Category: Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Tennessee drivers have been educated in a variety of road hazards. You know to slow down approaching a blind turn and when traveling through intersections. You know a good rainstorm coupled with driving too fast may cause you to lose control of your car. You know it is dangerous to drink and drive. Another hazard you should be aware of is work zones.

With lane closures, detours and moving equipment to keep track of, it is easy to understand why drivers get confused, despite the use of traffic cones and signs to direct approaching drivers. According to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, there were nearly 100,000 work zone accidents throughout the nation in 2015, which break down as follows:

• 642 crashes resulting in one or more deaths, which equates to an annual average of 12 fatalities each week.
• 25,485 accidents with injuries to one or more people, which on average, means there are 70 crashes each day that result in injuries.
• 70,499 crashes with only property damage. An overall average of accidents that occur equals a work zone crash about every 5 minutes.

The majority of work-zone accidents occur during warmer months, which is not surprising as weather prevents road construction in many states during the winter season. It is interesting to split the data down into more specific categories as well.

In 2014, fatal crashes in work zones numbered 607. Of that number of accidents:

• There were 669 fatalities
• Speeding played a role in 172 accidents
• Alcohol was involved in 132
• Daytime crashes accounted for 65 percent of the total
• More fatal accidents occurred on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Also, 23 percent of these accidents occurred on urban-area highways and another 20 percent on arterials in urban areas. More than 40 percent of the crashes were noted as rear-end collisions.

The best action you can take when approaching a work zone is to slow down and obey watch for signs, flagmen and cones that are there to help you get through the zone safety. Drive the posted speed limit, which should give you plenty of time to react to detours, lane changes and perhaps other drivers who are not as cautious.

This article contains general information. It is not intended as legal advice.

When children are victims of a car accident, it is tragic. When a school bus crash causes multiple child deaths, the entire community is touched by the tragedy. Despite the high-profile incidents of ongoing school-bus crashes, including one in 2016 in Tennessee, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that school buses are still the safest form of transportation for children headed to and from school. In fact, the agency puts a number to the safety factor, saying that a safe arrival at school is 70 times more likely by bus than by individual cars.

The agency attributes this safety factor to the general design of a school bus, plus the support of stop-arm laws in every state in the nation. School buses are very visible, due both to their height and the color they are painted—yellow, which in traffic signs and signals is the color for caution. They also have flashing red lights to attract attention, stop-sign arms to halt motorists and cross-view mirrors that give the drivers a better view of the road and the traffic on it. State laws support the use of the stop-arms, making it illegal for drivers to pass when it is used. Drivers use the stop-arm when children are getting on and off.

In addition to the exterior safety features, the interiors of larger school buses are designed using “compartmentalization.” This concept shifts the focus from seat belts to the seat compartment itself. Strongly framed seats are placed closely together and provide energy-absorbing seat backs to help prevent injuries. Smaller school buses, those weighing less than 10,000 pounds, more closely resemble passenger cars, so they require seatbelts.

Despite the laws and safety designs, school-bus accidents continue to occur. Fox News reports that Tennessee jurors earlier this year convicted a driver of negligent homicide in the death of six children in a 2016 accident. The driver was using a cell phone and going too fast to negotiate a curve. He ran the bus off the road, where it hit a pole and was flipped into a tree.

This article contains information that is general in nature and is not meant to be taken as legal advice.

Losing a friend or family member is always difficult, but when the death is through an accident or another surprising event, trauma is added to grief, giving survivors a one-two punch that sends them reeling. If you are dealing with the loss of a loved one from an accident, the legal team at Pryor, Priest and Harber offers our sympathies. We have worked with bereaved family members who are experiencing traumatic grief, and we know you need an extra measure of support and consideration.

Psychology Today describes traumatic grief as “extremely painful” because so many things can trigger reminders of the person and bring the loss back again and again and again—so it is always fresh and it is always a shock.

Having trauma and grief at the same time can also hinder people from coming to terms with the bereavement. Survivors try to hold on tight to memories and mementos because they are afraid that they will forget the deceased. Being driven by fears such as these, the normal process of remembering that person and coming to terms with the loss becomes obscured.

One of the reasons grief is such a painful emotion is that the bonds people have with the deceased do not end with their deaths. One fights against being separated from that bond, and feelings that accompany grief are anxiety and difficulty understanding the loss. This confusion is called numbing, which may bring feelings of denial and shock, even more so when death is a sudden event.

Grief is normal, and it is a different experience for everyone. In time, the physical pain eases, and people may find the loss spurs them to build closer relationships with surviving friends and family members.

If you are dealing with traumatic grief due to the loss of a loved one in an accident and need representation, contact our team at Pryor, Priest and Harber. To learn more about our services, visit our webpage.

Sometimes, there is no way to avoid a car accident. However, in many cases, the driver at fault was simply driving irresponsibly or in a reckless manner. When a crash becomes fatal, the reasons for the accident can become all the more crucial; these factors can help clarify an investigation. Recent news shows a relatively new possible safety threat on the road: that of autonomous cars. Do the pros outweigh the cons? 

Although the purpose of autonomous vehicles is to make driving safer, many new technologies must go through multiple stages to reach utmost performance. Newsweek reported on one fatal crash involving a self-driving Uber car that, upon investigation, had malfunctioned while in operation. The cause? Most likely, the crash happened as a result of a software glitch that affects the car’s ability to detect objects. The Uber car hit a 49-year-old woman bicycling across the street, making the first fatal pedestrian accident caused by an autonomous vehicle. At the time of the report earlier this week, Uber had not responded to the reasons for the crash. 

The initial purpose of autonomous cars, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports, is to make roads safer. Automated Driving Systems are currently under review with the NHTSA, as the safety department continues by explaining how this innovative technology will one day become the new normal. Although the aforementioned accident was certainly a horrific shock amidst an otherwise progressive step forward, the NHTSA goes on to state that these systems can help drivers avoid drifting into other lanes or making unsafe lane changes, as well as warning drivers of surrounding vehicles. Some autonomous cars may still be in the developing stages, but the outlook on this technology seems positive as a whole.  

Tennessee residents have seen the increase in public awareness about the risks associated with drinking and driving increase over the past several decades thanks to the efforts of many groups including those like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving. At the same time, laws outlining the penalties associated with impaired driving have become stronger. Sadly, even with these advances and changes, many people continue to ignore the fact that operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol is negligent and unsafe.

These reckless choices end up leaving innocent people injured or, even worse, mourning the loss of their family members, friends, neighbors and colleagues. People close to one woman who was only 28 years old are today among those mourners. The woman was killed by a driver who is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of a crash. The man who allegedly caused the accident was driving into oncoming traffic after reportedly losing control of his sport utility vehicle.

The SUV then struck the car driven by the woman. A passenger inside her vehicle survived the crash but was injured. No details of the injury have been released. Also unknown is the blood alcohol content of the suspected drunk driver. 

When a family has to learn to live without their relative because of the selfish choices of someone else, talking with a lawyer in Tennessee might give them insight into how they may seek assistance.

Source: Knox News, “Blount co. woman killed in head-on wreck in Louisville, Tenn.,” March 25, 2018

People in Tennessee may often hear about how tough the penalties for impaired driving have become. While it may well be true that the consequences for people convicted of driving under the influence offenses might be harsher than they were decades ago, some may believe they are not strong enough as too many people continue to die in accidents in which a drunk or drugged driver were involved.

An example can be see in the recent death of a woman in an accident caused by a driver who has been convicted of not only one or two previous DUI offenses but three. The fatal crash marked the man’s fourth impaired driving offense and also found him with drug paraphenalia in his vehicle and a stolen license plate. In addition, the man is said to have been operating the vehicle without either a valid driver’s license or automobile insurance.

The wreck happened just before 7:00 a.m. when the alleged impaired driver maneuvered the sport utility vehicle he was driving into the oncoming lane of traffic, hitting another SUV directly head-on. Another person was seriously injured and the at-fault driver left the scene of the crash but was apprehended later. He has been charged with multiple offenses including aggravated assault and aggravated vehicular homicide.

People who experience accidents caused by such recklessness may find talking to an attorney in Tennessee a useful way of learning how they might be compensated for their injuries and losses.

Source: WJHL.com, “Woman killed in Kingsport crash; Wanted man charged,” February 23, 2018

When your spouse dies in a car accident in Tennessee, your entire family is emotionally affected by this event. This kind of incident can be especially traumatic for children and it is important to know how you can help them during this difficult time. 

There are a few things you can do to help children as they mourn their deceased parent. According to PsychCentral.com, it is important to talk with your children about the incident that led to their parent’s death. However, your children may not always want to talk for long periods of time and they may not be ready to discuss the event. It is important to let them decide when to end the conversation and when they continue it. When your child is ready to talk, you should usually answer his or her questions with age-appropriate answers.

Sometimes your children may experience emotional or behavioral changes after your spouse dies. It is important for you to monitor your children so you can get counseling for them if they need it. Your child’s age usually determines what signs of trauma he or she displays. Teenagers might experience difficulties with their friends or have trouble sleeping. Children in elementary school may become withdrawn or complain about headaches or stomachaches. If your children are beneath the age of five, they may begin wetting the bed or become clingy.

While you may sometimes want to stop your everyday routine, your children usually need this stability. It is a good idea to continue your daily routine so some aspects of your children’s lives are predictable.

This information is general in nature and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Every person in Tennessee knows that car accidents can and do happen. However, this is not what most people think of every time they get into a vehicle nor should they. Everyone deserves the ability to believe that all drivers will make wise choices and they will arrive at their intended destinations safely. When this does not happen, it is reasonable for people to want to seek answers to questions and some sort of compensation for their losses or injuries.

Today family members of three people killed in a tragic and dramatic accident may well be in this exact position. This is because their loved ones were essentially burnt to death after a car crash ignited into a burst of a flames. The incident is said to have been caused by a driver who crossed over into the opposing lane of traffic. This vehicle was said to have been moving faster than the speed limit although how much faster is not known. It is also not known if alcohol or distraction may have been factors.

Once driving the wrong way, the vehicle engaged in a head-on crash. Both of these vehicles caught on fire. A third vehicle also ended up hitting the second one. In total four people had injuries identified as critical and three people were killed. Their bodies were burnt so badly that dental records will be the only way to positively identify them.

Grieving Tennessee residents deserve to know that they may learn about compensation options in times like these by talking with an experienced lawyer.

Source: WREG.com, “Three killed in fatal Southeast Shelby County crash,” Daniel Rubio and Luke Jones, January 5, 2018

When you think about the fatal car accidents that occur in Tennessee, you may immediately think of collisions with multiple vehicles. A single-vehicle collision can be deadly, though, if a car crashes into a tree or other fixed objects.

Collisions between a car and a fixed object can be fatal for many reasons. According to Road and Track magazine, when most cars run into a fixed object, they do not collide head-on. This means that if 25 percent of your bumper hits the object, your car’s supportive structure cannot take the brunt of the impact and your car has less time to slow down. In this scenario, your suspension system can move backward and may sometimes cause damage to your steering column and the door frame.

This situation can be fatal because you travel at the same speed as your car. Your body typically continues to move forward even when your car slows down after hitting a fixed object. Additionally, your vehicle may rotate if a collision was not head-on. This means that your body may hit a window or move toward your car’s center instead of being cushioned by the airbag. After your car hits an object, it may sometimes spin and crash into another object. This can sometimes cause seats to become unattached from the floor.

Fixed object collisions can be fatal for passengers as well. As your car rotates, passengers may experience more deceleration on their side of the car, and the wounds they incur can be more serious if they are not wearing seat belts. 

This information is intended to educate and should not be used in place of legal advice.

When one hears about a DUI car accident, one of the first things that may run through their mind is if someone was hurt. It is not uncommon to learn innocent people have suffered serious injuries or died after being hit by drivers who are too intoxicated to be in the driver’s seat. Most victims of drunk driving accidents had no clue that someone would change their lives in undesirable ways. 

A recent accident multivehicle accident on I-40 West, near the Pellissippi Parkway and Lovell Road exits claimed the life of a male toddler (three years old) and his mother (32 years old). The mother and son died at the scene when a drunk male pickup truck driver hit the front of their car after it collided with a commercial vehicle. Not much is known about why the mother made a sudden lane change before losing control of her car and hitting the semi-trailer. Her young daughter was also a passenger in the vehicle and is currently listed in stable but critical condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. 

The pickup driver is a 30-year-old male and has a $15,500 bond. He is from Lawrence City and is currently incarcerated at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. During his arrest, law enforcement found marijuana in his possession. He is also a repeat DUI offender and faces charges for drug possession and second offense DUI. 

The commercial vehicle operator is from West Virginia and is 55 years old. He is not believed to be at fault. Law enforcement officials are still investigating the incident and are trying to determine if the kids were in proper child restraints and the mother was wearing her seat belt. 

Source: KnoxNews.com, Police: Crash kills woman and 3-year-old son, man charged with DUI”, Dec. 13, 2017