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Motorcycle Accidents

How can ABS reduce risks of motorcycle accidents?

As a Tennessee motorist, you may know about antilock braking systems and how they help to improve the safety of vehicles on the road. Yet you may not know that these braking systems can mean life or death to motorcyclists. Whether you are a motorcyclist yourself or simply share the road with motor bikes, it is helpful to know how motorcycle braking systems work and how to react in a situation where a motorcycle needs to stop short.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, motorcycles that are equipped with antilock braking systems are 31 percent less likely to be involved in deadly motorcycle accidents than those models that do not have this safety mechanism. Antilock braking systems work by preventing motorcycle tires from locking up, which in turn may help you avoid a disastrous fall, potential injury and possible death. When the wheels of your motorcycle begin to lock up, the ABS system will stop the tires rotations until it feels as though the tires’ traction is fully restored. Traditional braking systems, on the other hand, can act as a potential hazard when your tires hit uneven terrain, bad weather conditions or otherwise poor road conditions.

Although antilock braking systems reduce the likelihood that you will be involved in a fatal motorcycle accident, studies show that models with combined braking systems are even safer. As a result of these studies, IIHS is pushing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require the installation of antilock braking systems on all motorcycles. 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

DUI accident rate still high in TN despite decrease in fatalities

While Tennessee reported a significant decline in the number of people killed in drunk driving car accidents across the state in 2013, the DUI fatality rate still shows that too many people are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reported drunk driving deaths in the state fell from 286 deaths in 2012 to 277 fatalities in 2013. Although Mothers Against Drunk Driving also reported a 3.1 percent decline in drunk driving deaths, these fatalities still accounted for 27.8 percent of all automobile accident deaths in the state.

State officials hope that the 2014 DUI fatality rate will show an even further reduction in drunk driving deaths. This is due in part to new legislation that went into effect in 2013 involving the use of ignition interlock devices. Tennessee is one of 25 states in the nation that requires all convicted DUI offenders to use an ignition interlock device on their vehicles. The mobile breath test monitor is designed to keep DUI offenders from operating a vehicle by measuring their blood alcohol content level. The vehicle will not start if the offender’s BAC is over the preset limit. Other states that enforce this law have seen a dramatic drop in DUI car accidents, injuries and deaths.

In addition to interlock device laws, Tennessee also uses no-refusal policies when testing drivers who have been pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving. Some believe that if state lawmakers started revoking driver’s licenses, it would help to lower the number of drunk drivers on the road as well. 

Categories
Car Accidents

How can TN drivers stay safe on winter roads this season?

As a motorist in Tennessee, you may already know that the winter roads can be extremely dangerous for drivers. Not only are there adverse weather conditions to deal with, but you are also forced to share the road with people who drive recklessly in these harsh circumstances. According to the Federal Highway Administration, more than 480,000 people are injured and 6,250 people lose their lives in car accidents caused by slushy, icy or snowy roads each year. Although your risk of becoming involved in a tragic automobile accident increases when the weather is bad, there are steps you can take to stay safe on the road this winter.

One of the most important things that you can do when you face reduced visibility, slick roads and reduced traction due to weather is slow down. You should also leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Icy and wet roads can make it difficult for you to brake, and you may start to skid or lose control of your vehicle if you are forced to stop suddenly.

It is also crucial that you have your vehicle winterized, preferably before the first storm of the year. Make sure that your car’s battery, lights, brakes, windshield wipers, exhaust system, heater and ignition system are in good working order. Have your tires checked to ensure they have good tread and adequate pressure.

Avoid engaging in activities that may distract you, such as texting and driving, eating or reaching for things in the car. While it is important to drive cautiously at all times, it is even more essential that your full attention is on the road when traveling through winter conditions.

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

Categories
Truck Accidents

Revised hours of service for truckers under federal scrutiny

Many truckers on Tennessee roads drive when they are tired. The problem has attracted national attention, and some efforts have been made to curb this behavior. Because many are paid by the mile instead of being guaranteed an hourly wage, drivers may be tempted to complete a shift, even when sleepiness is a problem. According to ABC News, a driver who followed the federal standard for rest times ended up with a schedule that resulted in a lack of adequate sleep before a long shift on the road.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is the government agency that enforces an hours-of-service regulation. These guidelines require drivers to take rest breaks and limits the number of hours they can be on the road to 11 per day.

Recently, the FMCSA suspended the regulations that made two nights of rest mandatory during a work week, and began conducting a study so it could determine that schedule’s effectiveness. Some truckers continued to follow the original hours of service with one night off and a total of 82 hours on the road each week, while others rested for at least two nights and only drove for 70 hours. Information about the levels of alertness, overall health and hazards such as near crashes and crashes was collected using the following:

  •          Onboard cameras
  •          Surveys and tests
  •          Sleep assessment technology
  •          Electronic devices tracking actual time on the road

When the outcome of the study is available, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FMCSA will re-assess the situation to determine which schedule is better at preventing driver fatigue and truck accidents. 

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Finding the responsible party in a wrongful death claim

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.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Are motorcyclists at higher risk of sustaining head injuries?

As a motorcyclist in Tennessee, you may be at a higher risk of sustaining a serious head injury if you are involved in an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that motorcycle accident injuries, including traumatic brain damage, is a leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents across the country. In fact, motorcyclists are injured or killed in more than 80 percent of all motorcycle collisions.

One major contributor to this statistic is the failure to wear a helmet. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety states that of the 4,381 people killed in motorcycle accidents in 2013, 38 percent of motorcycle drivers were not wearing a helmet when the collision occurred. Additionally, approximately 47 percent of motorcycle passengers failed to wear a helmet, and suffered fatal injuries as a result. While the exact cause of death was not stated, it can be assumed that the lack of protection on the head played a big role.

If you drive a car, you have air bags, roll bars, seat belts, protective steel and other safety equipment designed to protect you. However, your motorcycle lacks such features. As such, if a motorist cuts you off, you could find yourself flying through the air head-first over your bike. This means your head will hit whatever is in front of you with greater force than if you were connected to a seat belt and hit your head on the steering wheel or a vehicle. Even if your bike is not going very fast, you could suffer a more serious brain injury simply because there is nothing there to absorb some of the impact. 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Interlock devices: Helping to keep people safe on the road

The number of people who were killed in drunk driving car accidents in Tennessee dropped by just over 3 percent from 2012 to 2013, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. State officials are hopeful that the fatality rate will continue to decrease after a new ignition interlock device law took effect in 2013. This law requires all convicted drunk drivers to use an ignition interlock device on their vehicles for a specific period of time. Statistics show that other states that have implemented similar laws have had favorable results in lowering the number of drunk driving deaths, lowering the risk of car accidents and reducing the number of repeat drunk drivers.

Ignition interlock devices help to keep DUI offenders off the road by disabling their vehicles if they are intoxicated. The device measures the driver’s blood alcohol content level through a breath sample, which is required in order to start the car. If the BAC level is at or above a preset limit, the car will lock up. The driver will then have to wait before he or she can attempt to start the car again.

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that IIDs have been successful at cutting the drunk driver recidivism rate by up to 67 percent. These findings are significant considering that as many as 75 percent of DUI offenders with a suspended driver’s license continue to drive. This puts other people on the road in danger of becoming involved in auto accidents and obtaining serious injuries. 

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Criminal charges pending in fatal Tennessee crash

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

Categories
Truck Accidents

Could platooning technology lower truck accidents in TN?

If you think you are have seen more 18-wheelers appearing on Tennessee roads, you are not mistaken. The Commercial Carrier Journal recently stated that the transporting of freight is expected to increase through 2025. As the majority of goods are delivered by heavy trucks, this means that more of these big rigs are going to be sharing the road with you. However, one company thinks it has found a way to decrease the risk of a semi truck accident with a platooning technology.

ABC News stated that the technology gives heavy trucks the ability to talk to each other and gather information about the road and traffic conditions. The technology than controls the acceleration and braking systems of the trucks to accommodate those conditions. The data is gathered through sensors installed on the trucks and the system then analyzes the information to determine if it is safe for trucks to platoon.

The truck driver remains in full control of the semi and can turn off the platoon system at any time. If the conditions are right, the platoon technology enables the trucks to travel at the same speed and within close proximity of each other. In one recent demonstration on a busy interstate, the trucks remained 40 feet from each other and traveled at regular highway speeds. The trucks have also been tested with distances from 75 feet down to just 20 feet from each other.

The company who developed the platoon technology, Peloton Technology, states that the system will improve safety on American roads. The Nevada Highway Patrol, which oversaw the recent demonstration agrees as well as other experts on highway safety who have seen the technology in action. 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Tennessee driver faces first time DUI charge

In Tennessee, DUI charges and convictions are treated seriously even if it is someone’s first offense. This is a technique that is usually implemented to discourage people from driving while under the influence in the first place.

Recently, a 37-year-old Tennessee man was arrested on DUI charges. He was driving southbound on the I-65 in the early morning. Authority reports state that he collided with the center wall after driving too close. The tractor trailer then went across the southbound highway lanes, traveling off of the road and into the highway. Though the man did not strike any other vehicles, he was taken to the county jail. It is unknown if he will be facing any additional charges.

However, penalties for first-time DUI accusations in Tennessee are not light and should be treated seriously. A person who is convicted can face between 48 hours to 11 months in jail, a year with a suspended license, and expensive fines that can reach up to $1,500. DUI charges will also stay on a person’s criminal record and can damage their ability to find jobs, especially if they are limited by being unable to drive. Some may believe that a first offense will result in less harsh penalties, or that the charges will not be as severe if no one else is involved. However, as this report highlights, that is not necessarily the case.

For these reasons, people who are facing any DUI charge may benefit from the guidance of an experienced attorney, even if it is their first offense.

Source: Glasgow Daily Times, “Tennessee man arrested for DUI after wreck on I-65,” Oct 2, 2015