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Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

2 teens die in tragic car accident in Maury County

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. 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Could you be hit by a designated driver?

When you are driving along one of Tennessee’s many roadways, you may not anticipate being hit by another motorist, especially if that motorist was designated to safely drive intoxicated passengers to their destination. People who are going out for drinks are encouraged to single out a person that will refrain from drinking and be in charge of getting the others home safely. However, studies show that even designated drivers may have significant blood alcohol content levels that could limit their ability to drive.

A study conducted by the University of Florida found that 35 percent of people who are chosen to be sober drivers leave with a measurable blood alcohol content. Approximately half of the drivers who were measured in the study had a BAC level of 0.05 percent or above. At this level, drivers show a decreased ability to respond to roadway hazards, and may even have trouble staying in their lanes. Although the legal limit is 0.08 percent, lower levels of alcohol in the bloodstream have been shown to have significant effects on a person’s ability to drive.

Researchers believe that while designated drivers go into a function with the mindset that they are not going to drink, many have one or two drinks anyway. Since people metabolize alcohol at different rates, designated motorists could still be buzzed when they climb behind the wheel. Not only does this put the designated driver and his or her passengers in danger, but it also puts the lives of other motorists on the line.

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

Categories
Truck Accidents

The importance of weight distribution in tractor trailers

There is an art to loading tractor trailers. When fully loaded, massive big rigs can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds in Tennessee and across the country. Large trucks carrying smaller loads, however, can become involved in serious truck accidents when their weight is improperly distributed. Cargo that is packed into a truck can easily shift during travel. When shifting occurs, it can throw off a big rig’s center of gravity. This shift can also cause the truck to experience braking problems, jack-knife, skid or roll over.

Federal laws dictate the amount of weight that can be placed on a truck’s axles and tires, according to EngineMechanics.com. This weight can vary depending on the size of the truck, how many axles it has and the truck’s suspension system. Different driving conditions can also affect the materials in the truck and should be considered when loading. Loads should never be concentrated at the front or back of the trailer, but rather distributed evenly along the center of the trailer in order to maintain a proper center of gravity.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has regulations in place to prevent improper loading in tractor trailers. Not only are large truck operators required to inspect their load before they start out on the road, but they must then recheck the load after driving the first 50 miles to catch any shifting that may have taken place. Depending on the exact weight and size of the material being transported, there are specific ways in which the load should be restrained, as well as what type of equipment should be used to secure the load.

When tractor trailers are not loaded properly or the materials in the truck are not secured, it can be dangerous for the truck driver, as well as all other motorists on the road. 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Low BAC levels can lead to a serious collision

In Tennessee and in many other states in the nation, drivers who have a blood alcohol content level of 0.08 percent or higher are considered legally intoxicated, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Research has found that when the amount of alcohol in the blood reaches this level, drivers experience significant impairment, making it difficult and hazardous for them to operate a vehicle. Variances in weight, sex and the ability to process alcohol through the body, however, can have an effect on people who have a BAC level that measures less that the legal limit.

Mothers against Drunk Driving reported that BAC levels as low as 0.02 percent can have an influence on a motorist’s behavior while behind the wheel. At this level, drivers may experience an increased inability to multi-task, or perform two complex tasks at the same time. This means that using a cellphone or reaching to pick an item up off of the floor with this BAC level could increase the risk of an accident.

With a BAC level of 0.05 percent, drivers may have problems steering, staying in their lanes and reacting to roadway hazards. For example, a non-intoxicated driver may be able to brake quickly for a child who darts out into the road. A driver with a 0.05 percent BAC level on the other hand, may have difficulties responding to the emergency situation, and may not be able to brake in time. Drivers at this level of intoxication could lose the ability to focus their eyes properly, making it hard for them to see clearly.

Even low levels of alcohol can affect a motorist’s ability to drive safely on the road. 

Categories
Car Accidents

Drowsy driving can have life changing consequences

While some people may feel as though they are able to drive while drowsy or fatigued, many do not know the potential consequences of their actions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 800 people were killed and 44,000 people were injured in car accidents involving drowsy drivers in 2013. Furthermore, fatigued drivers in Tennessee and across the country caused at least 72,000 auto collisions that same year. These numbers reflect only reported accidents, however, and do not account for the significant number of collisions that go unreported every year.

At least 70 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleeping disorders, putting them at a potential risk for falling asleep behind the wheel, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who take certain prescription medications that cause drowsiness are also in danger, and should avoid driving. When drowsy motorists engage in distractive behaviors, such as using a cellphone while driving or are intoxicated while behind the wheel, the risk of an accident increases significantly. All drivers should make sure to get plenty of rest before heading out on the road, especially teenage motorists, as they require more sleep.

Not only are drowsy drivers less likely to respond to critical hazards, such as pedestrian crossings, traffic signals or bad weather conditions, but they are unable to react to other drivers’ behavior. If for some reason, a driver must brake suddenly or switch lanes to avoid an object in the road, he or she may be unable to do so if fatigued.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

A quick look at motorcycle accident trends

As warmer weather approaches, more Tennessee motorcyclists are hitting the open road. It is crucial for motorists and motorcyclists alike to know how to share the road safely in order to avoid tragic accidents from occurring. In 2014 alone, 4,586 people were killed and 93,000 people were injured in motorcycle accidents across the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Although the motorcycle accident fatality rate decreased by 2.3 percent from the year before, injuries rose by 4.5 percent.

When comparing the number of miles that were traveled by motorcycles with those of motor vehicles, motorcycle accident deaths exceeded car accident fatalities by 26 times. Motorcycles lack many of the safety devices that vehicle have, including airbags, seatbelts and a steel structure that acts as a barrier between the driver and the road.

When it comes to motorcycle safety, there are some crucial components that bikers should be aware of. Motorcyclists who wear a helmet while riding can decrease their risk of receiving traumatic brain damage by 67 percent or dying in an accident by as much as 37 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It was reported that 1,669 lives were saved in 2014 because of motorcycle helmet use. All motorcyclists are required to wear a helmet in Tennessee. Furthermore, motorcycles that have antilock braking systems reduce the risk of fatal collisions by 31 percent as opposed to motorcycles that lack these safety devices.

Negligent motorists also put motorcyclists in danger. Drivers who fail to see bikers or yield to their right of way may be at fault for causing a tragic motorcycle accident. 

Categories
Truck Accidents

Truck driver shortage: What does this mean for TN motorists?

Just as you must meet certain requirements in order to obtain a driver’s license, truck drivers must also pass tests to receive a commercial driver’s license. These highly specialized vehicles require qualified and trained truckers to operate them and to ensure that they are driven safely on Tennessee roadways. According to the American Trucking Association, however, there is a significant shortage of skilled truck drivers. Not only is this a problem for the trucking industry, but it could put you at a greater risk of being involved in a serious truck accident.

Bloomberg Business reported that as the current population of truck drivers in the U.S. continues to age and retire, there are less truckers willing to take their place. Some attribute this decline of new hires to low wages and the fact that prospective truckers are not willing to spend long periods of time away from their families. Other industries, such as construction, offer comparable wages and allow people to stay home. Federal regulations also require truckers to break more often and take frequent rest periods, which can inhibit their ability to make money as well.

How does this nationwide truck driver shortage affect you? With a lack of well-trained truckers on the road, some trucking companies have turned to using truck drivers that may not be qualified to operate a big rig. In some cases, truckers are scheduled to work long hours in violation of federal regulations, in order to meet tight deadlines and deliver more freight. Drowsy, distracted, untrained and otherwise negligent truckers can lead to catastrophic truck accidents, injuries and even death.

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

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Identifying the warning signs of an aggressive driver

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.   

Categories
Car Accidents

Tennessee child safety seat laws may become stricter

Most parents in Tennessee and across the country understand the importance of buckling their infants, toddlers and small children into a safety seat when in the car. It is mandatory for parents in Tennessee to use car seats and booster seats to restrain their children for the first eight years of their lives. A proposed law, however, would increase this age significantly in hopes of decreasing the number of kids who are killed each year in tragic automobile accidents.

As with many proposed laws, there are both supporters and opponents of the new child safety seat law. While some people believe that the new requirements go too far, others argue that it is best to keep children in safety seats for as long as possible. If Governor Bill Haslam authorizes the proposed law, babies will be required to stay in rear-facing car seats until the age of two, forward-facing car seats until the age of five and booster seats until they reach a height of 4-foot-9 or turn 12 years old.

According to research performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, child safety seats are 71 percent effective at reducing the car accident injury and death rate for infants under one-year of age and 54 percent of children between the ages of one and four years old.

When children are involved in a tragic accident, the results can be catastrophic, especially if they are improperly restrained. A personal injury attorney may be helpful to those who have experienced such an accident.

Source: WJHL News, “Proposed Tennessee law would increase safety seat requirements to 12-years-old,” Sydney Cameron, Mar. 8, 2016.

 

 

 

Categories
Truck Accidents

Federal law requires truckers to undergo drug and alcohol testing

Truck drivers must be qualified, rested and fully coherent in order to safely operate their massive tractor-trailers. Unfortunately, a number of large truck operators choose to drive drunk and risk the lives of thousands of people in Tennessee and across the country. As a way to minimize the risk of truck accidents caused by drunk truck drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates that all commercial driver’s license holders take a drug and alcohol test prior to hitting the open road.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, all part-time, full-time and intermittent commercial truck drivers must be tested for cocaine, opiates, marijuana, amphetamines and PCP. In addition to these substances, truck drivers must undergo an alcohol test to determine their blood alcohol content level. Not only should these tests be given before a trucker is hired, but they may also be required after drivers are involved in certain types of truck accidents.

When a truck driver is given a citation for an accident involving bodily injury to another person or damage to another motor vehicle, the employer must give him or her a drug and alcohol test. In accidents where a human fatality is involved, the truck driver must be tested regardless of whether he or she is cited for the incident. States are able to implement more stringent testing regulations, as long as they meet the minimum federal requirements. Truckers who refuse to take a drug and/or alcohol test or fail a test will most likely lose their ability to drive a truck. In order to regain their commercial driver’s license, the truck driver must undergo a return-to-duty process.

Commercial Carrier Journal reported that the FMCSA has set up a CDL drug and alcohol clearinghouse, which is a database that contains the test results of truck drivers across the nation. Employers and officials can log into the database and find truck drivers’ test results. This will hopefully reduce the number of negligent truck drivers on the road.