Category: Car Accidents

Whether you have been involved in a seemingly minor fender bender, or a more serious auto accident, you may have suffered significant injuries. Traumatic brain damage is one of the most common accident injuries that can occur. According to Brainline.org, out of the 1.7 million people who suffer from a traumatic brain injury each year, approximately 17.3 percent are caused by motor vehicle accidents. This number, however, does not account for injuries that go undetected and undiagnosed.

Whiplash can occur when you or the occupants of your vehicle experience a sudden forceful impact. Since the brain is suspended within the skull cavity, a jolt can cause it to bounce into the hard skull bone. As a result, the brain tissue can become bruised, swollen and may begin to bleed. Depending on how severe the injury is, you may see the symptoms of whiplash immediately. Yet, some incidents of brain injuries may take weeks, months or even years to show up.

The symptoms of whiplash may also vary depending on where the brain is damaged. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that headaches, dizziness, confusion and memory problems are common indicators of brain injuries sustained from a whiplash.

If you have been involved in any type of car accident, you may want to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The quicker a brain injury is discovered and diagnosed, the faster you can begin treatment.  Treatment increases your odds of fully recovering and often consists of occupational therapy, speech therapy and other forms of rehabilitation. 

This information is intended to educate and should not be used as legal advice.

It’s no surprise that the number of people who have been injured or killed in distracted driving accidents has remained high throughout the years, as the majority of Americans are cellphone owners. According to Distraction.gov, more than 660,000 people text or talk on cellphones while driving at any given moment during the day. The latest form of distracted driving, however, may put even more lives in danger. In addition to composing texts and updating social media statuses, some drivers in Tennessee and across the country take selfies and post them while behind the wheel.

In fact, a CNN News report found a surprising number of posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter listed under the hashtags #drivingselfie and #drivingtowork. While some of the pictures may have been taken when the driver was stopped in traffic or at a stop light, the degree of danger involved in taking a selfie while driving is significant.

Drivers must use their hands, eyes and concentration in order to compose a text, or post a status update. However, taking a selfie increases the level of danger even more. Not only must the driver pull up the app, but he or she must pose while holding the phone at the best angle and snapping the perfect picture. Furthermore, the driver may choose to add a caption and continue to post the picture, all while driving.  During this time of distraction, drivers are less likely to see and respond to hazardous situations, such as pedestrian crossings, objects or animals in the road or other reckless drivers. 

While you may try to get at least eight hours of sleep every night, you could be one of the many Americans who fail to wake up each morning fully rested. When you hop behind the wheel of your vehicle, you may not think twice about being too tired to drive. The truth is, drowsy driving is a serious problem in Tennessee and across the country. Although obtaining an accurate number of how many car accidents, injuries and deaths involve drowsy drivers is nearly impossible, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that at least 846 people were killed in 2014 as a result of drowsy motorists.

According to the NHTSA, there are certain groups of people who are at greater risk of causing a drowsy driving accident. These include the following:

•          Intoxicated drivers
•          Motorists who are taking prescription or recreational drugs
•          People suffering from sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy, insomnia and sleep apnea
•          People who work overnight or work other irregular hours

Researchers are developing and testing new technology that could help warn drivers if they are falling asleep and alert them to wake up. This technology was tested on truckers who were asked to drive tractor trailers equipped with the warning system. The system detected when truckers’ eyes closed beyond a certain point using near-infrared technology, and then sounded an alarm to rouse them. The study showed that the driving system had a positive impact on the safety of truck drivers, and that truckers who used the technology were able to drive more coherently. 

People who have been involved in serious auto accidents in Knoxville and across the state know that these collisions can cause significant physical and emotional injuries. The number of people who are killed and injured in catastrophic motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. continues to climb, according to an article published in Newsweek.

Approximately 4.4 million people across the nation were injured in car accidents and an estimated 38,300 people died from these collisions in 2015, according to the National Safety Council. Researchers from the NSC analyzed auto-injury and fatality data collected throughout the years and compared it to car accident injuries and deaths recorded in 2015. These statistics show a substantial increase from prior years.

More than half of those injuries were labeled as serious, meaning that they required medical attention. After comparing a period of six months from 2014 to the same period in 2015, researchers found that the rate of serious injuries increased by 30 percent.

Some people correlate this rise in injuries and deaths to an increase in the number of people driving to and from work. The healthier economy, and lower gas prices in 2015, also means that people may have more money to spend on traveling long distances for vacation. With more people on the road, the risk of catastrophic car accidents grows as well. Distraction.gov also indicates that more people are using their cellphones while driving, which can also increase the likelihood of being involved in a deadly collision. In 2014, 431,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents alone. 

Whether you have been involved in a minor fender bender or a serious car accident, the moments following the collision can be stressful and overwhelming. You may have received extensive damage to your vehicle or could suffer from injuries as a result of another person’s negligent behavior. It is crucial that you take the right steps to ensure that you will be fairly compensated for your injuries, property damage and emotional trauma that often stems from a catastrophic accident.

According to State Farm, you should first make sure that everyone is safe and out of harm’s way. In some cases, you may need to move the vehicles involved in the accident out of traffic. However, this may not always be an option. Accident victims should call law enforcement as soon as possible and let them know if anyone was injured in the accident.

It is important to document the accident scene. If possible, take pictures with your cellphone and write down a full account of what happened. Be sure to get the names, contact information, licenses and insurance information from everyone involved in the accident. You may even be able to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision. When speaking with law enforcement officers and insurance agents, only state the facts of what occurred. Since the aftermath of an accident can be extremely chaotic, you don’t want to inadvertently add details to the story that may complicate matters in the future.

This information is intended to educate and should not be taken as legal advice. 

While some people may feel as though they are able to drive while drowsy or fatigued, many do not know the potential consequences of their actions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 800 people were killed and 44,000 people were injured in car accidents involving drowsy drivers in 2013. Furthermore, fatigued drivers in Tennessee and across the country caused at least 72,000 auto collisions that same year. These numbers reflect only reported accidents, however, and do not account for the significant number of collisions that go unreported every year.

At least 70 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleeping disorders, putting them at a potential risk for falling asleep behind the wheel, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who take certain prescription medications that cause drowsiness are also in danger, and should avoid driving. When drowsy motorists engage in distractive behaviors, such as using a cellphone while driving or are intoxicated while behind the wheel, the risk of an accident increases significantly. All drivers should make sure to get plenty of rest before heading out on the road, especially teenage motorists, as they require more sleep.

Not only are drowsy drivers less likely to respond to critical hazards, such as pedestrian crossings, traffic signals or bad weather conditions, but they are unable to react to other drivers’ behavior. If for some reason, a driver must brake suddenly or switch lanes to avoid an object in the road, he or she may be unable to do so if fatigued.

Most parents in Tennessee and across the country understand the importance of buckling their infants, toddlers and small children into a safety seat when in the car. It is mandatory for parents in Tennessee to use car seats and booster seats to restrain their children for the first eight years of their lives. A proposed law, however, would increase this age significantly in hopes of decreasing the number of kids who are killed each year in tragic automobile accidents.

As with many proposed laws, there are both supporters and opponents of the new child safety seat law. While some people believe that the new requirements go too far, others argue that it is best to keep children in safety seats for as long as possible. If Governor Bill Haslam authorizes the proposed law, babies will be required to stay in rear-facing car seats until the age of two, forward-facing car seats until the age of five and booster seats until they reach a height of 4-foot-9 or turn 12 years old.

According to research performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, child safety seats are 71 percent effective at reducing the car accident injury and death rate for infants under one-year of age and 54 percent of children between the ages of one and four years old.

When children are involved in a tragic accident, the results can be catastrophic, especially if they are improperly restrained. A personal injury attorney may be helpful to those who have experienced such an accident.

Source: WJHL News, “Proposed Tennessee law would increase safety seat requirements to 12-years-old,” Sydney Cameron, Mar. 8, 2016.

Whether you have been involved in a fender bender or a catastrophic collision, you are at risk of receiving a soft tissue injury.  While these injuries may be thought of as relatively minor, they can be serious and could have serious consequences if not handled properly. At Pryor, Priest, & Harbor, we understand that injuries obtained in a car accident can be debilitating, and in some cases, can wreak havoc on your life.

Any type of forceful impact can cause your tendons, cartilage, ligaments and/or muscles to tear, swell, rip or stretch. This can result in contusions, strains, sprains, bursitis, tendonitis, as well as a host of other injuries, which may lead to significant pain and could make it difficult for you to function.

Sprains occur when ligaments are stretched beyond their range of movement, and most commonly take place in the knees, ankles, thighs and wrists. Strains, on the other hand, are the result of torn or pulled muscles, and may result in muscle spasms, pain, swelling, muscle weakness, cramping and inflammation.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, you should allow yourself plenty of rest when suffering from a strain, sprain or contusion. It is also recommended that you ice the injured area several times a day and keep it elevated if possible. Wearing a compression bandage could also help to prevent blood loss and/or swelling.

Our attorneys know that all personal injury cases are unique and require extensive attention to detail. To find out more information about soft tissue injuries visit our page on motor vehicle accidents. 

The decisions that drivers make while behind the wheel affect the safety and lives of everyone else on the road. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenage drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 pose a greater threat to motorists than any other age group. Their inability to make quick decisions while driving, in combination with several other factors, make teens in Tennessee and across the country more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists several factors that act as teenage driving hazards and contribute to the risk of auto accidents. These include:

•          Distraction from other passengers in the vehicle
•          Speeding
•          Drunk driving
•          Texting and talking on cellphones
•          Not wearing a seat belt

Since teens are novice drivers, many lack the ability to determine whether a situation is dangerous. Furthermore, their inexperience behind the wheel makes it difficult for them to know what to do if a hazardous situation should occur. For example, teenagers may be less likely to reduce their speed in icy weather conditions or put their cellphones down in order to concentrate on the road.

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that the number of passengers teens have in the car while they are driving is directly linked to their risk of becoming involved in a fatal car accident. This is just one reason why Tennessee, and many other states across the country, place restrictions on teen drivers through a graduated driver’s license program. In some cases, teens must have an adult present in the car while driving and are restricted as to how many additional passengers they can have.

Fortunately, many car accidents are preventable. By understanding teen driving habits, people may be able to avoid becoming the next victim of a serious auto collision. 

Many new vehicles come equipped with voice activated technology, which is designed to minimize distractions that people face while driving in Tennessee and across the country. This technology allows drivers to accomplish certain tasks, such as dialing a phone number, texting or even switching the radio station, just by talking. While studies show that cognitive distractions from texting and talking on hand-held and hands free cellphones can increase a driver’s risk of becoming involved in an accident, further studies show that voice-activated technology presents certain dangers as well.

A study published by AAA looked at whether voice-activated systems really decreased driver distraction or actually acted as a diversion. Researchers measured the amount of mental workload participants experienced while performing several tasks using voice-activated technology. These tasks included the following:

•          Adding and modifying appointments on a calendar
•          Changing the radio station and playing a CD
•          Composing email and text messages
•          Dialing a 10-digit phone number
•          Listening to email and text messages read by a synthetic voice and a natural human voice
•          Updating social media statuses

Participants’ reaction time, heart rate and personal assessments were evaluated in order to determine the level of cognitive distraction they experienced while behind the wheel. Interestingly enough, the results indicated that all of the tasks were distracting to drivers on some level. However, flaws in certain systems led to an even higher level of cognitive distraction. For example, when the voice device did not recognize the driver’s command, the driver often became more distracted.

According to Distraction.gov, cognitive impairment is just one of three types of distractions that contributes to serious motor vehicle accidents. Although the introduction of hands-free and voice-activated technology hoped to limit driver distraction, studies show that these devices may present unintended distractions. Researchers suggest that once this technology is fine-tuned, it could actually improve driver safety.