Category: Drunk Driving Accidents

When you are driving along one of Tennessee’s many roadways, you may not anticipate being hit by another motorist, especially if that motorist was designated to safely drive intoxicated passengers to their destination. People who are going out for drinks are encouraged to single out a person that will refrain from drinking and be in charge of getting the others home safely. However, studies show that even designated drivers may have significant blood alcohol content levels that could limit their ability to drive.

A study conducted by the University of Florida found that 35 percent of people who are chosen to be sober drivers leave with a measurable blood alcohol content. Approximately half of the drivers who were measured in the study had a BAC level of 0.05 percent or above. At this level, drivers show a decreased ability to respond to roadway hazards, and may even have trouble staying in their lanes. Although the legal limit is 0.08 percent, lower levels of alcohol in the bloodstream have been shown to have significant effects on a person’s ability to drive.

Researchers believe that while designated drivers go into a function with the mindset that they are not going to drink, many have one or two drinks anyway. Since people metabolize alcohol at different rates, designated motorists could still be buzzed when they climb behind the wheel. Not only does this put the designated driver and his or her passengers in danger, but it also puts the lives of other motorists on the line.

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

In Tennessee and in many other states in the nation, drivers who have a blood alcohol content level of 0.08 percent or higher are considered legally intoxicated, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Research has found that when the amount of alcohol in the blood reaches this level, drivers experience significant impairment, making it difficult and hazardous for them to operate a vehicle. Variances in weight, sex and the ability to process alcohol through the body, however, can have an effect on people who have a BAC level that measures less that the legal limit.

Mothers against Drunk Driving reported that BAC levels as low as 0.02 percent can have an influence on a motorist’s behavior while behind the wheel. At this level, drivers may experience an increased inability to multi-task, or perform two complex tasks at the same time. This means that using a cellphone or reaching to pick an item up off of the floor with this BAC level could increase the risk of an accident.

With a BAC level of 0.05 percent, drivers may have problems steering, staying in their lanes and reacting to roadway hazards. For example, a non-intoxicated driver may be able to brake quickly for a child who darts out into the road. A driver with a 0.05 percent BAC level on the other hand, may have difficulties responding to the emergency situation, and may not be able to brake in time. Drivers at this level of intoxication could lose the ability to focus their eyes properly, making it hard for them to see clearly.

Even low levels of alcohol can affect a motorist’s ability to drive safely on the road. 

As motorist in Knoxville, you may follow all of the traffic and safety regulations when sharing the road with other vehicles. Regardless of how cautious you are while driving, however, there is the ever present danger that you may become involved in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. By knowing how to identify the signs of an intoxicated motorist, you may be able to avoid becoming the victim of a serious automobile collision.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, there are some definite driving behaviors that could alert you to an intoxicated or otherwise negligent motorist. These drivers may be found swerving in and out of traffic lanes and might even straddle the center line. You may also spot intoxicated motorists driving at night with their headlights off or following other vehicles too closely. Motorists who have been drinking often drive extremely slow, which in some cases, may be as low as 10 mph under the posted speed limit.

People who are drinking and driving experience a decreased or increased reaction time. They could either slam on their brakes in response to a traffic light, object in the road, pedestrian crosswalk or bad weather conditions, or they could fail to brake in time.

Drunk drivers put the lives of everyone on the road in danger. If you should happen to spot a motorist who is driving erratically, you may want to call the authorities. The few minutes it takes to report the driver may just save someone’s life.

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

Drinking and driving at any age can cause devastating auto accidents, injuries and possible death in Tennessee and across the U.S. However, the risk of a catastrophic collision becomes even greater when an inexperienced and intoxicated teen gets behind the wheel of a vehicle.

A young man faces up to 30 years in prison because of the decision he made to drive while intoxicated. His poor choice changed the lives of several people, including a 19-year-old girl who was killed in the crash. Not only was the teen speeding at the time, but he ran a red light and collided into the young girl’s driver side door. The impact forced her car into another vehicle, causing the driver of that car to sustain serious injuries as well. The teen then tried to flee the scene of the crime, but was caught and detained by witnesses of the incident.

After being tested, the teen’s blood alcohol level content allegedly measured 0.14 percent, which is significantly higher than the 0.02 percent legal limit for an underage minor in the state. He has been indicted for the death of the young girl and faces criminal charges of first-degree assault, manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident with injury.

When people make bad decisions, they should be held responsible for the consequences of their actions. Their negligence ultimately puts peoples’ lives in danger. When tragic auto accidents occur, victims may want to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney in Tennessee regarding their legal rights and options. 

Drunk driving offenders in Tennessee are subject to some of the strictest penalties in the country. One of these penalties involves the state’s right to confiscate the vehicles of repeat DUI offenders, as reported by the Governors Highway Safety Association. Although Tennessee’s mandatory ignition interlock law and other DUI restrictions are designed to keep drunk drivers off of the road, there are some drunk drivers who continue to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. As a result, innocent people are injured and killed in drunk driving car accidents every year.

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, drunk drivers who are convicted of two DUI offenses within a five-year period may have their vehicles confiscated by law enforcement. Once an officer determines that a driver has indeed been convicted of multiple DUI offenses, he or she can fill out a Notice of Seizure and Forfeiture of Conveyances form. The form is then given to the offender, who is responsible for having the case brought before a judge to determine whether there is enough reason to seize the drunk driver’s property.

Before the case is taken further into the judicial process, the officer who initiated the seizure and attorneys will attempt to negotiate an out-of-court settlement with the offender. If an agreement cannot be made, however, the case may go before an administrative law judge, who will make the final ruling. Ultimately, the property may be placed into service, sold at a public auction or eventually returned to the owner.

By taking the vehicles of people who have been convicted of multiple DUI offenses, law enforcement officers are helping to clear the roads of dangerous drivers. 

When you are driving along Tennessee roadways, you may take the precautions necessary to ensure you are not endangering your life or anyone else’s on the road. Unfortunately, you are still at risk of becoming involved in a fatal car accident due to the negligence of other drivers on the road. Drunk drivers in particular can pose a serious threat to your safety. In 2013 alone, drunk drivers took the lives of more than 10,000 people and injured an additional 290,000 people, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. You may be able to avoid a drunk driving accident, however, by being able to identify the key signs of an intoxicated motorist.

MADD reported that people operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol often display similar driving characteristics. Drunk drivers may have trouble staying within their lane of traffic, and can be seen weaving in and out of lanes or even driving down the center of two lanes. In addition, intoxicated motorists may do the following:

•          Brake suddenly and sometimes, without cause
•          Follow too closely behind other vehicles
•          Drive over or under the speed limit

Drunk motorists may exhibit careless driving behaviors as well, such as not turning on their headlights when driving at night or forgetting to turn off their turn signal. They may make sudden turns, illegal maneuvers or continually switch lanes in an abrupt manner. If you should spot a person who is driving erratically, you may want to attempt to get their license plate number and call the authorities. Doing so may just save someone’s life.

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

Once DUI offenders have had their driver’s licenses reinstated and are given back their driving privileges, many people hope that they will refrain from drinking and driving in the future. Sadly, some DUI offenders in Tennessee and across the country continue to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, and as a result, put innocent lives in danger.

A Tennessee woman received two facial fractures after becoming the latest victim of a negligent drunk driver. She was shocked that the accident was initiated by a careless drunk driver. Although there were no fatalities involved in the collision, the accident did present a cause for alarm. The woman responsible for initiating the serious car accident was not a first-time offender. In fact, officers reported that the 59-year-old woman had been arrested for drinking and driving 16 times prior to the accident, and had 15 convictions for driving on a suspended driver’s license. All of the offenses occurred within a 30-year period. She was released from jail on bail once again, and some believe that she will commit yet another offense.

When people decide to drive while intoxicated, they run the risk of causing a catastrophic accident, which can cause serious injuries and even death. People who have been injured or have lost a loved one in an accident caused by a drunk driver may want to seek assistance from a Tennessee attorney. In some cases, injured victims may be eligible for compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages from work, property damage and emotional trauma. 

Source: New York Daily News, “Tennessee woman faces 17th DUI charge after being involved in a head-on collision,” Nicole Bitette, Dec. 18, 2015. 

Tennessee is one of several states in the nation that require all convicted drunk drivers to have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicles. This may be one reason why the drunk driving fatality rate in the state decreased by 3.1 percent from 2012 to 2013, as reported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Studies show that ignition interlock devices are responsible for lowering the number of people who are arrested for multiple DUIs by up to 67 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So how do these machines work to lower motorists’ risk of becoming involved in a drunk driving car accident?

Ignition interlock devices are similar to roadside breath tests, as they use a driver’s breath sample to determine his or her blood alcohol content level. If the driver’s BAC level is over a preset limit, which is usually 0.02 percent, the car will lockup for a period of time before the driver can attempt a restart. Once the vehicle starts, the driver is prompted to blow periodic breath samples into the device to ensure they are not intoxicated.

Surprisingly, up to 75 percent of DUI offenders who have had their driver’s licenses suspended continue to drive amongst motorists on the road. IIDs help to keep drunk drivers from operating a vehicle. In fact, DUI offenders who use IIDs in their vehicles are less likely to reoffend even after the device is removed. As a result, interlock devices have saved the lives of countless people in Knoxville and across the entire state. 

As the holidays are fast approaching, Tennessee residents are solidifying plans with family and friends for a myriad of celebrations. From menu planning to special activities, there are several things to be looking forward to at this time of year. However, the holiday season spanning between Thanksgiving and New Year’s also brings other things requiring attention. Among these is an increase in the number of drunk driving accidents and fatalities compared to the rest of the year.

The National Safety Council lists Thanksgiving as the third most dangerous drinking and driving holiday in the United States. New Year’s and Christmas rank as the fifth and sixth, respectively. USA Today adds that when weekends are included in the primary holiday dates, the risks can be even greater. Such will be the case with Christmas and New Year in 2015. A full and long weekend is always part of Thanksgiving every year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records from December 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 illustrate how much more serious impaired driving is over holiday dates. Over these five years, 28 people died per day on the non-holiday dates in drunk driving accidents. Over the five years’ of dates associated with Christmas, 45 people died per day in accidents involving alcohol. The number of daily fatalities on the dates associated with New Year’s was even greater as 54.

Understanding this risk ahead of time can give Tennessee residents an opportunity to make appropriate plans. Having designated drivers can be some help but minimizing time on the road when more impaired drivers are likely to be out may also be wise.

While Tennessee reported a significant decline in the number of people killed in drunk driving car accidents across the state in 2013, the DUI fatality rate still shows that too many people are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reported drunk driving deaths in the state fell from 286 deaths in 2012 to 277 fatalities in 2013. Although Mothers Against Drunk Driving also reported a 3.1 percent decline in drunk driving deaths, these fatalities still accounted for 27.8 percent of all automobile accident deaths in the state.

State officials hope that the 2014 DUI fatality rate will show an even further reduction in drunk driving deaths. This is due in part to new legislation that went into effect in 2013 involving the use of ignition interlock devices. Tennessee is one of 25 states in the nation that requires all convicted DUI offenders to use an ignition interlock device on their vehicles. The mobile breath test monitor is designed to keep DUI offenders from operating a vehicle by measuring their blood alcohol content level. The vehicle will not start if the offender’s BAC is over the preset limit. Other states that enforce this law have seen a dramatic drop in DUI car accidents, injuries and deaths.

In addition to interlock device laws, Tennessee also uses no-refusal policies when testing drivers who have been pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving. Some believe that if state lawmakers started revoking driver’s licenses, it would help to lower the number of drunk drivers on the road as well.