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Motorcycle Accidents

Common motorcycle riding myths debunked

Many motorists in Tennessee have false impressions about motorcycle riders that can lead them to make mistakes that endanger themselves and other drivers. According to the Insurance Information Institute, motor vehicle collisions involving motorcycles were the cause of 4,976 fatalities in 2015. 

Some individuals do not consider how fragile their bodies are until they are lying on the side of the road after falling or being thrown from their bikes in a collision. The risk of serious injury is all too real and avoidable in most cases. Here is a brief overview on how a few myths can impact overall road safety. 

Helmets are not necessary 

Many motorcyclists do not believe helmet use is necessary. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, many states have laws making it illegal for individuals to ride without them. However, many people choose to ride their motorcycles without them. 

The bigger the bike, the better the ride 

Big motorcycles may seem cool. But novice bikers may have trouble handling them because of their inexperience and the sheer weight of their vehicles. Bigger motorcycles also have more power and can be significantly harder for riders to operate. 

Drivers can see them 

Unlike cars, SUVs and trucks, motorcycles are relatively small. They take up much less space on the road and are harder to see. Drivers do not always know when there are motorcyclists riding in the back and on the side of them. Even though their mirrors are adjusted perfectly, and they are following all traffic rules and laws, riders sometimes position themselves in the blind spots of other drivers. 

When it comes to operating a vehicle, especially a motorcycle, it is important for you to know the difference between fact and fiction. Some myths may sound like they make sense. But they may go against the rules of traffic and compromise the safety of all motorists.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

More people dying on U.S. roads

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

Categories
Truck Accidents

Government rules address trucker fatigue

Any time that you find yourself next to a semi truck on the road in Tennessee, you are instantly reminded of just how much bigger than any other vehicle these big rigs really are. Regardless of whether you drive a coupe or a full-sized pickup truck, you know that if you were to be involved in a crash involving a semi truck, you would be at great risk of injury or even death simply because of the size and weight differential of your vehicles.

This is just one of the reasons that truckers have a big responsibility to operate their vehicles safely. This includes remaining alert and awake when being the wheel. The issue of fatigue among commercial truck drivers is a serious one and has actually been addressed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in the past few years. In an effort to curb fatigue among truckers, the FMCSA instituted what it calls the Hours of Service rule.

This rule prevents a trucker from working more than 14 hours in one day and from driving more than 11 of those 14 hours in one day. It also specifies the maximum number of hours a trucker may work in a seven- or eight-day work week. When one week is over, a break lasting at least 34 hours is required before starting the next working period.

If you would like to learn more about how the FMCSA is trying to improve safety on the roads, please feel free to visit the fatigued trucker page of our Tennessee motor vehicle accident and personal injury website.

Categories
Truck Accidents

Texting and driving: truckers are also at fault

The majority of America is likely aware of the major distraction cell phones can create for drivers. Yet many do not consider that issue when applied to truck drivers — those who frequent Tennessee’s roads more than any other type of traveller. Even though they may be the most familiar with these roads, are truckers also guilty of texting and driving?

With their inevitable huge presence on roads, many might assume that truckers keep a particularly close eye on their actions while driving. However, ABC News reveals a side of truck driving that would startle most: the act of using a cell phone while operating the vehicle. Through a stream of alleged accounts in which truckers collided with other vehicles due to cell phone distractions, ABC reveals that everyday drivers are not the only ones at fault for driving distractedly. One relatively recent event in which a trucker had been looking down at his phone instead of bringing his truck to a stop led to the deaths of a Pennsylvania couple. Another in Arizona involved the death of a police officer, when a trucker was distracted by photos on his phone and slammed into police cars and emergency vehicles.

It is clear that all types of drivers are capable of operating a vehicle while distracted by cell phones. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published rules for truck and bus drivers that prohibit them from driving under such distractions, making clear that these professions offer no exception to state law. The FMCSA reveals that texting while driving can ultimately result in driver disqualification, and that penalties can range from $2,750 for drivers and up to $11,000 for employers who allow or require drivers to use a device primarily for the purpose of texting while driving. Everyday drivers are not the only Tennesseeans guilty of texting and driving, and they are also not the only ones facing severe consequences if caught doing so.    

   

 

 

 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Drugged driving and drunk driving: two major issues in tennessee

Drunk driving has certainly been a major concern in America for decades. However, depending on the area, statistics show that this issue has become more complex than once thought. News reports circulating around the Knoxville area of Tennessee indicate that there is an additional cause of substance-related motor vehicle accidents: that of prescription medications. 

WBIR News claims that drugged driving caused more accidents in Tennessee than alcohol in recent years. According to the report, the opioid epidemic in America has inevitably had a hand in this change, which ultimately helps reveal that the opioid issue is a multifaceted one. Because prescription drugs make any driver impaired and thus in less control over a vehicle, law enforcement fears that more drug-related accidents could occur in the future. The area in which high volumes of these wrecks take place is also around the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus, where students could become more open to the idea of trying dangerous drugs due to inexperience, peer pressure and a number of other factors. WBIR adds that in 2015 alone, an estimate of 174 people died when the driver tested positive for drugs, or when officers determined drugs influenced the driver. Experts claim that the most common drugs in these situations are opiates and benzodiazepines. 

While the influence of prescription drugs has made an incredibly negative impact on America’s drivers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remind Tennesseans that alcohol nonetheless plays a major role in motor vehicle accidents. Between 2003 and 2012, 3,423 people were killed by a drunk driver in the state, with about one in three deaths involving a drunk driver. Yet CDC also notes that Tennesseans, along with the rest of the country, are slow to admit to driving while under the influence: only 1.1 percent report driving after drinking too much.

Regardless of the cause, reports such as these show that substances — whether illegal or legal — play a major role in motor vehicle accidents across the state. And although this angle of the opioid epidemic is part of a much larger issue, it nevertheless opens up a concern in the state of Tennessee, an area already largely affected by the crisis.     

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents can lead to brain and spinal trauma

Many motorcycle riders do not realize how much a single accident can change their lives. Many of them feel like they are invincible while they are riding on the streets and toss safety to the wind. Some of them do not believe that a car accident is not the only type of incident that can result in spinal cord and brain trauma, paralysis and death. Motorcycle accidents in Knoxville often lead to brain damage, disability and death too. 

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, the number of motorcyclists who were injured in crashes during 2015 was 88,000. Bikers are more likely to sustain serious injuries than minor ones because their vehicles lack structures that can offer protection against collisions and impact. When riders do not wear helmets, their chances of sustaining long-term spinal cord and brain damage increase. 

Brain and spinal trauma are often long-lasting 

Not all motorcycle accident victims show obvious signs of brain injuries. Many people who have them look and function normally. Riders who sustain brain trauma may experience memory loss, changes in their personalities and perception, states CNN. The presence of a traumatic brain injury is not easy for some victims to prove because the symptoms are not always obvious and permanent. Individuals who suffer from spinal cord damage and brain trauma often need medical care, rehabilitation and support for the rest of their lives. Some of them lose mobility in their lower extremities, become permanently disabled and die. 

There is no way for anyone to know how minor or serious their injuries will be in a crash until after it happens. To alleviate much of the uncertainty and risk of life-changing injuries, motorcyclists should remember to make safety a top priority when they ride. They should also use safety gear and helmets.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Preventing teenage car accidents

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.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Hit-and-run driver kills one and leaves another severely injured

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

Categories
Car Accidents

Seniors who are fall risks are more likely to crash

Many people in Knoxville are aware that seniors are at risk of fall accidents. There may be a link between older people who fall and car accidents. According to a study posted by the AAA Newsroom, seniors who are at risk of crashing their vehicles “can be identified by their fall histories.” 

Older people are exceptionally vulnerable to injuries. Their health, medications and other age-related factors can affect their ability to identify hazardous conditions that could cause them to slip and fall. They may also have limited which can make it more challenging for them to avoid hazards and increase the likelihood of them sustaining serious injuries. Their age and health can also limit their ability to recover from their injuries. 

The correlation between car and fall accidents 

Many of the same factors that result in fall accidents can lead to car accidents. More than 400,000 motor vehicle wrecks are caused by motorists who are 60 years old and older, states the New York Daily News. Common factors that increase the risk of senior car accidents are coordination issues, medication side effects, vision changes, new driving rules and car technology. 

Some older individuals may be more likely to crash their vehicles if they are a fall risk or have a history of falling. But they are not the most dangerous group of drivers on the roads. Seniors can lower the chances of them becoming motor vehicle wreck victims by taking driving classes to stay informed on the latest traffic rules and car technology. They should also assess their health and take measures to improve it to avoid fall accidents.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Fall motorcycle hazards

The days are getting shorter, colder and the leaves are starting to change color. Although summer is coming to an end, there are still plenty of riding days left for motorcyclists in Knoxville. With the changing seasons comes new hazards and road conditions that bikers should be aware of. 

According to Consumer Reports, in 2015, the number of motorcycle fatalities on the roads across the country was more than 5,000. These accidents were caused by many factors, such as alcohol, reckless behavior, inexperience, driving errors, other motorists and seasonal road conditions. There is no perfect time of year for bikers to ride. However, any motorcyclists who plan to enjoy the fall scenery while they cruise the roads should heed the following safety suggestions. 

Increase visibility 

Now that the days are not as long as they were during the summer, some bikers may find themselves riding when it is dark out. Although their vehicles are equipped with lights, they may not be enough to make them visible enough for other motorists to see them and for them to see in areas where there is reduced visibility. Bikers should wear high-visibility clothing and safety gear. They should also inspect their vehicles regularly to ensure that all headlights, turn signals and brake lights work. 

Avoid piles of leaves 

Many bikers do not realize how much of a hazard falling leaves can be. Once they accumulate on the roads, they hide potholes, uneven surfaces and other hazardous conditions, states LizJansen.com. When the weather is wet, and there is moisture on the roads, leaves can become slippery and create slick traveling conditions that can cause bikers to fall off and crash their vehicles. Motorcyclists should avoid riding through piles of leaves whenever possible. 

The fall season is a beautiful time of year to ride. Bikers should remind themselves of the above seasonal hazards so they can take measures to stay safe and avoid accidents.