Category: Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Almost every driver has been there before: a recent wreck seen on the side of the road, blue and red lights flashing and a long line of drivers curious to know what happened. To be on this side of an accident is fortunate; countless Tennesseeans experience dangerous — and even deadly — accidents while on the road. Still, the curiosity of why wrecks happen in the first place plagues the minds of many. How do these tragic accidents occur, and can anything be done to prevent them? 

Complex magazine runs through a list of preventable car accidents, joining readers in their everyday frustrations. Failing to check mirrors, brake checking other drivers and running red lights are some of the most common causes of fender-benders, but not all of these situations end this way. Although many coast through a traffic light unscathed, the reality is that those chances are much too slim. Complex considers those who drive without checking mirrors to be a threat to all surrounding drivers, and most would likely agree. Even though acts such as door dings and poor parking generally fizzle down to mere annoyances, others can end on a much bleaker note.

The scary part of otherwise benign roadway mistakes is that they can ultimately result in serious injury or death. An article in Slate praised a 2008 study by the University of Michigan that analyzed almost 7,000 car accidents on a scientific level, shedding light on how they occurred. These naturalistic driving studies offer another scope into crash causation by supplying cars with accelerometers, sensors and cameras. Among some of the common causes of dangerous wrecks are rolling stops and loss of control. Slate concludes that, even with self-driving cars right around the corner, practicing safer driving habits now may be the only answer to a tragic issue.

When most people in the Knoxville area think about car crashes, they immediately think about the incidents that involve other motorists. Very few of them realize that not all accidents are the direct cause of another person’s negligence. Sometimes, motor vehicle wrecks occur because of wildlife in the area. Each year, thousands of people are injured and more than 200 people die in motor vehicle accidents that involve deer and wildlife, states Geico.com. 

Many car accidents caused by deer and animals are preventable. Motorists should think before they react and make errors that impact their safety and that of other drivers. Distractions are a common reason why many of these accidents happen. Drivers who are distracted are not capable of spotting wildlife on the roads in time, so they can make the right driving decisions to avoid them. Instead, they panic, overact and jerk their vehicles into oncoming traffic and other motorists without looking first. 

Drivers should also follow all posted traffic signs, especially in areas that have frequent deer sightings They should drive slower and use their high beams in areas where there is less visibility and be prepared to apply their brakes when they see wildlife. According to Wate.com, drivers should be extra cautious when driving on the roads, especially during the evening and early morning hours. Deer and other seasonal wildlife creatures are more likely to be out, searching for food, shelter and mates. 

With the proper precautions, motorists can avoid collisions with animals and prevent the loss of life.

Tennessee residents often hear about how strict the state’s laws on drunk or drugged driving are. However, at the same time they also hear about too many cases of an impaired driver seeming to get off without full consequences despite their reckless and negligent behavior.

Sadly, there may be yet another such example as the Supreme Court of Tennessee has recently handed down a ruling that opens up the chance that a drugged driver who killed an innocent woman may not spend time in jail. The case goes back five years when the defendant, operating his pickup truck under the influence of an opioid pain medication, stuck another person who ended up dying as a result of her injuries.

Originally sentenced to spend eight years in prison as part of a plea deal, the defendant lodged a successful appeal and was given a sentence of eight years’ probation instead. In turn, the state took the case to the highest court in the state and now a new sentencing hearing has been ordered. The defendant is an amputee due to a previous crash and this may have contributed to the appeals court’s willingness to grant him probation as he may have had a need to take the medication. For now, family members of the woman who was killed have to wait longer to see what level of justice might be served.

People who lose loved ones in accidents due to other people’s choices and actions may want to reach out to an attorney in Tennessee to learn how they might seek compensation for their losses.

Source: WATE.com, “New sentencing hearing in fatal DUI case for Clairborne County man,” November 4, 2017

Needless to say, the topic of fatal car crashes is one that most Tennesseans would rather avoid. When such a tragic event happens, many families are left with the overwhelming financial burden of covering expensive funeral costs. Much talk revolves around the question of whether life insurance covers a death that happens as a result of a car accident. While life insurance covers deaths in most cases, it is crucial to know the details in the case of a fatal crash.  

Many might assume that car insurance covers costs from a fatal accident, but Nasdaq makes clear in an article on insurance that this is not the case. Even though car insurance provides cushion for taking care of the car and for helping families with funeral costs, Nasdaq points out that this type of insurance does little else. Of course, the amount of coverage depends entirely upon what type of insurance a person has, and some types do not always supply families with funeral support. For instance, liability coverage only assists families with funeral costs if another driver with liability coverage caused the death. Accidental death benefits can also help families tremendously if a family member dies from bodily injury causes.

Pocket Sense, a website that supplies personal financial resources, confirms that life insurance policies will make a claim in the case of a fatal car accident. However, the fine print of some policies could alter that coverage. Pocket Sense also explains that there are two types of life insurance: term life insurance and permanent life insurance. Term life insurance may assist drivers temporarily, but permanent life insurance is beneficial in the long run. In addition to these details, there are also differences between life insurance death benefits and accidental death benefits when it comes to coverage.     

When most people in the Knoxville area think about truck accidents, they think of the kind that involves other motor vehicles. Many commercial vehicle collisions involve pedestrians. People who are walking down or across the streets become unsuspecting victims of negligent commercial vehicle operators. According to American Trucker, large commercial vehicles cause more than 140,000 injuries on the roads each year. 

Semis, big rigs and trailers are so heavy that when one takes into consideration speed, force and other contributing factors, it becomes easier to understand the potential for victims to end up with serious and life-threatening injuries. There are many factors that can lead to truck accidents. 

•        Speed
•        Alcohol and other substances
•        Type of vehicles involved
•        Vehicle operator experience
•        Mechanical failure
•        Negligent driving behavior 

While passenger style cars are more likely to cause truck accidents, those involving commercial vehicles are more likely to cause some victims a great deal of pain, suffering and financial duress. Recovering from accidents that involved trucks is not always easy. 

How to prevent truck accidents 

The New York Times states that almost 25 percent of work-zone fatal motor vehicle accidents involve trucks and large commercial vehicles. Motorists can reduce the number of commercial vehicle accidents that occur by keeping track of their driving actions. Enrolling in refresher driving courses, paying attention to the roads, extending proper traffic and driving courtesies and obeying all traffic laws are other ways that driver can make the roads safer. 

They should also be mindful of their vehicles’ position when riding near commercial vehicles. Drivers should not make abrupt stops in front of moving trucks. They should also avoid driving too closely behind semis and other types of trucks. Trucks take longer to stop and operate. Regular motorists are not always capable of moving their vehicles in time to avoid collisions. 

Truck accidents are hard to walk away from without injuries. Because they have the potential to seriously disrupt one’s life, it is important for victims to make provisions in advance and get expert legal advice.

Too many Tennessee residents may rightly be exhausted by the seemingly endless slew of reports detailing motor vehicle accidents in which people are killed. It only takes a split second for one person’s thoughtless and negligent choice to lead to deadly results. Sadly, this trend does not show many signs of abating quite yet.

Reports recently released from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administation show that last year represented the second year in a row with a jump in the number of lives lost in vehicular accidents in the United States. With more than 37,400 fatalities, last year was the deadliest year on the road in America in a whole nine years. Two years prior, in 2014, the nation posted the lowest number of accident deaths. 

This information certainly makes people wonder what has changed since 2014. The data points to speeding and the resistance to wearing seat belts or other safety restraints as factors in many of the fatalities. The number of deaths in 2016 is actually 5.6 percent higher than in 2015. It seems that even while auto manufacturers work to push safety advances in vehicles, the fact remains that only so much can be done to keep people safe from the choices and actions of others.

Tennessee families who must struggle through the loss of a loved one after a completely unnecessary and senseless car accident might want to talk with a lawyer to understand how they might seek compensation. 

Source: USA Today, “Deadly car crashes are on the rise again, hitting a 9-year high,” Nathan Bomey, October 6, 2017

Many Knoxville parents are aware that one of the most exciting moments in their teens’ lives is when they get their driver’s license. In all their excitement about the achievement, some parents forget that their adolescent children are still inexperienced. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenagers are more likely to lose their lives in car accidents than any other type of incident. 

Their driver’s education does not stop once they become licensed. Many of them lack experience and may not understand the different scenarios they are bound to encounter. Many teenage drivers usually resort to using the driving behaviors their parents’ exhibit when they are in their vehicles. Parents play an important role in their teenagers’ driving performance, states Teendrivingsource.org. Anyone who wants to help their teens to become more responsible and safer motorists should consider the following tips. 

Encourage them 

Some teenagers feel pressured when they are behind the wheel. Their lack of confidence can cause them to make errors and miss hazards that could result in crashes and injuries. Parents should encourage and motivate them to use safe and proper driving actions. 

Have them take additional instruction 

Traditional driver’s education courses do not provide teens with enough experience to handle every potential situation they may encounter. Parents should enroll their teens in continuing driving instruction courses so they can gain more experience and fine-tune their skills. 

Talk to them 

Parents should have regular discussions with their teens about their driving behaviors. They should also educate teenage motorists about the dangers they should always be on guard against and remind them about the local driving laws and rules regarding passengers and their driver’s license level. 

Many teenage car accidents are preventable. Parents should become the example they want their teens to follow. They should use and encourage their young drivers to use proper driving behaviors to increase their safety when they are behind the wheel.

Car accidents are so common in Knoxville that it may seem odd for a day to go by without you hearing about one. Hit-and-run accidents are often more unsettling to hear about because there is usually tragedy involved. As disturbing and life-changing as motor vehicle collisions can be for the victims, their family members are often left mourning the untimely loss of their loved ones. Victims who survive often have to spend the rest of their lives dealing with the consequences of someone else’s negligent behavior. 

A Knoxville family recently lost a relative in a fatal hit-and-run accident. The 29-year old male victim was on the side of the road on Gay Street with a female companion when a sports utility vehicle struck them. The accident shut down the area for approximately three hours while officials investigated the scene. The female victim is currently listed in serious condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. She is 24 years old. 

The driver of the SUV is a 23-year old woman who is currently facing fatal hit-and-run charges and may receive additional charges after further investigation. She was apprehended by law enforcement in the evening, although the incident occurred during the early morning hours on Sunday. Currently, there is no information on if drugs or alcohol were contributing factors. 

Hit-and-run accidents are preventable. Drivers have a duty to other motorists to operate their vehicles safely. They should never leave the scene of an accident. When they fail to honor that obligation and break the law by fleeing an accident scene, lives can be irrevocably changed forever.

Source: WATE.com, Knoxville woman charged in fatal hit-and run,” Madisen Keavy, Sept. 20, 2017

Many parents feel their children are safest when they are with them, especially when they are transporting them around the Knoxville area. However, car accidents kill more children each year than any other cause in the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2014 alone, more than “121,350 kids were injured in vehicle collisions.” 

Some parents drive so much that it feels like second nature to them. They become so used to navigating the streets while distracted and driving recklessly alone, that when their children are with them, they forget to readjust their driving behaviors to protect them. There are many variables that create hazardous conditions that are ripe for car accidents. Alcohol, drugs, distractions, inexperience and recklessness are just a few factors that parents should keep in mind about other drivers. 

Parents themselves should consider the following actions to protect their kids’ health and lives while they are in their vehicles. 

Use proper car seats and installation techniques – Car seats should be properly secured and installed to keep kids from becoming airborne during collisions. Parents should check the belts and straps on their kids’ car seats before they place their children in them to prevent issues that can affect their safety. They should also review local child car seat laws and stop by their local fire or law enforcement agency to have their car and booster seat installation inspected. 

Inspect their vehicles for defects – Some car accidents that cause major injury and death happen when there are repair and maintenance issues and vehicle defects. Parents should not drive their kids around in vehicles that are not up-to-date on service and repairs. They should inspect their cars before each trip to ensure that all functions and features are working properly. 

Keep children out of the front seat – Many parents believe that when their kids appear to be too big for car seats they are large enough to ride in the front of their cars. However, children who are under the age of 12 are safest when they ride in the back seat. 

Drive safely – Parents and guardians should reevaluate their driving behaviors. They should leave all distractions alone while they are driving. They should also pay close attention to other motorists and the streets so they can avoid dangerous drivers and conditions. 

Children are smaller than adults. Their bodies are not made to withstand car accidents. There are safety features, car seats and other things parents can do to avoid accidents while their kids are in their cars. Parents and guardians should review the above safety suggestions often to keep their kids from becoming injured and killed in motor vehicle wrecks.

Many motorists in Knoxville are not aware that some of their bad habits are contributing causes to motor vehicle accidents. There are many other factors that increase the risk of car and motorcycle accidents. However, many common driving errors are made when drivers misbehave while operating their vehicles. Many vehicles are equipped with technology and advanced safety features that embolden many vehicle operators to exhibit risky behaviors. According to NPR.org, during the first half of 2016, 18,000 motorists died in fatal collisions.” 

How bad habits cause human error behind the wheel 

Driving while distracted, tired, intoxicated and recklessly are becoming so common nowadays that many people accept those behaviors as normal. Erroneous driving decisions are the biggest cause of motor vehicle accidents, states the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Instead of understanding the dangers of those actions, they engage in them and influence young and inexperienced drivers to do them as well. Motorists who drive while distracted, such as eat, drink, reach for objects, mess with car features on their infotainment systems and fatigued are not capable of driving safely, and are more likely to make serious mistakes that can lead to collisions, serious injuries and death. 

The roads no longer have their full attention, causing them to make the following mistakes: 

•        Failure to recognize hazardous situations
•        Indecisiveness
•        Falling asleep
•        Recklessness
•        Rushed and delayed driving maneuvers 

Most driving errors are preventable. Drivers who operate their vehicles defensively, remain fully attentive to the roads and their surroundings, follow all traffic signs and laws and stay clear of reckless and inattentive drivers can maneuver the roads safely with minimal mistakes and accidents.