vehicle sped off the highway and flipped upside down before stopping in a nearby yard. In addition to DUI, she has been charged with driving under a suspended license and reckless endangerment.

Sadly, the injured victim’s predicament is far from uncommon. Thousands of motorists are injured by negligent drivers every year, often experiencing deep physical and emotional suffering as a result. When someone is injured in a motor vehicle accident, the consequences can be devastating and long-term. Extended hospitalization and subsequent rehabilitative therapy are prohibitively expensive for many families, and some people simply cannot afford the lost wages and income such circumstances oblige. If the injury is serious enough, the victim may not be able to return to work at all.

In addition to the criminal charges against her, the woman in this case may also be exposed to a civil claim by the victim and his family. In order to determine full culpability, it is often necessary to thoroughly investigate the scene of the accident. Experienced car accident attorneys can interview any available witnesses and inspect the damage to all involve vehicles to corroborate their testimonies with physical evidence. Furthermore, an attorney can review the individual circumstances of all injured parties to help ensure the equitable distribution of any financial compensation to which they may be entitled.

Source: wbir.com, “Roane Co. four-car crash sends man to hospital“, June 03, 2013

Two young Tennessee girls, aged 17 and 15, had to be airlifted to a university hospital after being struck by a driver in a truck. The truck crossed over into the other lane and hit the car, which was driven by the 17-year-old high school student. The 17-year-old student tried to avoid the crash, but the truck hit her car head on. The students were both part of their local Tennessee school’s cheerleading team, and the driver had just made the cheerleading squad at a Kentucky college. The driver of the truck was also taken to a medical center for treatment after the accident.

The 17-year-old driver of the car suffered a broken femur for which she had to undergo surgery. The passenger was on a ventilator in the intensive care unit of the hospital. The accident not only had an effect on the students but on their friends and family members. The teachers and counselors at the girls’ school offered counseling to students after the accident. The car accident appears to have occurred because of drunk driving.

The truck driver has been cited for different criminal charges, including driving under the influence and vehicular assault. The police have continued to investigate the case to determine her role in causing the serious injuries of the two teenage girls. Under federal law, vehicular assault is a class D felony that can result in jail time for between two and 12 years, license revocation for up to five years and heavy fines and penalties.

After an automobile accident, bills pile up quickly, even with insurance. A car accident attorney may be able to help individuals who have been in a drunk driving accident where other parties were at at fault. A lawyer specializing in automobile accidents might help to ensure that insurance companies provide a fair payment for vehicle repairs or injuries resulting from the accident.

Source: Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “DUI Offenses Outline”

Source: Clarksville Online, “Two Montgomery Central High School Chearleaders injured in DUI accident Thursday Morning“, May 17, 2013

The National Transportation Safety Board promoted a federal law that would drop the blood-alcohol-content level for driving under the influence from .08 to .05 percent. The group feels this would increase highway safety by reducing drunk driving accidents.

One of the groups against the reduced BAC levels is at least one trade association in the restaurant industry, citing statistics that some women will attain a BAC level of .05 percent after only one drink. The group used information from a chart released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reach their conclusions. The NHSTA acts a regulatory group for highway safety and collects accident statistics.

However, the NHTSA indicated that the chart may no longer be accurate. A different chart shows the affect that a BAC level of .05 percent has on drivers, including reduced response time and reduced coordination.

A beer industry group will consider the recommendations from the NHTSA. However, the president of the organization wants legislation to focus on repeat offenders and increased penalties for those with excessively high BAC levels.

The board also recommends that law enforcement personnel take a person’s driver’s license if the driver does not agree to submit to a breathalyzer or if the driver registers a BAC level above a certain maximum. In addition, they are promoting the use of sensors that measure the alcohol content of air during traffic stops. If the sensor signals alcohol, law enforcement could conduct additional tests. They also encouraged ignition interlock devices for every DUI offender and want the states to increase efforts to monitor offender compliance with the IIDs.

If the new legislation is passed that drops the threshold of blood-alcohol content for impaired driving, more people could be found criminally liable for their actions. In addition, some people might file civil lawsuits as well in order to hold the responsible parties financially accountable. A personal injury attorney might be able to help clients determine an appropriate compensation amount.

Source: CNN, “Tougher drunk-driving threshold proposed to reduce traffic deaths“, Mike Ahlers, May 15, 2013

A Knoxville single-car accident has left one University of Tennessee freshman in critical condition and another potentially facing DUI charges. The automobile accident happened at 5:02 am on on May 7 at the Cherokee Trail exit ramp on the Alcoa Highway.

According to Knoxville Police, it appeared that the driver drove the SUV off the exit ramp and down a steep 150-foot embankment. One girl was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled down the hill. Police said that girl suffered potentially fatal injuries. The driver of the car was walking around when police arrived. Another passenger freed herself and suffered minor injuries.

Police reportedly found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the car and scattered around the crash scene. The driver and his passengers had just left a party and were returning to their on-campus apartments. A police spokesperson said the driver is in the process of being charged with a DUI.

Drunk driving accidents can cause severe damage and devastating injuries. Victims of another driver’s negligence or impairment may suffer life-altering or potentially fatal injuries through no fault of their own. These injuries can often lead to costly expenses for things like medical care, rehabilitation and a decline in quality of life.

Victims who suffer injuries caused by negligent or impaired drivers may be entitled to compensation and may find value in meeting with an attorney. An experienced personal injury attorney could examine the case, determine if a claim is appropriate and estimate the amount of damages to request. If a settlement is reached, the attorney could negotiate to obtain the most money possible to cover the victim’s expenses.

Source: Knoxnews.com, “KPD: 19-year-old UT student at wheel in crash that seriously injured another student“, Don Jacobs, May 07, 2013