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Truck Accidents

Dealing with the medical bills after an accident

Getting into an accident with a commercial semi-truck can be devastating. This is because the size of a semi-truck likely dwarfs your car, since they are almost consistently the largest vehicles on the road. Because of the size of the car and severity of the impact, you may be left facing some permanent issues.

Potential physical issues are one of the first concerns that you might have. If you have been in a severe accident with a semi-truck, then you may also be facing severe damage. Physical damage from accidents can include things like broken or shattered bones, torn ligaments, and punctured organs. In more severe cases, it can include permanent disabilities. You may be facing a lifetime of limited mobility, or debilitating and painful injuries that will never fully heal.

If you are facing something like that, you will also be facing a hefty medical cost. You may not be able to cover these costs yourself, especially if you have needed to take time off of work in order to recover. This is why you may wish to file a lawsuit against the trucking company. If you are able to prove the trucking company at fault for your accident, you will be able to pursue medical compensation which may help you foot any bills you may have for medicines, surgeries and so on.

For more information on semi-truck accidents and what you can do if you or a loved one has suffered because of one, please visit our web page. There, you will be able to read more about this specific type of accident and its risks.

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Truck Accidents

Are commercial truck drivers getting enough sleep?

It has been reported before, but it deserves reiterating: driving while fatigued is a dangerous thing. It can take a toll on a person’s ability to concentrate, and it can make driving on the road with them dangerous, as drowsy drivers can also be the cause of accidents due to a lowered reaction time or falling asleep at the wheel.

It can be especially dangerous for truck drivers to drive while sleep deprived or fatigued. The National Center for Biotechnology Information stated that truck drivers who are driving late at night or early in the morning are particularly susceptible to fatigue. However, an unfortunately startling fact was also learned. After surveying a portion of truck drivers while on their job, the conclusion drawn was that on average, commercial truck drivers were not getting the amount of sleep that they needed in order to perform their job safely.

The same study estimates that there are around 5,000 deaths a year that are due to commercial truck accidents. Over 110,000 people are injured in accidents that involve a commercial truck, as well. After the crash data was examined, it was determined that either complete or partial fatigue is responsible for up to 56% of the accidents that commercial trucks are involved in. Considering it should be crucial for truck drivers to be getting an adequate amount of sleep before hitting the road, this is a very problematic and concerning set of statistics.

Regardless, the one thing that can be done to help lower these numbers is for commercial truck drivers to get an adequate amount of sleep. This way, accidents can be avoided. Companies should therefore ensure that they are not overworking their employees.

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Drunk Driving Accidents

Controversial campaign aimed at men for higher DUI rates

Crackdowns against drunk driving have been happening all across the nation, and Tennessee is no exception. When it comes to the toleration of drinking and driving, many governments are stepping their game up with stricter laws, harsher punishments, and more campaigns to raise awareness.

However, one recent campaign has sparked outrage among some. The campaign, reportedly aimed at the young male demographic, made sexist remarks that many people took offense to. The campaign was called out, at which point the state apologized for the offense. The official statement reported that it had not been the intent of the campaign to insult women. Rather, they were simply trying to get the attention of the young men. Opponents of the campaign believe that the message is lost behind the sexist remarks.

Shortly after the apology was made, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office released data showing that young men were up to three times more likely to be arrested for DUI than women. They claim that this is the reason their campaign had been directed at young men. From 2010 to 2014, it was stated that roughly 20,118 men were arrested for DUI. Compared to that, 6,709 women were arrested for DUI in the same time period.

The campaign has since been canceled, and items from it are no longer in circulation. Additionally, any items that were placed in bars have since been removed. It is unknown whether or not another campaign will be launched to reach the same audience, but without the sexist undertones that got this campaign sunk.

Source: WBIR, “TN data shows men arrested for DUI at higher rate than women,” Becca Habegger, Mark Bergin, July 21, 2015

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents that can lead to wrongful death charges

Motorcyclists face a lot of danger when they are on the road due to how exposed they are. While they may not be as at-risk as pedestrians or people on bicycles, the changes of running into severe or even lethal damage is still high. If your loved one has been killed in an accident while on their motorcycle, it is possible that you may be able to file a wrongful death suit for financial compensation.

The term “wrongful death” is legally used to distinguish between a death that was caused by an accident that no one single party is responsible for, and a death that was caused by an accident due to someone’s negligence. For example, if your loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident, you will need to discover who is at fault for the death through questioning liability. These questions will unearth whether or not the accident was caused by faulty manufacturing, design faults, driver inhibition or other negligence from any party involved.

The most difficult part about filing for a wrongful death case and succeeding is proving that the case was truly one of wrongful death. However, if you are able to prove that, then you will be able to get financial compensation. This can help you through the difficult period of mourning and grief following your loved one’s accident, as it may help to support costs of the funeral as well as make up for any lost income. Insurance coverage and medical bills can also be taken into consideration, upping the potential financial payout and possibly leading to a sense of closure.

To learn more about motorcycle accidents leading to wrongful death and what you can do if your loved one has been killed in one, please visit our web page. You will find useful information about wrongful death cases there.

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Implied consent law and the consequences of refusing to comply

Many people are not aware of the implied consent law that applies to all drivers. This can be a problem for drivers who are asked to do a breath analysis test after being pulled over, because they may refuse and end up with more charges than they would have otherwise been dealing with.

The implied consent law, as stated by Washington legislature, is the law that allows police to legally ask for a person to take a breath test and lets them meter out additional punishment if that request is refused. This is because under the implied consent law, it is implied every time a driver gets behind the wheel of their car that they are consenting to the possibility of taking impairment tests if they are asked to do so. A failure to comply with the terms of the implied consent law means that the driver could face even more consequences, such as an immediately suspended license.

If a person refuses to take a breath test or impairment test when asked and they are already driving on a suspended license, they could be facing even more dire penalties. This is especially true if their license was suspended for an accident that ended in severe injury or death. These drivers could be sent to a jail or work house. They could have their license suspended or even revoked, and they may also face huge fines. Even those who are convicted of a DUI without a breath test will have to have an interlock device installed in their car.

On a whole, the consequences of not taking a breath or impairment test when asked outweigh the possibility of trying to avoid incrimination by refusing to take the test.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists and blind spots

Motorcyclists face a number of dangers that drivers do not. This is because of how exposed they are, and how small their vehicle is in comparison to the vehicles that are usually around them on the road.

Because of this, blind spots are often a big fear for motorcyclists. Not all drivers check properly while they are doing a lane change. Even if they do a safe lane change, it is possible that a motorcyclist is simply in the driver’s blind spot and the driver is not able to see them before making the lane change. Accidents like this can result in severe injury to the motorcyclist, and though it is not the motorcyclist’s fault, they could still become grievously injured over someone else’s mistake.

Injuries that can occur from a blind spot-induced collision can be excruciating to deal with. They may even be permanent, or deadly in some cases. Injuries can include traumatic spinal cord, neck or brain damage. Broken bones may also occur, as well as a broken back which can lead to paralysis. Road rash or road burn is also common. This is the name for the severe abrasions or lacerations that can occur when a rider’s bare skin makes contact with the pavement and is dragged long enough to get a “burn”.

Please visit our web page to learn more about the injuries that can come from being hit after slipping into a driver’s blind spot and what you can do if you are suffering from them.

Categories
Car Accidents

What negative impacts can driver fatigue have?

Drunk and distracted driving both have heavy penalties waiting for offenders. But what about driving while drowsy? Fatigue has a surprisingly high number of risks that come with it, which all drivers should be aware of.

There are a number of threats that stem from driver fatigue, and they do not have to include actually falling asleep at the wheel in order to be dangerous. The U.S. Center for Disease Control stated that accidents can happen with driver fatigue due to a slower reaction time, slower decision making, and the driver having a harder time paying attention to the road. It was also stated that drivers who don’t get enough sleep are likely to drive drowsy, but that there are other common causes as well. Shift workers and drivers on sedating medicines can also drive drowsy, as well as people with untreated sleep disorders. Commercial truck drivers are also very susceptible to driving while drowsy.

However, falling asleep at the wheel is also an effect of tired driving. A recent study has shown that about 4.2% of an estimated 150,000 adults in 19 states have reported sleeping at the wheel at least once over the last 30 days before the survey was taken. It was shown that those sleeping six or less hours a night were more prone to report this. Just looking at drowsy driving alone, it was shown in a National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration survey that about 2.5% of fatal accidents and 2% of total crash injuries have involved drowsy driving.

Even though drowsy driving gets less attention than drunk and distracted driving, it is still just as dangerous.

Categories
Truck Accidents

Nasty truck crash ends well for everyone

Any driver who has been involved in, or witnessed, a truck accident on the highway knows that these accidents can be particularly grisly. This is largely because a commercial truck generally dwarfs all other cars that it shares the roads with, resulting in maximum damage and injury to the drivers in the other vehicle.

However, one trio recently escaped a rather nasty trucking accident with minimal injuries. The 33 year old man and his two sons were taken to a hospital after being pulled from the wreckage of their car, which had been jammed underneath a commercial tractor trailer. The trailer, carrying milk, had driven a short distance with the other car crammed under it without noticing. However, the man and his sons had only non-life threatening injuries. Likewise, the driver of the trailer was not injured at all during the crash.

The crash itself looked gruesome at the time. The driver of the other vehicle reportedly lost control of his car due to a lane switch in the heavy rain. It was reported that the truck driver ran over the first car shortly thereafter, driving directly over the top of it and wedging it beneath the tank carrying milk. The tank itself was not leaking at the time police arrived on the scene. However, the diesel fuel was. That leak was stopped by the fire department.

Even accidents that don’t result in life-threatening injuries can be traumatizing for the people involved. Moreover, accident expenses can be extremely costly. Because of that, anyone who has been in an accident with a commercial truck may wish to contact an attorney for further guidance.

Source: ABC News, “Car Wedged Under Milk Tanker in Accident on a Tennessee Highway,” Kaylee Heck, July 3, 2015

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Dealing with insurance companies post-accident

Accidents are a stressful situation for you, and they can be made even more stressful because it may seem like even your own insurance company is not on your side. Not to mention the fact that you may have to face a difficult battle to get the proper compensation out of the other driver’s insurance. So what can you do?

First, you can be prepared for that battle. Go into it knowing that you will likely have to fight to get full compensation. This is because insurance companies will automatically look for ways to downplay your injuries in order to limit the potential payout. This is common practice for insurance companies, because that is how they make money. By limiting the amount you will be able to claim, they will not lose too much.

You should also be prepared to prove yourself in the right if you are going up against another driver’s insurance. They will do their best to pin the fault of the accident on you or, barring that, to find some other detail that will not incriminate the driver under their coverage. This is why it is so important to have aggressive representation. Otherwise, it may be easy for insurance companies to cheat you out of your money.

If you would like to read more about what you can do to prepare yourself for facing insurance companies after your accident, please visit the link. It will take you to our web page, which has detailed information regarding what to expect from insurance providers in the wake of a crash as well as how to handle it. 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Tennessee stands out among DUI crackdown states

States are cracking down left and right on drunk drivers. This is due to the serious consequences of drunk driving accidents, such as the potential loss of life that can come with a fatal crash. Some states are going to incredible lengths to make sure that drunk drivers face severe penalties even for a first-time DUI.

Tennessee in particular is known for being very strict among the states for DUI related charges. One patrol officer stated that it is not surprising for legislature to act on a problem that causes so many fatalities. A study done by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration determined that 31% of fatal motor vehicle accidents are caused by inebriated drivers. Another study stated that DUI related accidents comprise roughly 30-40% of roadway fatalities. The high amount of life lost in these DUI accidents can be considered a reason why Tennessee is the 12th harshest state when it comes to enforcing DUI laws.

Tennessee is also one of the harshest states when it comes to cracking down on DUI drivers. For example, a first time drunk driver in Tennessee can still face a minimum jail sentence of two days. That is only the minimum; the sentence can potentially last longer. Additionally, even first time offenders can face huge fines of up to $2,500.

Cracking down on drunk drivers and doling out harsh punishments is par for the course in Tennessee. Because of the rigidity of their DUI laws, anyone who is facing a DUI related charge may benefit from contacting an attorney, even if they are only facing a first time charge.

Source: WCYB, “Virginia & Tennessee among toughest states on DUI,” Kristen Quon, June 17, 2015