Category: Car Accidents

With more motorists on the roads than ever before in Knoxville, the number of car accidents involving pedestrians is increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, in 2013, emergency rooms across the country treated more than 150,000 pedestrians for injuries they sustained from car accidents. Many of those victims were walking in or near traffic.

Give pedestrians the right away

There are rules that both drivers and pedestrians should follow when they are near traffic. However, many people who walk, ride bikes and run do not always follow them. This can make their actions less predictable. Motorists should lookout for pedestrians, especially children. They may not pay attention to the traffic that is around them and run out into the streets.

To minimize confusion, motorists should approach intersections and certain areas slowly just in case there are pedestrians present, states Safelite. They should stop and give them time to make their intent clear before proceeding through intersections to their destinations.

Obey traffic signs

Drivers should pay careful attention to their surroundings so they can follow the posted speed limits and traffic instructions. Many common areas where pedestrians frequent have signs that indicate their presence and that caution should be taken.

Stay focused

Motorists should minimize distractions so they can avoid crashing into pedestrians. Distractions keep drivers from paying attention to everything that is going, making it hard for them to avoid people and maneuver out of harm’s way.

Pedestrians have a clear disadvantage that makes them more likely to become injured and die from injuries they sustain when vehicles collide into them. Driving is a huge responsibility that motorists should take seriously. They should also be willing to take appropriate actions to keep the roads, walkways and driveways safe for pedestrians.

Hit-and-run accidents are one of the most frustrating and challenging types of situations most drivers will ever encounter in Tennessee. When a driver comes out of what seems to be nowhere and collides with your vehicle, only to take off and disappear, you may find yourself wondering what you should do. Motorists who are prepared to handle this kind of situation can minimize the effects it has on their lives.

Safety first

Pull over to somewhere safe and park your car. If the incident happens at night, make sure you are in a well-lit area. Do not attempt to go after the perpetrator, as this may only escalate the situation. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Call law enforcement and emergency medical responders so you and your passengers can receive treatment for your injuries.

Details help

Try to take pictures of your vehicle and look for witnesses, states MSN. Gather their names, phone numbers and addresses. When making your police report, try to be as detailed about everything you can remember regarding the incident. You should also call your insurer to report the incident.

Drivers who leave the scene of accidents they are responsible for leave the victims dealing with the consequences. Victims who suffer little to no injuries often end up paying for damages that occur to their vehicles. The families of people who sustain severe injuries or die end up dealing with the aftermath. Even though the injured parties may have insurance, most insurers require their policyholders to pay deductibles and may not cover the cost of repairs because they do not have enough information to legally pursue the responsible parties.

Hit-and-run accidents are not always easy to deal with. However, staying calm and taking the rational approach to these situations can help to make them less burdensome.

Each day, more and more drivers in Tennessee are driving while using their cellphones to go on social media. As popular and exciting as social media can be, doing so while driving is extremely reckless and dangerous. Teen motorists are more likely to engage in this type of behavior. The number of adolescent drivers who post on social media and text while operating vehicles is 60 percent, states Medical Daily.

Teens are not the only ones who are acting so recklessly. Many adult motorists are aware of the risks and dangers that are associated with distracted driving, especially when it stems from social media use. They still choose to engage in the behavior anyway. Many drivers feel that it is more important for them to read, socialize and respond on social media than it is for them to remain fully attentive to the roads They are acting as risk takers. The few seconds that it takes motorists to look at their phones, open apps and use them are crucial. In that short amount of time, accidents can happen and lives can be lost.

According to CNN, the percentage of teen motorists who felt that it was wrong to use their cellphones while driving to interact on social media was six. This suggests that most young drivers ultimately feel that they are invincible behind the wheel and that they have nothing to worry about as far as accidents and injuries go.

As interactive and thrilling as social media can be, drivers of all ages need to understand the impact that it can have on their driving performance and safety. Exercising patience and common sense can help them to avoid the risks of distracted driving and social media use so that the roads become a safer place.

One of the most common causes of car accidents in Knoxville is drowsy driving. You should learn how to avoid drowsy driving to increase your safety on the roads. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every month, one out of every 25 motorists drive when they are tired. It is a growing epidemic that affects everyone on the streets. Each year, hundreds of people lose their lives to this type of incident while thousands of others sustain mild to severe injuries from them. Many motorists who end up driving while fatigued do not plan to do it. Feelings of tiredness usually develop during the course of their travels.

Get rest

Drivers who plan to be on the roads for a long period of time should make sure they get enough rest before they leave. Even with rest, motorists should plan frequent rest stops into their journeys so they can stop, stretch and relieve themselves so they can feel more alert before they continue on. Drivers who are experiencing difficulty staying awake should eat and drink lots of fluid to fuel their bodies. “Some drivers may benefit from using caffeinated beverages for a short-term energy boost”, states Cars.com.

Avoid alcohol

Anyone who plans to drive should avoid alcohol. Even motorists who plan to be on the roads for a long period of time should steer of alcohol and any medications or substances that may interfere with their alertness. People who are driving while tired already have reduced response times. When alcohol becomes a factor, their levels of alertness and driving skills become more affected.

Drivers who understand the dangers of drowsy driving can take steps to avoid and protect themselves, their passengers and other drivers. Their preventative actions can decrease the number of sleepy driving car accidents that occur.

Knoxville parents who have teens who have or plan to get their driver’s licenses should take some time to help them to become better drivers. Each year, thousands of people are injured and killed on the roads from car accidents. The most common cause of death for teenagers is car accidents. According to the Wall Street Journal, 54 percent of teenage drivers who have driven under supervision still make serious driving errors that lead to crashes. Out of all the risk factors that teens face when they are behind the wheel, their inexperience is the biggest one increases their risk of accidents.

Lead by example

It is hard for parents to expect for their teens to drive responsibly if they do not do so themselves. Teens tend to follow the actions of their role models and people they look up to. It does not matter how much experience they have behind the wheel, parents should continue to act as good driving role models for their teens to emulate, states the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For example, parents should avoid using their cellphones and mobile devices anytime they are driving. They should always wear their seatbelts and obey all traffic rules. For driving situations that involve road rage, parents should remain calm, rational and behave appropriately to prevent the incidents from escalating further.

Talk to them

Parents should have regular discussions with their teens to ensure that they understand how their driving actions can affect others. They should discuss any current traffic safety trends and issues that are relevant to the situation. They should establish ground rules and implement penalties if they are broken that restrict teens from using their driving privileges.

Continue to offer guidance after licensing

Just because teens are licensed to drive does not mean they are prepared for the roads. They need much more driving time to improve their skills. Parents should offer continuing instruction and discussions so their teens become more responsible drivers who can think and react just as rationally as any other well-experienced motorists.

Driving is a privilege for teenagers. Parents can help them to respect this responsibility by guiding and instructing them before and after they receive their licenses.

Many Tennessee motorists rely on GPS units to aid them while they drive. They make travel easier and more convenient in many cases. However, there is a dark side to GPS navigation systems that motorists need to be aware of. They can also be a source of distraction to drivers, making them dangerous. Sometimes they give inaccurate information and put the drivers who rely on them at risk for becoming lost and involved in car crashes.

Drivers can access directions from GPS-enabled apps on their phones or from using navigational devices. These units receive information directly from satellites. While this may seem like a reliable feature, certain issues can interfere with their signals and cause them to relay incorrect information, such as cloud and weather conditions and interference from external sources.

According to Forbes.com, as many as two percent of distracted driving incidents are caused by drivers handling their GPS units. Some motorists increase their risk of harm by fiddling with these devices while their attention is supposed to be on the road. They take one or both hands off their steering wheels and are unable to drive their cars safely. Sometimes these drivers are so distracted by their GPS devices that they fail to notice that they are nowhere near where they are supposed to be or that they are somewhere completely unsafe or away from civilization.

Drivers should take extra precautions to ensure they do not become victims of GPS navigation system-related incidents, states The Zebra. They should double check their route directions before they get in their vehicles. They should research their routes to ensure there are not any detours that could interfere with their commute. They should also take time to map out alternative routes, make sure that all directions are safe and accurate and keep their GPS apps and systems updated.

With proper precaution and awareness, drivers who decide to use GPS navigational devices can do so safely.

In Knoxville, it is not uncommon to see female motorists on the road. Historically, young women motorists have been perceived as worse drivers than men. Commonly cited reasons for this misconception were age, driving skill and gender. Cars have long been associated with masculinity, and when it comes to driving it is no different. However, according to USA Today, young women were found to be more responsible and safer drivers than their teenage male counterparts. Regardless of which sex is the safer group of drivers, teenage motorists are still considered the most dangerous group on the roads.

There are many factors that contribute to vehicle collisions like car type, driver behavior and road conditions. In a recent study, it was found that women do not spend as much time on the roads as male motorists, giving them a lower fatality percentage for each mile driven. Men tend to purchase masculine looking cars that have lower safety ratings than the smaller and fuel-efficient vehicles that women tend to prefer.

In another study, it was found that males are more likely to crash their vehicles on the weekends and in the evenings. It was also determined that men tend to drive aggressively more often than women, states CBS News. They also are less likely to drive on restricted licenses.

Car accidents do not discriminate against name, age or sex. Male teenage drivers should pay better attention to the roads, their driving behaviors and be more mindful of the misconceptions that can affect their mindset and driving actions.

More seniors in Knoxville are living longer than ever and are holding on to their driving privileges much longer. Even though they have a wealth of driving experience, many seniors still find themselves involved in car accidents. Older people have different driving habits than they had when they were younger.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of senior motorists who sustain injuries in car accidents is 586. The number of older drivers on the roads increased by 34 percent from 1999 to 2012, resulting in 36 million senior citizens who exercise their driving privileges. Older drivers who are involved in car crashes are more likely to suffer from severe injuries than younger motorists. This is due to their age, diminished vision and cognitive abilities, medication and less dexterity, states ABC News.

Older drivers are often considered one of the safest driving groups because they limit the amount of time they spend on the roads. They are less likely to travel when it is dark outside and in areas like the freeway where there is a high volume of traffic. Senior drivers also tend to wear their seatbelts when they are behind the wheel. However, when they do get into accidents, it is often because they make critical driving mistakes, such as driving too slowly, keeping an improper driving distance and not noticing traffic signs.

Seniors who take certain medications, exhibit diminished vision, mental functions and lack driving confidence are at risk for car wrecks and should consider using an alternative means of transportation.

Motorists in Tennessee should be on guard against uninsured and underinsured drivers. These people are not only carelessly disregarding the law, they are also putting every other motorist who is on the road with them at risk for harm and financial setbacks. According to Insurance Information Institute, only 49 of the 50 states require drivers to have auto insurance. Some of the drivers who are on the road only carry the bare minimum that is allowed, others do not have a policy at all.

When car accidents happen that involve uninsured and underinsured drivers, it is hard for victims to recover financially from the damage and injuries they may have incurred. The cost of injuries and damages are usually catastrophic. Having the state minimum in auto insurance is not enough to cover the financial aftermath of most car accidents, states ConsumerReports.org. Many insured drivers who find themselves dealing with this type of situation must pay for these expenses themselves or sue the at-fault driver, which is no guarantee of payment. Any expenses that they incur that are not covered by their own policies they have to pay for themselves.

There are ways drivers can protect themselves from uninsured and underinsured drivers. Many insurers offer uninsured and underinsured coverage that can be added into existing policies. This type of coverage makes it possible for innocent drivers to receive some type of compensation if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. It only applies if the victim’s insurer does not cover any injuries or damages that occurred from the situation.

Auto insurance may be so expensive to some people that they opt to drive without enough or any coverage at all. However, dealing with the consequences of car accidents is much more expensive and can present financial challenges for many years to come. Drivers can protect themselves from having to deal with this type of situation by checking their policies and adding underinsured and uninsured coverage.

A hit-and-run accident can leave Knoxville families with unanswered questions, hefty medical expenses and heartbreak. In the long run, a driver who leaves the scene of an accident faces severe legal reprisals. The best decision any driver can make is the responsible one: to follow the law, remain at the site of the accident and render assistance in any way possible.

Unfortunately, the driver who fatally struck a pedestrian in Knox County in mid-November opted to disappear from the scene, leaving behind a devastated family to search for answers. Law enforcement was able to identify the vehicle and the driver, whose actions only made the situation more tragic.

Knoxville drivers who end up in such a crash have several legal obligations. The driver’s first responsibility is to provide reasonable aid to injured persons. This includes requesting medical assistance when such treatment is requested by the injured party or when physician aid appears necessary.

Drivers must also report the accident to law enforcement. These days, most drivers are likely to be able to make the emergency call by cell phone, but in areas with poor coverage, it may be necessary to leave the scene to find the closest authority. No driver, however, should depart until the necessary medical assistance has been provided.

Last but not least, drivers involved in a crash are required to exchange vehicle registration and insurance information as well as driver’s license numbers, names and addresses. Failure to follow these steps can have severe consequences, particularly when one or more individuals are injured or killed in a crash. Drivers should never consider hit-and-run a viable option.