Category: Car Accidents

Fatal accidents can cause heartache, as well as financial strife for those who are left behind. People who are seeking compensation for an accident understand how difficult it can be to deal with the emotional impact of a tragedy while also handling the monetary aspect.

Unfortunately, this might be the case for the Hogan family. The parents, Jay and Julie Hogan, were recently killed in a crash that is still under ongoing investigation. No charges have been made yet. This is because the events leading up to the accident are still a mystery. In order to determine what occurred, police have brought in traffic crash reconstruction specialists. They are working together to reconstruct the accident and scientifically prove what occurred. After the entire thing is documented, it will be determined whether or not charges should be filed.

So far, it seems that the Hogan’s vehicle was struck while the driver was attempting to turn left. A car heading west struck its side. The driver of that vehicle was sent to the hospital with injuries, but it has been reported that a full recovery is expected for her. On the other hand, both of the Hogans suffered from severe injury due to the accident. They both passed away due to their injuries.  Their autopsy information is being used in order to help crash reconstruction specialists get a better idea of what occurred in the accident.

However, they are leaving behind children. This is usually a fear of people when they consider the possibility of getting into accidents, as a sudden tragedy can leave a family without support. 

Source: The Jackson Sun, “’A terrible tragedy’: Jay and Julie Hogan killed in Vann Drive crash,” Nathan Handley, July 31, 2015

Drunk and distracted driving both have heavy penalties waiting for offenders. But what about driving while drowsy? Fatigue has a surprisingly high number of risks that come with it, which all drivers should be aware of.

There are a number of threats that stem from driver fatigue, and they do not have to include actually falling asleep at the wheel in order to be dangerous. The U.S. Center for Disease Control stated that accidents can happen with driver fatigue due to a slower reaction time, slower decision making, and the driver having a harder time paying attention to the road. It was also stated that drivers who don’t get enough sleep are likely to drive drowsy, but that there are other common causes as well. Shift workers and drivers on sedating medicines can also drive drowsy, as well as people with untreated sleep disorders. Commercial truck drivers are also very susceptible to driving while drowsy.

However, falling asleep at the wheel is also an effect of tired driving. A recent study has shown that about 4.2% of an estimated 150,000 adults in 19 states have reported sleeping at the wheel at least once over the last 30 days before the survey was taken. It was shown that those sleeping six or less hours a night were more prone to report this. Just looking at drowsy driving alone, it was shown in a National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration survey that about 2.5% of fatal accidents and 2% of total crash injuries have involved drowsy driving.

Even though drowsy driving gets less attention than drunk and distracted driving, it is still just as dangerous.

Crash reconstruction is a common part of court cases that involve accidents, especially ones in which there were not many outside witnesses who were able to view and report the accident. But how does crash reconstruction fit into a case?

When an accident occurs and there are not many people around to witness it, crash reconstruction specialists are often called on in court. It is the job of these certified professionals to reconstruct an accident based on the physical evidence that they have, and possible some eye witness accounts, as well as the accounts of people in the vehicles at the time of the accident. ACTAR, the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction, is the organization responsible for handing accreditation to professional accident reconstruction specialists. Once they have been accredited by ACTAR, they are legally allowed to be called on as a witness in court.

There are many different factors of an accident that reconstruction specialists look at beyond witness reports. The history of the drivers, the model and history of the car, the scene of the accident and more are all inspected closely. Their job is to be as thorough at investigating as possible. While their word is not necessarily law, it can have a heavy weight to it when they testify in court. This is why they are so important to accident related court cases.

Reconstruction specialists can change the course of an accident-related court case. Their importance is not exaggerated, so anyone who has been in an accident before should be prepared for the possibility of crash reconstruction coming into play in their case.

It is illegal to drive without a seat belt. Tennessee participates in the Click It Or Ticket campaign designed to get more drivers to wear their seat belts. This is due to the fact that an already dangerous car accident can potentially be made lethal due to a lack of seat belts.

This may be the case with one recent fatal accident. The accident occurred on Tuesday morning and is still currently under investigation. Accident reports state that the vehicle in question ended up flipping about 7 times after making an overcorrection on the freeway. The truck reportedly began to shift to the left side of I-75 before it was overcorrected.

The driver of the truck, a 46 year old man, was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident. It was reported that he was ejected from the vehicle at some point, though it is not yet clear at what point in the accident the ejection occurred.

As the investigation is still underway, there is no solid proof to determine why the accident occurred or why it was fatal. However, it is a known statistic that wearing a seat belt cuts down on fatalities in the case of accidents, as it prevents those who wear it from being ejected during impact.

Reminding loved ones to buckle their seat belt is a way of showing care. Anyone who has dealt with a loved one being in an accident without a seat belt understands what a difference this one action can make.

Source: WBIR.com, “Man identified in fatal I-75 crash,” June 9, 2015

Accidents can have long-lasting impacts on a person’s life. This is especially true when it comes to the monetary consequences of the crash. Accidents can be a huge generator of financial stress, and that stress may seem to worsen over time. However, there are different ways that a person can ease their financial burden.

It is possible to recover from certain monetary loss through reimbursement in the case of an accident. The Department of Motorized Vehicles lists the different payments and fees that can be reimbursed after a crash. Some of these costs can include vehicular damage, property damage, or medical bills. The medical bills could be short term, but it is also possible to get reimbursement for any long term medical costs that may accumulate. A person may even get their deductible back after it has been paid, but they must first prove that they were not at fault for the accident. This is necessary for any type of reimbursement.

It is also a good idea to look at the potential costs that you may be facing after an accident. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration states that certain bills can be anticipated in the aftermath of a crash. These bills can include car repairs, medical tabs, insurance coverage, and temporary vehicular replacements. Going to court over the accident can also up the potential amount of money that will be lost. Additionally, missing work could cost a pretty penny. While not all of these costs can be combated, they highlight why it is important to combat what can be fought against.

The stress of monetary deals after an accident can be large. Reducing costs is one way to reduce stress as well. It will take strain off of a person’s mind and off of their wallet, which will be better for their health in the long term.

Many states, including Tennessee, are grappling with the issue of distracted driving. To combat distracted driving behaviors, legislators in multiple states have passed laws prohibiting the use of handheld cellphones while driving. It is likely that many of these legislators were acting on the presumption that hands-free phones and devices are safe. However, a recent report indicates that this may not be true.

The American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that those who use hands-free devices while operating vehicles can still experience cognitive distraction while driving. This is a specific type of distraction which carries distinct safety concerns.

The AAA report explains that hands-free phone use is only slightly less distracting than handheld options. The study also notes that the worst cognitive distractions stem from speech-to-text systems.  Many may find this surprising, as such systems allow drivers to have both hands on their steering wheels and keep their eyes focused on the road.

A National Safety Council white paper, published in 2012, supports AAA’s findings. The NSC paper states that drivers who used cell phones—whether handheld or hands-free—quadrupled their chances of being in a car accident which produced property damage and personal injury. The NSC white paper attributed this increased risk to inattention blindness. Inattention blindness is a term used to describe drivers’ inabilities to process information about their driving environments, despite the fact that they are physically able to see the objects surrounding them. Common results of inattention blindness are lane deviations and slower reaction speeds.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, there is currently no statewide ban on handheld devices for drivers in Tennessee. However, if you live or drive here, you should be familiar with some the distracted driving laws that are in place, such as the following:

•        It is illegal for any driver to text behind the wheel in Tennessee.
•        School bus drivers are not permitted to use handheld devices while there are students on board.
•        Motorists who have either intermediate licenses or learner’s permits may not use a cell phone while driving.

The penalties for breaking these laws may include a fine and possibly a suspended license, if the behavior results in a serious traffic violation or accident.

Far worse, using a phone behind the wheel can lead to injury and even death. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, there were more than 21,000 crashes attributed to distracted driving in 2014. The agency reports that thousands of people lose their lives every year due to driver inattention.

Some drivers believe that using hands-free or wireless communication devices are a safer way to have a conversation while on the road. However, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a report that found that this kind of technology still takes a driver’s focus off the road and increases the risk for an accident.

Experts suggest avoiding all distractions while driving, which includes texting, talking on the phone, eating and grooming.

While this information may be useful, it should not be taken as legal advice.

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