Category: motor vehicle accidents

While most people do not plan to run out of gas on a highway, it does happen from time to time. If this happens, it is important for drivers to take certain actions to avoid involvement in an accident.

Unfortunately, a man failed to take these precautions when he ran out of gas earlier this week, resulting in a fatality.

Being in the wrong place on the highway leads to one man’s death

According to WJHL.com, a man left his vehicle protruding into a traffic lane when he pulled over due to an empty gas tank. While he was standing next to his truck another vehicle struck and killed him. While the passenger of the other vehicle is physically unharmed, the emotional toll of the accident may cause problems for years to come.

It is unclear if the cause of the accident was the fault of the driver, the placement of the truck or where the driver was standing at the time.

Taking proper precautions can help people avoid accidents

If a driver’s truck runs out of gas, it is important that he or she park the vehicle completely out of the way of traffic. Any part of the vehicle left protruding into traffic can cause an accident, which could be fatal to any party involved.

Additionally, the driver should turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights to alert other drivers that there is a problem. Packing reflective clothing in the vehicle for such an emergency can also help other drivers take notice of the person wearing it.

If the driver cannot park the car completely off the highway lanes, it is important that he or she stand far enough away from the vehicle to avoid being involved in a collision.

As a responsible driver, you obey traffic laws, adjust your driving for inclement weather, and behave courteously to other motorists. You also avoid drinking and driving because you know how dangerous it is.

Unfortunately, too many other drivers do not take these crucial steps. This leads to serious drunk driving accidents, which cause major injuries or even loss of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain how even a minimal amount of alcohol can have a huge impact on a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Two drinks

Two drinks does not seem like it will have much of an impact on a person’s driving. However, many people experience impaired visual ability, lack of judgment, and problems performing more than one action at once after drinking just two alcoholic beverages.

Three drinks

After three drinks, motorists will experience diminished alertness, which prevents them from noticing road hazards. They may have trouble steering effectively due to diminished coordination. Focusing on objects is also impacted at this point.

Four drinks

By four drinks, the legal limit of .08% BAC is usually breached. Concentration and memory are affected, as is the ability to effectively process information. Speeding is more likely, which can lead to serious accidents and injuries.

Five drinks

Thinking is significantly impacted after five drinks. A person will slur their speech and exhibit poor coordination. They will also have trouble braking in time, which increases the risk of rear-end accidents.

If you see a driver exhibiting the above signs of inebriation, the best thing you can do is keep your distance. Take down identifying characteristics of the vehicle, such as make, model, color, and license plate, if it is possible to do so safely. Pull over and contact law enforcement to provide any information you have. Never attempt to stop a driver yourself or put yourself in danger to contact the authorities.

It seems like every area has one road that is terribly dangerous. There are many reasons why a stretch of road sees more accidents than other roads. For example, it could be because drivers are more likely to speed in the area or it could be the design of the road. It is also possible for there to be multiple factors.

When it comes to dangerous roads in Knox County, Byington Beaver Ridge Road ranks near the top. According to WBIR, this state road has been an issue for years and has led to numerous serious and fatal accidents.

The problem

The main issues with the road are both due to its design and drivers’ exceeding the speed limit. The road has a curve in it that is not hazardous when drivers are honoring the posted 35 MPH speed limit, but due to excessive speeding, the curve leads to loss of control issues and accidents. There is also no shoulder on the curve and the edge falls into a steep ditch, which only compounds the risks of the roadway.

The solution

WATE explains the solution from the state is to create a road design that allows for drivers to correct their mistakes without it leading to a fatal accident. The state will add in dirt to build up the area beside the road to create a shoulder area. If a driver runs off the road, he or she will be able to recover from it much easier and avoid a fall into the ditch. The easy fix took place near the end of 2020, so the effects are still to be seen, but it should help to reduce the accidents on this road.

As cities and towns across Tennessee grow and the number of drivers traveling to and from them grow alongside them, so, too, does a need for road construction to accommodate the rising number of motorists. You may find Tennessee’s many work zones to be a nuisance, wasting your time and keeping you from where you need to be. However, these areas also see high numbers of car crashes.

According to WREG, Tennessee saw 502 crashes in its work zones between the first of January and the end of September in 2019. Of those 502 crashes, seven fatalities resulted.

Tennessee work zone crash statistics

Between November of 2014 and November of 2019, Tennessee’s work zones were the sites of 14,082 car wrecks, resulting in 5,464 injuries and 83 road deaths. In 2018 alone, 656 crashes occurred in the state’s work zones, leading to 183 injuries and 13 fatalities.

Tennessee work zone crash hazards

Why is it that Tennessee’s work zones see so many car wrecks? The dangers linked to construction zones are twofold. First, you face hazards that stem from the ongoing road work. Unclear or unfamiliar traffic patterns may lead to confusion. Other hazards, such as misplaced traffic cones or machinery obstructing your view, may also heighten crash risks.

Motorists who drive negligently through work zones, whether by speeding, driving drunk or driving while distracted, also have a hand in many Tennessee work zone crashes. Drivers who follow too closely behind other drivers in work zones also enhance crash risks, with a high number of work zone car wrecks involving drivers hitting others from behind.

No one has the ability to control the actions of others. However, by driving defensively, slowing down and remaining vigilant, you should be able to reduce your chances of a work zone wreck.

Even with the current national health crisis, people are still taking to the roadways in Tennessee and across the United States. There are fundamentals that people should adhere to so they can be safe as they go back and forth. That includes paying attention to the road, driving sober, wearing a seatbelt and adhering to speed limits. Unfortunately, many people do not follow these safety requirements and place themselves and others in jeopardy. Those who have been injured or lost a loved one in a collision should be cognizant of the necessary steps to receiving compensation in a legal filing.

Auto accident deaths in Tennessee in 2020 ahead of the 2019 pace

Statistically, there has been a troubling rise in road fatalities across the state. This, combined with holiday travel, can be a challenge even if it is slightly reduced by the pandemic. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the most recent numbers show there have been 1,073 deaths on state roads thus far in 2020. This is 79 more than there were at the same time in 2019.

As the holiday season approaches, people are still planning to drive even with restrictions and warnings from legislators and agencies. One in three people say they are going to drive 500 miles during Thanksgiving week. Pedestrians have been particularly vulnerable with 28 more fatalities in the state from 131 to 159. On a positive note, teens and people 65 and older have had a reduction in traffic deaths.

Medical costs, lost income and other problems may accompany an auto accident

When combining inherent road risks with the holiday season in which traffic will likely be heavy, crashes with injuries and fatalities can happen. Those who are injured may incur major medical costs, problems getting back to work, long-term damage and personal, emotional and financial obstacles. When there is a fatality, the situation will undoubtedly be more complicated. To recover compensation, it is imperative to gather evidence and determine the cause of the accident. A firm with experience in motor vehicle accidents may be of assistance when considering a claim.

Nobody likes getting a ticket, but getting two in one day may have an even more drastic effect on a person’s mood and future as a driver.

As WVLT News reports, a serious crash in Knoxville involved a woman that authorities cited for speeding earlier that day.

From ticket to ticket

A driver on Highway 68 stopped and attempted to make a left turn onto Rhyne Road when another driver failed to stop and struck from the rear. Law enforcement identified the driver that failed to stop as a 77-year-old that authorities ticketed earlier for going 89 mph in a 50 mph zone a quarter-mile away from the accident.

The passenger in the stopped vehicle received injuries from the accident, while the 77-year-old continued to travel into the path of a tractor-trailer.

It is unknown whether the ticketed driver or the driver of the tractor trailer received injuries. The 77-year-old reportedly received a second ticket after the crash, but it is unknown what details the ticket involved.

From incident to resolution

Accidents like this leave people injured and questions unanswered and each person involved may have a long, legal road ahead of them. Insurance companies do not simply hand over what a victim deserves and authorities do not casually excuse tickets. It is up to individuals and families to work through the necessary process.

Whether a person seeks compensation for injuries sustained or contests multiple citations in order to reduce the long-term consequences on their future of driving, this car crash affected everyone involved and each should fight for the best possible results.

Tennessee allows injured individuals to sue after a motor vehicle accident under the state’s fault laws. A driver has financial responsibility if he or she has at least 50% fault for the crash according to the court. 

Review the state laws about liability and fault that apply to Tennessee auto accidents. 

Tennessee auto insurance coverage

Drivers can seek coverage under another driver’s liability policy after a crash. Tennessee drivers must carry liability insurance to cover the costs of accidents in which they are at fault. The policy minimums are $15,000 for property damage per accident, $25,000 for injury or death of one person and $50,000 for injury or fatality of multiple involved parties. 

If the insurance adjuster decides the policyholder is at fault, the company will offer a settlement. He or she must consider all available documentation including driver statements, witness statements, police reports, evidence of distracted driving, and photos and videos of the crash site. 

The injured person can file a lawsuit if he or she disagrees with the fault determination or the settlement does not cover the costs associated with the injury. 

Legal auto accident damages

The court will review all evidence in the case to make a fault determination and award financial damages if applicable. Tennessee uses the modified comparative negligence standard, which means that a driver who has up to 50% fault can collect damages from the driver with more than 50% fault. However, the court reduces the damage award by the injured driver’s fault percentage. 

In Tennessee, drivers have just one year to file a personal injury claim after an auto accident. 

Halloween this year in Knoxville may look a little different than Halloween in years past. However, according to one report, 58% of people in the U.S. still plan on celebrating this spooky holiday. But these festivities can come to a quick and tragic end if a person is involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by a drunk driver or is involved in a pedestrian accident.

Drunk driving sees an uptick over Halloween

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 30 individuals lose their life every day due to a drunk driving accident. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there is generally an increase in fatal drunk driving accidents over Halloween. In the years spanning from 2013 to 2017, 158 individuals lost their lives in a drunk driving accident over Halloween. And, of all fatal motor vehicle accidents that occurred on October 31, 42% involved a drunk driver.

Pedestrian accidents are common over Halloween

In addition to drunk driving, pedestrian accidents are common during Halloween. Many children and their parents take to the streets in costume to trick-or-treat over this holiday. However, this increases the risk of pedestrian accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that in the years spanning from 2013 to 2017, the two most deadly days for pedestrian accidents were October 31 and continuing through the night into November 1. According to the National Safety Council, kids are two times as likely to die from being hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

A Halloween motor vehicle accident could lead to a personal injury claim

Those who are involved in a drunk driving crash or pedestrian accident in Knoxville this Halloween may be seriously injured or could even lose their life. When this happens, the victim or his or her survivors may want to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Doing so could provide them with the compensation they need to move on following the crash.

The excitement that teenagers in Tennessee inevitably feel after getting their drivers’ licenses is almost always apparent. The newfound freedoms that the ability to driver offers can open up several new opportunities to them related to their participation in social and scholastic events, as well as their ability to seek employment.

Yet with this new freedom also comes the responsibility to be safe while behind the wheel. Sadly, statistics show that the inexperience of teen drivers often leads them to engage in dangerous driving activities. Such actions may not only endanger their own personal safety but that of their friends (and anyone else they counter on the road) as well.

Two teens involved in Knoxville rollover crash

This fact was on full display in a rollover accident that recently occurred in Knoxville. According to the local CBS affiliate, accident investigators say that a vehicle driven by a teen crossed over into oncoming traffic before rolling off the road. Authorities believe that excessive speed contributed to the driver losing control of the vehicle. The accident caused serious injuries to both the driver and his passenger. He eventually died; reports say his passenger’s injuries turned out to be non-life-threatening.

Seeking compensation following a car accident

One can count themselves fortunate if they are able to survive a serious car accident, yet their injuries still may prove costly. Oftentimes it is only through compensation that they can afford those costs. One might wonder how (in cases like the one here) a person can gain compensation from a driver killed in an accident. Such assistance may come from a decedent’s estate, ensuring that those affected by their actions are still taken care of. One’s chances of securing compensation may increase if they have experienced legal resources to rely on.

Many people struggle with challenges at work on a daily basis, resulting in fatigue, distractions, high levels of stress and rushing around. Sadly, all of these difficulties can increase the odds of a motor vehicle collision. If you were involved in a crash and the other driver was dealing with problems related to their job, this is no excuse and you need to look into your legal options.

Every day, many accidents occur because of work-related stressors and it is crucial for drivers to ensure that they obey all traffic safety guidelines and drive safely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people in the U.S. miss over one million days of work each year as a result of traffic crash injuries.

How do problems at work increase the odds of a crash?

Whether someone works for many hours or their job is especially physically or mentally demanding, fatigue is responsible for many accidents. Drivers who are drowsy or very sore sometimes have difficulty focusing on the road and even fall asleep behind the wheel. Also, many drivers use their phones to talk with clients, co-workers and supervisors, resulting in distracted driving. Those running late for work or an important meeting sometimes speed and behave aggressively behind the wheel.

How can you recover from a traffic wreck?

If you were struck by a driver who was distracted, fatigued or in a rush, you need to carefully go over these factors as you consider your legal options. Filing a lawsuit helps many drivers in this position receive the financial support they desperately need and also provides mental relief. Some people also look for support from friends, family members and online communities.