Category: Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

A number of teenage motorists display reckless driving behavior, which may be a result of their inexperience and inability to make quick decisions while behind the wheel. Many studies have shown that teenagers in Knox County and across the state are less likely to wear a seat belt and more likely to speed while driving, especially when there are other teenage passengers in the vehicle. Drug and alcohol use are also common factors in fatal car accidents involving teenage drivers.

Although it is still unknown as to whether drug and alcohol were involved in the accident, speeding and not wearing seat belts were found to play a role in a fatal auto accident in Maury County. The accident took the lives of two teenagers. The driver was found thrown from the vehicle as it flipped down a hill and smashed into a bridge wall. The passenger, on the other hand, was trapped within the burning automobile when the accident scene was discovered.

When Tennessee law enforcement officers investigated the tragic accident, they discovered that neither boy was wearing a seat belt. It was also alleged that the vehicle was speeding at the time of the accident. The driver, a 15-year-old boy, was thought to be speeding when as he took a curve in the road, and slid off to the side.

When teenagers make poor driving decisions, lives may be lost in a devastating car accident. A personal injury attorney may be able to help injured victims explore their legal options when it comes to engaging in an auto accident case. 

Although Tennessee is not one of the 11 states in the nation that penalizes overly aggressive drivers, road rage poses a serious danger to motorists. These hostile drivers are involved in approximately 56 percent of motor vehicle accident deaths across the country, according to the Insurance Information Institute. When motorists become enraged, they often exhibit certain dangerous driving behaviors that increase the risk of tragic collisions, injuries and fatalities.

After evaluating 2013 car accident fatalities, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that excessive speed and drunk driving were the top two aggressive behaviors that lead to fatal car accidents.  Drivers should also look for other common warning signs of road rage, which include the following:

•          Racing with other vehicles
•          Running stop signs and traffic signals
•          Tailgating or following too close
•          Switching lanes abruptly without signaling, weaving in and out of traffic
•          Passing vehicles illegally, such as on the shoulder, over the median or in a ditch
•          Honking, flashing lights, yelling and/or giving other rude gestures

According to a survey conducted by AAA, eight out of 10 motorists could be classified as aggressive drivers. This surprising number brings to light just how serious of a threat road rage is to Tennessee motorists.

People with road rage are threatening and put other peoples’ lives at risk. Motorists who see people driving erratically are encouraged to call and report the incident to law enforcement. Furthermore, drivers should avoid engaging with or aggravating hostile drivers in order to avoid becoming involved in an auto accident.   

Although it only takes a few seconds for motor vehicle drivers and passengers in Tennessee to buckle up before hitting the road, many neglect to do so. Unfortunately, a surprising number of lives are lost as a result of this simple oversight. In fact, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office reported that the number of people who wore seat belts last year dropped to 86.6 percent. In an effort to increase the seat belt compliance rate to above 90 percent, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office has launched a campaign encouraging everyone to buckle up every time they drive or ride in a vehicle.

The Seatbelts Are For Everyone campaign is aimed at informing the public of what could happen when they fail to wear a seat belt. According to the GHSO, approximately half of all motor vehicle accident fatalities in the state involve people who were not restrained during a collision. Sadly, these are lives that could have possibly been saved had they remembered to buckle up.

In addition to spreading information to the public through traditional routes at safety and seat belt events, this year the campaign will involve community high schools. Students will have access to the Seat Belt Convincer simulator, which shows teens what could happen if they are involved in a low speed collision without being restrained.

While many new vehicles come equipped with the latest technology and safety devices, the seat belt continues to be one of the most critical life savers. People who are involved in a serious auto accident, and have sustained injuries or have lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence, may want to speak to a personal injury attorney in Tennessee. A lawyer may be able to answer questions regarding personal injury cases and what options are available.

Source: WGNS News Radio, “50% of those killed in Tennessee auto accidents were not wearing seatbelts,” Jan 28, 2016. 

A new form of driver distraction is sweeping the nation. A quick look on any social media site proves that many drivers in Tennessee and across the U.S. are doing more than just concentrating on the road while behind the wheel. A number of people, who are taking selfies and posting them on their social media pages, are putting the lives of innocent people at risk. Distraction.gov reported that 3,154 people were killed and 424,000 people were injured by distracted drivers in 2013. However, cellphone selfies may take deadly distractions to an entirely different level.

According to CNN News, a search for selfies that have been posted on social media sites, such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, brings up a surprising number of results. More than 9,700 selfies were found on Instragram under the hashtag #drivingtowork, and an additional 1,900 posts were listed under #drivingselfies. Interestingly enough, motor vehicle operators were not the only people found posting selfies while driving. Boat operators, pilots and motorcyclists were also caught snapping pictures while in precarious situations.

There are three main types of driver distraction, including manual, visual and cognitive distractions. Taking selfies requires drivers to not only remove their hands from the steering wheel, but to take their eyes off of the road for an extended period of time. Furthermore, drivers experience cognitive distraction when they are not focused on the road ahead. Whether a motorist is stopped at a traffic light or driving down the street, posing for a picture can have a catastrophic outcome. 

It is no surprise that faster cars are more likely to become involved in an auto accident than vehicles that are traveling at a slower rate of speed. Speeding vehicles require a longer distance to stop, which can make it difficult for drivers to respond to slowing traffic, objects in the road, bad weather conditions and other drivers’ behavior, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As a driver in Knoxville, you know that speeding motorists are not uncommon on state roadways. When you’re involved in an auto accident caused by someone who is violating the speed limit, however, the results can be devastating.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, speeding vehicles contributed to 29 percent of car accident fatalities, or 9,613 deaths nationwide in 2013. In addition, more deaths occurred on small roads as opposed to freeways and interstates.

A study reported by Vox News reported that you have a 15 percent chance of survival if hit by a vehicle traveling at a speed of 40 mph or greater. That survival rate goes up to 95 percent if you are struck by a vehicle going between 20 and 30 mph. This is due to the fact that speeding cars carry more kinetic energy, and that energy is displaced into the other vehicle and its occupants in a collision.

Despite set speed limits and regulations, vehicles continue to travel fast and endanger the lives of everyone on the road. The danger becomes substantially greater when high speeds are combined with driver distractions, fatigue, alcohol-use or bad weather conditions. Speeding drivers simply don’t have the time to assess the situation, and respond in a way that may help to save lives. As a result, you may have been injured or lost a loved one in a collision caused by a negligent driver.

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

Some elderly people and adults in Knoxville and throughout the state avoid driving at night because they do not feel comfortable navigating the roads in the dark. Many teens, on the other hand, seem to have a false sense of confidence when driving at night. Research from the National Safety Council shows that motorists are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident when driving after dark. The rate of teen deaths is especially high, partly due to the fact that they have a greater tendency to engage in risky behavior while driving.

One study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute, found that certain factors, such as seat belt use, led to a significant decline in the number of people that were killed in traffic accidents. However, the rate of teens who died in nighttime driving accidents increased, as reported by the Washington Post. Researchers found that teenagers are more inclined to text while driving at night, and lack the experience necessary to make crucial decisions in hazardous situations.

For example, an experienced driver may know that it can be difficult to judge the distance and speed of an oncoming car in the dark. Rather than take a risk and pull out in front of approaching headlights, it may be best to wait. Teens are more prone to make a mistake in these types of situations, which puts them in the danger of becoming involved in an accident. This nighttime driving risk increases when teenagers are navigating the roads in bad weather conditions, speeding or driving while distracted.

According to The Governors Highway Safety Association, some states, including Tennessee, prohibit teens from driving at night because of this danger. This law is a part of the Graduated License Program, and is designed to keep the roads safe. Once novice drivers reach 17-years-old, however, they achieve full driving privileges. Hopefully by that time, teens understand that they should drive with added caution after the sun goes down. Otherwise, they put the lives of motorists, pedestrians and everyone else on road in danger.

Every time that someone in Knoxville gets into a car, that person puts his or her life at risk. Some of these risks may come from other drivers on the road who are distracted, driving under the influence, speeding or operating their vehicle in a restless manner. Some dangers can come from mechanical sources such as defective parts or fleet vehicles that have not been properly maintained. Still other risks might come from the driver who the person is riding with.

Investigators are still trying to determine what caused a fatal car crash in Knoxville recently. Apparently, a truck was approaching an intersection on John Sevier Highway when a car ran a red light. The truck was unable to stop and hit the car. Law enforcement officers suspect that alcohol or drugs may be involved and the driver of the car was administered a blood test for determination.

Two people in the truck and two people in the car were sent to a nearby hospital. The passenger of the car, a 38-year-old woman, died as a result of the injuries she sustained. It is unknown what types of injuries the driver and passenger of the truck, which flipped and landed on the driver’s side, suffered from the crash.

The death of a family member is difficult to bear and it can be especially hard if the death was due to the negligent act of another person or company. Surviving families must deal not only with the grief caused by the loss, but with the expenses associated with the burial, funeral and emergency treatment. Therefore, talking to an injury attorney may provide some amount of reassurance.

Source: WBIR, “Woman dies in two-vehicle accident in South Knoxville,” Dec. 3, 2015

Losing a loved one in a car accident can be devastating. Here at Pryor Priest and Harber, our staff has found that in the process of finding some form of closure, people often need the answer to the question, why? Finding the exact cause for the accident not only provides them with some peace of mind but it can help them determine who should be held accountable.

At first glance, a car accident that results in the death of a person can appear pretty straightforward. Often it may be assumed that the other driver is to blame in collisions where speed or traveling over the lane is a factor. However, it is important to delve deeper into the information surrounding the case. This includes finding answers to the following questions:

•          Was the driver on some sort of medication?
•          Was the vehicle that caused the accident under a manufacturer recall?
•          Was there something wrong mechanically with the vehicle?
•          Were the tires defective?

If the other vehicle involved was a tractor trailer or some type of commercial truck, then there are additional questions that may need to be answered. For example, it may be important to look at the last time the vehicle was serviced or the policies that the company instills on its drivers. In cases involving the use of legal prescriptions, evaluating how the product was labeled may be a good idea. Perhaps a driver was on a prescription that made the driver drowsy but there was no warning of driving while taking it. Maybe the doctor made a mistake and prescribed a dose that was too high or even wrote the wrong medication down?

Finding the real cause of why a loved one died in a car accident is just the first step. To learn more, please visit our website.

The National Transportation Safety Board considers head-on collisions among the most serious car accident types. These collisions usually occur because a motorist crosses over into the opposing lane or is driving for some time in a lane going the opposite way. When a head-on collision occurs in Knox County, it is usually fatal, leaving family members with many unanswered questions.

Criminal charges are pending against a man who caused a fatal head-on crash in Houston County. Investigators are still trying to piece together the factors that led to the collision, but it is known that the driver crossed the double yellow line into the opposite traffic. The man’s truck flipped over after hitting a car going the other way.

Inside the car was an infant and the infant’s parents, none of whom survived the car accident. It is unknown whether the deaths occurred when their car veered off the road to the right, or during the initial impact. There was no mention of drugs or alcohol as factors in the crash, and it is unknown whether the man was speeding or driving recklessly. The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

The sudden loss of a family member can be devastating. In addition to the emotional pain and suffering, families are left facing unexpected medical costs and funeral and burial expenses. This can place them in financial distress but the law also gives the right to seek financial justice against the negligent driver for the wrongful death. As such, they may find it helpful to meet with an injury attorney to discuss their options.

Source: WKRN, “Young couple, newborn killed in head-on crash in Houston County identified,” Oct. 13, 2015

Losing a loved one can be a difficult thing to deal with on many levels. This is especially true if they are lost due to the negligence or mistake of another party, as is often times the case in a fatal motor vehicle accident.

What can you do if a loved one has passed away in a motor vehicle accident? There are many options that you can pursue, but if you wish to obtain justice for your loved one as well as legal compensation for the difficulties you and your loved one’s family have faced, you may wish to look into pursuing legal action. This is especially true if it is a potential wrongful death case.

A wrongful death case is a case that occurs because of the neglect, inattentiveness or mistakes of another party. This can include other drivers sleeping at the wheel, manufacturing deficiencies in a vehicle that cause an accident, drivers who are drunk or under the influence and other such accidents. If your loved one has been a victim of an accident like this, you may be able to get compensation. This can help you to cover for any medical expenses or funeral expenses for your loved one, as well as allow you to continue supporting your family if that is also an issue.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is a traumatic experience, but fortunately, you do not have to worry about going through the process alone or having no way to get compensation for it.