Author: Anthony Proffitt

Car accidents can occur in any situation and can cause any amount of harm to someone. Earlier this year a young boy was struck by a vehicle while he was riding his bicycle and his life is forever changed. The accident is causing much uproar as the friends and family of the young boy believe his medical condition as a result of this accident wasn’t regarded with the amount of consideration it deserved. Tennessee residents may have heard of this case, wherein community members of the boy’s state are now petitioning their governor to rethink how it sees such accidents.

This car accident has caused the young boy, an eighth grader, to deal with a traumatic brain injury for the rest of his life as well as losing most of his mobility in his limbs, cognitive response and communication skills. He remains alive, however, he is unable to do much, if anything on his own. His parents’ journey after his accident has cost them over $1 million worth of medical expenses, the mother’s job, and now they must face the decision about how to proceed with their son’s condition. The boy’s mother explains that her son’s life is ongoing physically, yet he is not able to function other than that and has begun preparing for whatever comes next.

This accident has garnered a lot of attention not just from the community around this family, but many people in the state and area have signed a petition to reevaluate the traffic laws surrounding pedestrian and bicycle crashes. A woman close to the family notes that the penalties for hitting construction workers can be up to fourteen years in prison and a substantial fine, larger than the $1,000 and no jail sentence that was required of the driver in this case.

While the ability to petition remains an option for a Colorado citizen, it cannot always fix the situations that have already occurred. For victims of car accidents that have changed a life similar to this young boy’s, contacting legal counsel might be able to help with the added stress of the financial burden as you begin to move forward. Understanding your options regarding medical care, insurance, and compensation may make this difficult time a little easier.

Source: The Chicago Tribune, “Parents, friends of disabled Downers Grove teen petition to change traffic law,” Dawn Rhodes, Nov. 2, 2012

It was this time one year ago that a truck collecting leaves hit and killed an 18-year-old in another state. The local and state officials reached out and made efforts to prevent this kind of truck accident from happening again, but just a few weeks ago another accident occurred due to the same culprit: limited visibility. Tennessee pedestrians and drivers may have heard about this accident and may want to use it as an example of the fact that some trucks on the roads may be less safe than others.

The accident that happened earlier this month involved a truck that had a large leaf vacuum on the front of the vehicle, which was reportedly the reason for the incident. The pedestrian who was hit and is in critical condition is 43 years old. The state’s officials explain the residents’ frustrations as the trucks with front vacuums have been taken off the roads, making the leaf collection take longer than expected this year. The reason for the style of truck vacuums is reported to be because it is a more affordable design, only requiring one employee to drive and work the truck.

With the coming fall and winter seasons, weather is likely going to be a factor for Tennessee drivers and the vehicles that are responsible for plowing and collecting snow and leaves are intended to make the roads safer, not more dangerous. Various safety methods are being proposed in the state where the truck accident happened, in an effort to minimize any more accidents caused by the trucks.

Tennessee residents who have been injured by a similar kind of truck or vehicle due to visibility issues would do well to look into their options and laws regarding pedestrian accidents. Contacting an attorney could also help in a situation similar to this one, as the accident may have been due to the negligence of another party and you may be eligible for compensation.

Source: Sheboygan Press, “Wisconsin State Patrol blocks certain leaf trucks in Neenah, Oshkosh,” Duke Behnke, Oct. 24, 2012

While most drivers in Tennessee aren’t racing their cars when they are involved in an accident, the recent several-car crash involving Dale Earnhardt may be more relatable than some might think. The racecar driver suffered a concussion that took him out of the scheduled races for several weeks and only in the last week was he cleared to get back out onto the track. Such an injury can occur in any kind of car accident and, once you have one you are far more susceptible to repeat injuries.

Earnhardt suffered his concussion while racing at Talladega on Oct. 7. This injury came only a month and some change after a similar one from a crash in late August, sources say. Earnhardt was reported to have explained that while it was odd not driving in the races he missed while recovering, he wanted to make sure to heal before he got back out there, per his doctor’s instructions. He was on leave for two weeks and reportedly spent time building up to his normal functionality.

The likelihood of getting a concussion grows incredibly after you’ve already sustained one. For Tennessee drivers who have already recovered from one, being sure you’ve healed before getting back to your normal daily life and driving once again can help lower the risk of a second brain injury. While the risks remain for everyone, new research is being done about the effects of traumatic brain injuries, such as concussion, and physicians continue to work toward the best ways of recovery for their injured patients.

There have been more and more athletes with concussions in the news lately and this example may help Tennessee residents to be more aware of how serious a car crash can be. Whether one occurred due to a sport, a car accident or a mixture of both as in this case, contacting an attorney who specializes in personal injury could help if you believe your injury was due to the negligence of someone else. It may not make your recovery process any faster, but it could help with any lost wages or medical bills and to move forward from such an accident.

Source: wbir.com, “Earnhardt Jr. back on track after concussion,” The Sports Network, Oct. 26, 2012

As we talked about in our previous post, there are some hazards of the road that we sometimes do not have control over. Weather is one of the most prominent influences in driving safety in Tennessee and all over the world. We can prepare for certain kinds of weather with defrost, snow tires and windshield wipers, but sometimes even the most cautious of drivers loses control of their vehicle due to weather conditions.

One Tennessee man is reported to have recently lost control of his vehicle due to the slick roads and wet leaves on the ground, making it difficult for his tires to achieve a safe amount of traction, presumably. The car crash, in Hawkins County, resulted in his vehicle going off the road and hitting a house. The car went through a wall and into an unsuspecting, 63-year-old home woman’s kitchen. The driver did not sustain any injuries of note and the woman whose kitchen her car went into reportedly had some minor ones.

As we are nearing winter, it’s important to make sure your vehicle is in proper working order. No matter the amount of snow, rain or ice, they can still cause an accident. Keeping an eye out for notices of bad weather and knowing how to maneuver your car in case you lose control due to hydroplaning or drifting can help you in a scary situation. Also, checking to see what kind of brakes you have will help. The woman whose kitchen was crashed into in this case may be a candidate for a personal injury claim, as she reportedly wound up with some minor injuries from the incident and the man driving was given a citation for failure to maintain control.

Drivers have a lot to think about already, but knowing the area and Tennessee weather can help you feel more confident as you’re out on the roads. If you should find yourself with injuries from a weather- or environment-related accident, knowing what caused it can help. If you believe it was caused as a result of someone else’s negligence, working with an attorney to find out if you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries could help you to know how to proceed.

Source: wbir.com, “Car crashes into kitchen of Hawkins Co. home,” Oct. 15, 2012

There are many things we can often control as drivers: how fast we’re going, how loud the music is, when we want to switch lanes…but it’s the things we can’t control that deserve the most attention. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is now urging drivers to be more aware of the other animals that could be on the road, namely deer. They are requesting that in areas where there is a known population of deer that drivers be more cautious, for nearly ten percent of the car accidents from 2007 to 2011 involved the woodland animal.

The THP has stated that there is an expected increase in deer numbers this fall, noting back to last year when there were nearly 600 more deer-related collisions in November than there had been in October. The raise in amount could be attributed to mating, officials say. Whatever the cause, they are clearly a growing community and making the roads more hazardous.

The kind of damage that deer can do varies on the type of impact and their size. One woman who was involved a deer-related crash is reported to have suffered no injuries, but her car was more directly impacted, resulting in broken headlights and a wounded hood. Often where there is one, there will be more. Looking for the bright flashes of their eyes can help you spot one and slow for those that could follow. It is reportedly the second or third deer that gets hit, the THP explains.

Tennessee drivers who cannot avoid a crash with a deer could look into the steps to take afterward by contacting their local area authorities. If a driver has suffered injuries, contacting an attorney who works in personal injury could help them find out how they may be able to receive compensation for their lost wages or medical bills.

Source: wbir.com, “THP urges drivers to watch out for deer,” John Henry, Oct. 17, 2012

• Our firm handles personal injury cases involving motor vehicle accidents. To learn more, visit the automobile accident page on our website.