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Car Accidents motor vehicle accidents

Fatal highway accident claims lives of newlywed couple

Even when motorists in Tennessee do their best to pay attention, they may encounter a distracted driver who changes everything. Unexpected motor vehicle crashes can have severe and long-lasting consequences.

For one Tennessee family, the untimely death of a newlywed couple has left the community reeling.

Preventable tragedy

When a young couple and their friend had a collision with a guardrail, no one could have predicted what would happen next. The couple, only married two days earlier, and their friend exited the disabled vehicle and was standing near it when a truck plowed into them. The outcome was fatal for all three individuals. The driver of the truck received treatment at a local hospital for injuries that authorities described as non-life-threatening.

The newlywed’s family described their pain and shock at losing the couple, especially at such a sensitive time. Friends and loved ones described how happy the pair appeared. They also expressed remorse for how abruptly the couple’s short marriage ended.

Defensive strategy

Because people cannot predict the behavior of others around them, they can benefit from staying vigilant in their surroundings. People may reduce their risks of injury or death when they practice defensive driving strategies that allow them to notice potential dangers before they become a threat.

In situations where the negligent act of another results in a severe injury or death, victims and their families deserve adequate support. Working with an attorney may enable injured persons to build a compelling case that shows how their suffering happened because of someone else.

Source: The New York Post, “Newlyweds killed in crash two days after wedding,” Jackie Salo, Oct. 20, 2021

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Car Accidents

Types of driver negligence that commonly cause car accidents

When any person gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, they take upon themselves the responsibility to keep other motorists safe. Unfortunately, there are some drivers who are so negligent that they cause auto accidents resulting in injury and death.

In Tennessee, there were 1,217 car crash fatalities in 2020. While all may not have resulted from negligence, most accidents are the result of motorists who are not paying attention or driving recklessly. Being aware of common acts of driver negligence may help keep you and your loved ones safe on the road.

Texting while driving

In today’s world, most people have smartphones. Unfortunately, many people use their phones while operating their vehicles. Doing so is dangerous. Many car accidents occur because drivers are checking messages or responding to texts rather than watching for other cars or pedestrians.

Excessive speed

Driving well above the speed limit puts other people on the road at risk. Excessive speed reduces the amount of time a driver has to slow down, and it can make accidents much more serious.

Failing to yield

All motorists must exhibit reasonable care. This includes yielding when appropriate, like at a red light or when a pedestrian is crossing the road. Some drivers feel that it is their right to go first no matter what, which can have consequences for others on the road.

Driver negligence has become very common, making it essential that you drive carefully and defensively to avoid being the victim of a car accident.

Categories
nursing home abuse and neglect

Statistics shed light on the realities of elder abuse

If you have a loved one who is in a nursing home, you may have concerns about elder abuse, and rightfully so. According to national research on nursing home mistreatment, there is a serious problem across the United States. Elder abuse and neglect does not just happen; it is common.

To get a better look at the whole picture, it can be helpful to put things into numbers. Based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Justice and the World Health Organization, abuse can happen to anyone.

Two out of three nursing home staff have abused residents

Around the world, two out of three nursing home employees reported abusing residents over the past year during a recent WHO elder abuse survey; a substantial number of those occurred in the United States. Every year, there are at least 5 million US nursing home complaints of abuse. While many reports are for verbal offenses, there are others that involve physical harm. None are okay.

Neglect is the most common form of nursing home abuse

Most often, nursing home staff commit abuse by depriving residents of basic life necessities. In many cases, this is due to inadequate caregiver training, but there have also been intentional cases, too. Another common form of abuse is financial abuse. This is especially true if a resident has mental deterioration as many of those with dementia do.

Understanding the realities of nursing home abuse can help you spot it if it occurs to someone you love. Speaking up can save a life.

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nursing home abuse and neglect

Is this a non-verbal sign of abuse?

When you leave your loved one at a nursing facility, you expect them to receive humane and kind treatment from helpful professionals. Unfortunately, you cannot personally vet every worker at the facility, which could end tragically for your loved one.

In order to help advocate for your loved one, you need to keep your eye out for potential red flags that might indicate abuse.

Physical injuries and revolving door staff

Care Pathways looks into the problem of abuse and neglect in nursing homes. First, keep an eye out for unexplained physical injuries. Of course, some things simply happen due to forgetfulness and clumsiness that comes along with age. However, if you notice any bruises, scrapes, cuts or abrasions that seemingly appear out of nowhere with no reason, start questioning staff.

Speaking of staff, keep an eye out for a “revolving door” staff. Do you see the same faces every time you visit your loved one, or do you hardly ever recognize anyone working there? If staff constantly revolves, it might indicate a poorly structured facility that overburdens its employees.

Monitoring your loved one’s behavior

Watch your loved one’s reactions and behaviors, too. Do they withdraw in the presence of any particular staff members? Have they displayed more signs of depression or aggression recently? These may all indicate the possibility of abuse.

Many cases of abuse and neglect stem from an overtaxed, understaffed system, which often drives caretakers to skimp on the attention they give each individual patient or even lash out in their anger. But your loved one should not have to suffer for the flaws of a system, so you should consider contacting legal help quickly.

Categories
Car Accidents motor vehicle accidents

What types of catastrophic injuries can result from a car crash?

When you think of the likely types of injuries you could sustain as the result of a car crash, what comes to your mind? Broken bones? Whiplash? Cuts, scrapes and bruises? While it is true that a car crash can produce all of these types of injuries, unfortunately, you can also sustain far more serious injuries, up to and including those that the legal and insurance communities categorize as catastrophic.

The Lawyer’s Monthly reports that in order to rise to the level of catastrophic, an injury must have lasting consequences that leave you permanently disabled in some manner.

Catastrophic injury examples

Common catastrophic injuries include the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries that result in paraplegia or quadriplegia
  • Severe burns, especially to your face
  • Crush injuries that require amputation of one or more of your limbs
  • Eye injuries that result in severe loss of vision or total blindness
  • Ear injuries that result in severe loss of hearing or total deafness

Life-changing event

In other words, a catastrophic injury changes your life forever. You can no longer perform your daily functions as you once did. You may need to use a wheelchair or prosthesis for purposes of mobility. You may require months or years of rehabilitation. You may find it difficult, if not impossible, to secure and maintain meaningful employment. Your quality of life may diminish drastically because you fear or dislike leaving your home because of your appearance.

All in all, sustaining a catastrophic injury in a car crash represents a truly life-changing event from which you will never completely recover.

Categories
motor vehicle accidents

Can seatbelts help prevent skull fractures?

Advances in safety over the years have made it much easier to ride in a car without fear of serious damage in the event of a crash. However, even the most modern safety technology cannot account for every potential damage.

But it is important to understand the difference that properly applying these safety mechanisms can be when it comes to serving a driver’s health. For example, how can seat belts actually minimize the damage of a crash?

Seat belts and the decline of severe injury

The National Library of Medicine shows what regions of the body a seat belt has the largest impacts on. In specific, the study examines claims that seat belts can actually create more injury in certain cases, such as sprains or even breaks.

However, the study also concluded that seat belts have a significant impact on the decline of more severe injuries. This includes:

  • Injuries to the head, face and neck (29.3 percent for non-seat belt and 16.6 percent with seat belt)
  • Traumatic brain injury (10.4 percent with no seat belt, 4.1 percent with seat belt)
  • The severity of spinal injury from the thoracic to coccyx area (22.0 percent with no seat belt, 4.2 percent with seat belt)

Note that damage to the thoracic to coccyx area of the spine occurred at a higher rate when wearing the seat belt, though as shown above, the severity of the damage ended up greatly reduced.

A reduction of medical costs

On a whole, seat belts also decreased the overall cost of medical treatment and concerns in the aftermath of a crash. In other words, seat belts help cut down on the physical risks of crashes while also reducing the overall cost load that comes along with them.

Categories
Car Accidents

Tennessee car accident statistics: What to know

Unfortunately, car accidents happen every day, and at some point in their lives, most people experience a collision.

When you sustain injuries due to a motor vehicle crash, you need to know your rights.

Tennessee car accident statistics

Understanding the data surrounding vehicle crashes in the state demonstrate how you can incur injuries, even when you follow the rules of the road:

  • Car crashes resulting in severe injuries or fatalities numbered over 3500 in 2019 and 2020, according to data by the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security
  • Accidents that cause injuries are most likely to occur between 4:00 and 5:00 pm.
  • Distracted drivers and drunk drivers cause many serious collisions
  • Crashes involving a distracted driver occur every 24 minutes in Tennessee
  • Uninsured drivers are common in the state, making it crucial to understand your legal rights following an accident

Legal rights help you get back to your life

When your injuries stem from another driver’s negligence, you may need legal routes to recover the compensation you deserve and get back to your usual routine. You take responsibility for your actions and believe others should, too. Understanding your rights enables you to get back to business as usual more quickly by holding the responsible party liable for the damages you suffered.

You drive safely to compensate for other drivers’ actions on the road, but you cannot always prevent accidents. Injuries can keep you from work and other activities, diminish your quality of life, and create significant medical expenses. The car crash data in Tennessee demonstrates why you need to take action to get your life back to normal.

Categories
catastrophic injuries Injuries

Tips for handling road rage in Tennessee

In Tennessee, construction delays, heavy traffic, and inconsiderate behavior can transform a normally calm, rational person into a frustrated, angry driver. Individuals who vent this anger on the roadways may become a threat to you, occupants of vehicles sharing the road, pedestrians and objects nearby.

Accidents fueled by aggressive driving or road rage often result in injuries or fatalities. According to Bankrate, road rage causes approximately 1,800 injuries per year. Here are some tips for handling another driver’s aggressive or rude behavior behind the wheel.

Do not respond in kind

If another driver yells, makes lewd gestures or honks at you, slow down and let them go around. This allows you to put significant distance between you and may deescalate the situation. Responding to their behavior in a similar way can fuel the anger and potentially incite a traffic accident or related incident.

Practice safe driving

Experiencing rude driving behavior often sets off-road rage in an individual. Be a polite driver, avoid tailgating, speeding and frequently changing lanes. Using your blinker, merging politely and leaving extra room between vehicles can minimize the potential for road rage and make the commute more pleasant for everyone.

Maintain a calm head

Avoid driving when angry or upset when possible. If you must get behind the wheel, take deep breaths, listen to calming music. Leaving your house a few minutes earlier than usual can relieve some of the tension about arriving at your destination late. If you have a reasonable expectation of how long your drive takes, you are less likely to exhibit reckless acts that could make another driver angry.

Understanding how your behavior affects others on the road can help you avoid road rage situations. If another driver purposely follows you or takes action that results in catastrophic injuries to you or your vehicle, you may have grounds for a claim.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Tennessee leads nation in cellphone distracted driving deaths

Cellphone use plays a role in many distracted driving crashes and fatalities across the United States. However, research shows Tennessee tops the nation when it comes to cellphone-related distracted driving fatalities. Tennessee’s phone-related distracted driving death rate is five times the national average, highlighting a growing problem the state must address.

Per The Tennessean, Tennessee and the nation’s four other leading states for cellphone-related distracted driving deaths see more than 30% of all such fatalities nationwide.

Tennessee statistics

Between 2015 and 2015, Tennessee saw more than 1,400 road deaths result from motorists using handheld cellphones behind the wheel. At the national level, the rate of cellphone-related distracted driving deaths is 1.49 fatalities for every 10 billion miles driven. Yet, Tennessee’s cellphone-related distracted driving death rate is exponentially higher.

Possible explanations

Research shows that the states with the strictest cellphone use and distracted driving laws typically have the lowest numbers of deaths due to these circumstances. The 13 states with particularly strict distracted driving laws saw about 25% fewer distracted driving deaths than those with lax laws.

Until mid-2019, Tennessee laws banned motorists from using their cellphones only when traveling through marked school zones. On July 1, 2019, the state enacted a hands-free law to help lower the number of road deaths caused by cellphone use.

The 2019 law change is likely to impact the number of motorists and passengers dying due to in-vehicle cellphone use. However, how much of an impact the law change may have year over year is not yet clear.

Categories
Car Accidents Drunk Driving Accidents motor vehicle accidents Motorcycle Accidents Truck Accidents

Are these signs of post-traumatic stress disorder?

After getting into a crash, you will likely have seen a doctor to ensure that you have no lingering physical injury or effects from it. But what happens when it comes to the potential mental impact of a crash?

Even if you physically feel fine after a crash, you can still suffer from emotional and mental repercussions from a traumatic event. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can serve as one of these issues that you may face.

Emotions of PTSD

Mayo Clinic takes a look at post-traumatic stress disorder and how it manifests. First, you may experience a plethora of strong emotions in the aftermath of a crash. In particular, anxiety, shock, fear and nervousness surface the most often and will present themselves even after seemingly minor incidents. However, some people may experience uncontrollable memories of the incident, persistent and strong anxiety, dissociation and excessive irritation or irritability.

These emotions often tie to PTSD and can have a strong and lingering impact on your body, mind and life in general. It can impact your ability to function on a day-to-day basis, making it hard to continue work or even just enjoy your life.

The physical impact

PTSD can physically impact you as well, creating issues like stomach pains, nausea, digestion problems, and frequent headaches. You may also struggle to get a good night’s sleep, which can exacerbate everything.

You may wish to seek mental help in the aftermath to aid in your coping with PTSD and other crash-related traumas, but these treatments often cost a lot. Thus, you may want to contact legal help to discuss your options for seeking financial compensation.