Category: Car Accidents

Perhaps the single most touted benefit of fully autonomous vehicles is improved public safety. Tennessee residents are told that this improved safety should come to them in the form of fewer accidents. Some may wonder if this is possible. Others wonder if it could ever be possible to eliminate all car accidents.

As explained by Scientific American, a self-driving vehicle’s ability to avoid or prevent an accident from happening relies on two basic things. One of these is effective technology that can accurately detect potential hazards. With this information, the vehicle may then adjust accordingly to avert a crash from taking place. The other is the ability to proactively consider the actions of another vehicle whether autonomous or human-driven and then respond appropriately.

The fact of the matter is that there remain challenges in both of these areas. Environmental factors such as fog or light may prevent a self-driving car’s sensors from operating properly or from reading a situation accurately. Additionally, it seems a daunting task to think that a software program can be created for a self-driving car which covers all possible actions that a human driver may take. If a particular action is not included in the software, the autonomous vehicle may not be able to take corrective action and avoid a crash. These factors have contributed to multiple wrecks including autonomous vehicles already.

This article is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give Tennessee residents more information about the nature of the risks they face on the road even with improving technology.

When people are involved in a car accident in Tennessee, they may be most worried about the physical injuries they incurred. Sometimes, though, emotional injuries remain long after physical wounds have healed. It is important to recognize signs of emotional trauma so people know when they need to seek help.

Emotional trauma can come in many forms. According to FindLaw, someone may often feel overwhelmed or lonely or might become irritable or moody. Some people feel fatigued or have nightmares and trouble sleeping. A person’s behavior may also change. Some people become socially withdrawn and others might develop compulsive habits. All of these are signs that a person has suffered from emotional trauma after the car crash.

Some people might think that this emotional trauma only arises after serious collisions. HelpGuide.org says that people can feel traumatized after the incident if they feel there was nothing they could have done to stop it. If people did not have time to prepare for the impact or if it occurred suddenly, people may also develop emotional trauma. This is because the severity of the collision is not one of the factors that make it traumatic. Instead, a person’s emotional experience determines how someone processes the event.

Sometimes a person may realize that he or she is not recovering from emotional trauma. People may realize they have flashbacks or nightmares about the collision or that they feel emotionally distant from their friends and family. Other people might find that they are relying on drugs or alcohol to get through their day. In this situation, it is a good idea to find professional help.

Drivers in Tennessee and across the entire country are aware of the fact that drunk driving is dangerous and can end lives. But what about the other common road hazards? Here’s a look at some of the top causes for crashes that don’t involve alcohol.

Distracted driving comes in at the top of the list. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has named distracted driving as one of the biggest current threats to drivers. The numbers continue to worsen by the year, showing that it’s a persistent problem. Hazards can come in the form of visual, cognitive, or manual distraction. In short, distracted driving can involve taking one’s eyes off the road, letting thoughts drift, or physically removing hands from the steering wheel.

Driving while fatigued is another common issue, and the National Sleep Foundation claims it can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. This is because a drowsy person has similar reaction times and cognitive awareness as someone who has had too much to drink. They are more likely to get distracted, as well. In some cases, it’s even possible for extremely fatigued drivers to fall asleep at the wheel, easily leading to crashes.

Finally, speeding is a big problem. Drivers cite many different reasons for going over the speed limit. They may be late for an appointment, suffering from an emergency, or maybe they just want to beat traffic. In any case, higher speeds equal a higher chance of getting into an accident.

These are just a few of the many different catalysts for accidents on the road. They are all also preventable, just like drunk driving, which means behavioral awareness can help cut down on these accident causes.

When you think about truck accidents, the last thing on your mind is age. Many of truckers on the roads in Knoxville and across the country are senior citizens. Some of them are so old they are approaching retirement age. Others who are old enough to retire, do not. Instead, they continue working to help alleviate the shortage in the industry and support themselves while staying active. 

In the trucking industry, older drivers mean a higher rate of commercial vehicle accidents. According to CBSNews.com, from 2013 to 2015, there was a 19 percent increase in truck accidents among operators who were over the age of 70. 

With old age comes a decline in cognitive function and motor skills. Many older people are not capable operating motor vehicles safely because they do not have the reaction time, nor mental clarity they need to handle various road and traffic situations. They may also need medications and have health problems that interfere with their ability to operate their vehicles safely and efficiently. 

Because there is a driver shortage, the trucking industry is recruiting drivers and encouraging them to work for as long as they can. For some individuals, this means they will work until they are well past the age of 65. 

Motorists should remain cautious when they are near commercial vehicles. Large trucks and semi-trailers need more time to slow and stop. Passenger car drivers should avoid blind spots and stay attentive to trucks, road conditions and other motorists to prevent and avoid collisions with commercial vehicles and other cars.

When one thinks of car accidents in Knoxville, one of the first things that come to mind is speed. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, 966 people lost their lives in 2016 to car crashes. Many accidents happen when excessive speeds are an issue. Some incidents that involve excessive and slow speeds happen because there were slick road conditions. No matter how motor vehicle wrecks happen, the pain and suffering they cause are often heartbreaking and challenging for victims and their families to live with. 

When a vehicle skids on the street, the driver is no longer capable of controlling it. Keep in mind that the driver’s actions before the skidding starts plays a major role in the outcome. Fatigue, panic and intoxication often cause inattentive and inexperienced motorists to overcompensate in their actions. As they attempt to control their vehicles by jerking their steering wheels, they lose control of their cars. Many insurers and accident reconstruction experts use tire skid marks to determine the speed of vehicles in car accidents, states Sciencing.com. 

It is imperative for drivers to pay attention to the roads, weather conditions and traffic when they are behind their steering wheels. They should also be mindful of how other people drive around them. When hazardous conditions arise that increase their risk of collisions, they should rely on their knowledge, education and stay calm. Drivers should also operate their vehicles safely by adhering to posted speeds, the flow of traffic and road and weather conditions. When the streets are slick, icy and wet, drivers should adjust their speeds and driving behaviors so they are suitable for the conditions they are in.

Many drivers in Knoxville believe that parking lots are among the safest places they can operate their vehicles. Some of them do not realize how common parking lot accidents are. Many motorists are trying to back up and pull into small parking spaces not realizing the dangers they may be subjecting themselves and others to. 

There are many factors that lead to car accidents in parking lots. Poor design, structure hazards, inattentive drivers and pedestrians and varying traffic speeds are all the perfect makings of accident conditions. According to a study on CBSNews.com, more than 50 percent of participants “did not have a problem with using their cellphones while driving in parking lots.” Their false sense of security might exist because there are fewer vehicles and slower speeds. There are also more pedestrians and other factors to consider that make parking lots less than ideal places to drive while distracted. 

Many of the same rules that govern traffic on the streets and highways still apply in parking lots and structures. Motorists can avoid collisions and injuring pedestrians by staying alert, states U.S. News & World Report. If they are on their cellphones and distracted by other means, they cannot give the parking lots their full attention to know what is going on. They will not have enough time to react and avoid accident situations because they are more likely to panic, make hasty decisions and mistakes that cause them to overcompensate in their actions. 

Parking lot accidents are very common, but they are preventable. Besides property owners maintaining their structures, motorists should follow all traffic rules and pay close attention to their surroundings and everyone who is in them to avoid accidents.

When one takes into consideration how much a car accident in Knoxville can affect their life, they may instantly think of the damage that can occur to their vehicle. Very few individuals think about how those accidents can occur and many of them involve drugged drivers. According to CNN.com, more people are drive while impaired by drugs than under the influence of alcohol. These drugs often include prescription pills, over-the-counter meds and illegal substances. 

Many motorists take medications for health issues. Their prescriptions are meant to improve their health and function. There are also some people who use prescriptions that are not theirs and expired. Many of them do not realize that those drugs often cause side effects that can disrupt their normal cognitive and physical functions. Some side effects lead to slower reaction times, hazy vision and altered mental states. These side effects are some of several that increase the risk of them operating their vehicles recklessly and haphazardly, states Drugabuse.gov. 

Motorists must take time to understand the dangers they face when they operate their vehicles while under the effects of drugs. They should avoid using any machinery or motor vehicles until they are fully alert and aware of their mental and physical states. They should not mix other substances with their medications to prevent adverse and intensified effects. 

Individuals who drive and must take certain medications should also consider speaking to their doctors about any side effects they experience. They should ask for alternative medications that do not produce side effects that can affect alter their driving abilities and impact road safety.

Most motorists know there are factors that can increase the likelihood of them being involved in car accidents. Patch.com states that in 2015, 958 people died in car accidents in Tennessee. Many more people sustained injuries. There are driving tactics that you can use to reduce your risk of collision. It is a good idea for you to learn what you should do if you are injured in an accident. 

You should never assume you will end up unscathed and with very little property damage. There is always the possibility that you may become injured. Take a few moments to review the following suggestions on how to handle your injuries after a motor vehicle collision. 

If you seem fine, do not discount the fact that you may have injuries. According to FindLaw, some “car accident injuries may not present symptoms until later.” It may be several days to weeks before you notice your soreness is more severe than you originally thought. Make an appointment to see your doctor and explain to them you were recently in a car accident and would like to be checked. Be sure to inform them about any pain or discomfort you have been experiencing since the event so they can perform the appropriate tests to rule out hidden trauma. 

If you feel unable to go to work after a car accident, inform your boss. Most employers are sympathetic towards accident victims and are willing to give them time off to recover. If you need more time off than your job can immediately provide or your employer requires documentation, ask your doctor to provide it for you.

Most people in Tennessee are responsible and take appropriate caution when driving to keep themselves and others safe. Sadly, however, not everyone does this. Despite decades of public awareness and education, drinking and driving continues to be a problem that plagues the state.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,317 lives lost at the hands of drunk drivers in Tennessee between 2012 and 2016. Knox County had far and away more drunk driving deaths during these five years than did any of its neighboring counties. In Knox County alone, there were 77 vehicular fatalities in which alcohol was a stated factor.

Of all of Knox County’s neighbors, the county with the next-highest number of drunk driving fatalties was Blount County with 27 deaths. Sevier and Anderson Counties experienced 19 and 17, respectively while in Loudon County another 11 people died. Thirty-four deaths involving alcohol were recorded across Jefferson, Grainger, Union and Roane Counties.

In looking at how many people continue to be killed by impaired drivers, it is reasonable to wonder if Tennessee’s laws on drunk driving are strict enough. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the penalties that a drunk driver may experience can vary based upon multiple factors. Some people may spend as few as two days in jail. Ignition interlock device use and length may not be long enough for some people to change their ways. It is only when a blood alcohol content exceed 0.19 percent that penalties might increase compared to a situation in which a driver’s BAC was below 0.20 percent.

Many people in Knoxville are aware that seniors are at risk of fall accidents. There may be a link between older people who fall and car accidents. According to a study posted by the AAA Newsroom, seniors who are at risk of crashing their vehicles “can be identified by their fall histories.” 

Older people are exceptionally vulnerable to injuries. Their health, medications and other age-related factors can affect their ability to identify hazardous conditions that could cause them to slip and fall. They may also have limited which can make it more challenging for them to avoid hazards and increase the likelihood of them sustaining serious injuries. Their age and health can also limit their ability to recover from their injuries. 

The correlation between car and fall accidents 

Many of the same factors that result in fall accidents can lead to car accidents. More than 400,000 motor vehicle wrecks are caused by motorists who are 60 years old and older, states the New York Daily News. Common factors that increase the risk of senior car accidents are coordination issues, medication side effects, vision changes, new driving rules and car technology. 

Some older individuals may be more likely to crash their vehicles if they are a fall risk or have a history of falling. But they are not the most dangerous group of drivers on the roads. Seniors can lower the chances of them becoming motor vehicle wreck victims by taking driving classes to stay informed on the latest traffic rules and car technology. They should also assess their health and take measures to improve it to avoid fall accidents.