Illegal street races in Tennessee pose a major threat to drivers, pedestrians and spectators. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other transportation agencies, illegal street racing is growing in popularity across the country. To combat this problem, authorities are imposing serious penalties on people found street racing or viewing a street race.

According to the NHTSA, there were 72 fatalities from illegal street races in 2000. NHTSA statistics that were gathered in 2001 showed that the number of fatalities related to illegal street racing had risen to 135 fatal crashes. The NHTSA claims that car accidents are the leading cause of death for individuals between 16 and 20 years old.

Penalties for participating in illegal street racing vary in different jurisdictions. However, some of the penalties that street racers could face include loss of their driver’s license, imprisonment for up to three months and fines of up to $1,000. Street racers could have their vehicle impounded for 30 days or seized permanently and crushed. People caught viewing a street race might be charged for aiding and abetting an unlawful street race.

Illegal street races sometimes lead to car accidents that involve other drivers or passengers who were not involved or aware that the activity was going on. A person who has been injured as a result of a street race that they were not involved in might be able to file a personal injury complaint against the participants and organizers of the race. An attorney may be able to help such a client file a claim in court.

The American Auto Association reports that 1.2 million motor vehicle accidents are caused by wet weather crashes a year. Tennessee drivers can take precautions to avoid accidents during rainy springtime weather, and staying alert and being ready to take action is most important when driving under these types of conditions.

When pavement is dry, a minimum of two seconds should be between a vehicle and the one in front of it. This space should be larger when the pavement is wet even if it is no longer raining, and there should be four seconds between a vehicle and the one in front of it on wet pavement. This could give a motorist enough room to prevent a collision when the roads are wet or slick.

What a driver does regardless of the weather can have an impact on a vehicle while it is raining. Potholes can mess with a vehicle’s alignment and harm the wheels and tires, which can then make driving in the rain harder. Motorists should break before going over potholes when they are unavoidable. This helps slow the car down and avoid damage to the wheels. Tires also need to be correctly aligned and have the proper tread so that the vehicle can stop quickly when the pavement is wet.

A motorist may not be responsible for a car accident when weather conditions make driving difficult and lead to a wreck. However, drivers might be deemed negligent when not taking the proper precautions during bad weather, such as the failure to slow down to a safe speed when rain or snow makes a roadway slippery and harder to drive on.

One of the more serious injuries a person can incur in a motor vehicle accident is a fractured sternum. Because the sternum serves to protect the heart, lungs and important blood vessels beneath it, a fracture may cause concomitant damage to those organs and vessels.

Sternum fractures may occur when a person suffers a hard strike to their chest in a car accident. They are more likely when a person is not wearing a seat belt or if the airbags do not deploy. The fractured bone may then puncture the person’s lungs, rupture the aorta or bruise the person’s heart. Their chest cavity may also fill with blood from the damaged tissues.

People who suffer from a sternum fracture often have other fractures as well, including those to their ribs or vertebrae. Symptoms of a sternum fracture include the appearance of deformity in the area, swelling and bruising across the injury site or difficulty with breathing. People may feel pain when coughing, laughing or sneezing. They may also experience a grinding sound in the area and have sudden muscle spasms. Those who have a sternum fracture are also at risk to develop osteomyelitis or pneumonia, further complicating the injury received.

If people suspect they have suffered a sternum fracture in a car accident, it is important for them to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Getting prompt treatment can aid the victim’s long-term recovery and minimize the risk of developing other illnesses due to the injury. Those who have been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver may also want to consider meeting with a personal injury attorney to determine the remedies that may be available for the recovery of the resulting damages.

On March 27, a car accident that occurred in Tennessee left one person dead and three others with injuries. Authorities reported that the crash took place near the Highland on-ramp on Sam Cooper at approximately 2:30 p.m.

A witness who saw the crash scene stated that two of the vehicles were turned sideways in the eastbound lanes. One of the vehicles appeared to have caught fire at some point. Authorities were not clear on how the crash happened, though it was believed that a 2004 Saturn Vue was heading west when it collided with another vehicle. It appeared that the second vehicle, a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, traveled through the median and entered traffic that was heading east. The Elantra collided with a 2014 Nissan Rogue, which was then struck by a GMC.

The 67-year-old driver of the Saturn reportedly died at the scene of the accident. The three other individuals, all females aged 25, 27 and 30, who were involved in the incident were transported to a nearby hospital with injuries that were considered to be not serious.

A car accident can result in serious injuries for anyone who becomes involved. If it was determined that an injured person did not cause the crash, a personal injury attorney may assist the person with filing a lawsuit seeking compensation for damages, such as medical bill, against the driver who was found to be liable. This lawsuit can potentially be filed even if the liable driver did not survive the crash.

Source: WREG, “One killed in crash on Sam Cooper near Highland,” Ashley Crockett and Jessica Gertler, March 27, 2015

Source: WMC Action News 5, “Victim in fatal crash at Sam Cooper & Graham identified,” March 27, 2015

Two individuals were killed and one was seriously injured during an early morning wreck that happened on Interstate 40 East in Tennessee. According to authorities, the driver of a Dodge Neon stated that he pulled over on the shoulder of the interstate to rest, despite having four passengers inside. After the driver supposedly fell asleep, the car was struck by a van. A third vehicle was then unable to avoid striking the van.

Two of the passengers in the parked car were killed immediately, and a third passenger was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with serious injuries. The driver and fourth passenger were taken to the hospital with less severe injuries.

The driver of the parked Neon stated he was pulled all the way over on the shoulder of the interstate and had his flashers on. However, the other drivers involved in the accident stated the car was parked in the left lane of the interstate, and his flashers were not on. Authorities investigating the scene reported that their initial findings indicated the car was not parked on the shoulder.

Emergency personnel had to close the eastbound lanes, which resulted in cars sitting on the interstate for several hours while the accident scene was cleared. Many motorists were forced to take alternative routes to reach their destinations.

Negligent drivers who do not use care and caution while operating a vehicle may be responsible for those injured as a result of their reckless behavior. Injured parties may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and any other financial loss incurred due to the accident. Seeking legal advice may be beneficial in understanding all options available under the law.

Source: WKRN, “2 killed, 1 critically injured in crash on I-40 East,” March 26 2015

Tennessee residents might be interested in hearing about new research that was done on teenage driving behavior. According to the results of a study that was led by an assistant professor at Oregon State University, many teenagers engage in activities that are very distracting while they are behind the wheel. Among those that were surveyed, 27 percent admitted to sometimes changing their shoes and clothes while they drive. Other teens said that they change their contact lenses, do homework or apply makeup while driving.

The lead researcher in the study said that he was surprised by the number of teens who change their clothes while they drive. Though there have been successful campaigns to draw awareness to the dangers of texting while driving, he said that teens should be aware that other distractions can be just as risky. Activities like changing radio stations, configuring GPS settings and even eating can be very dangerous while driving.

The study found that about 40 percent of teens still regularly send and receive texts while they drive. As the number represents a decrease from the results of earlier studies, researchers say awareness campaigns seem to be working. Researchers also found that short drivers education courses were effective in making teens aware of the dangers of driving distractions.

A person who has been injured by a distracted driver has the right to file a personal injury complaint to seek financial compensation. An attorney can help a victim of a motor vehicle accident to build a strong claim against the at-fault driver. Evidence that may help to establish liability could include eyewitness testimony establishing that the driver was willingly engaged in negligent behavior that took away from concentrating on the road.

Source: NPR, “Teens Say They Change Clothes And Do Homework While Driving”, Maanvi Singh, March 18, 2015

Police say that a drunk driver may have been to blame for a crash that took place on March 11 at around 11:18 p.m. The crash occurred at the intersection of State Highway 297 and Little Elk Creek Road in Elk Valley. According to authorities, a Jeep being driven by a 33-year-old man tried to turn onto State Highway 297 while traveling south on Little Creek Road.

A Dodge Ram being driven by a 54-year-old man did not yield the right of way to the Jeep, and the two vehicles collided head on. Both drivers were injured in the crash while a 33-year-old was killed in the crash. It was not clear in which vehicle the crash victim was riding when the collision occurred. Police say that neither the injured drivers nor the deceased were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. Criminal charges are pending according to authorities.

Pedestrians, drivers or passengers who are hurt in a car accident may be able to obtain compensation from the driver who caused the crash. Furthermore, the families of those who are killed in a car accident may be able to collect compensation for their wrongful deaths. A personal injury lawyer may be able to take a look at the case and represent injured victims or the families of crash victims who are killed in car accidents.

Injured victims may be able to obtain compensation for lost wages and their medical bills. Long-term medical expenses may also be covered as part of a financial award. Families of deceased accident victims may recover money in the form of punitive damages as well as compensation for lost earnings due to wrongful death. A financial award may be won either in court or through a settlement out of court.

Source: WATE, “1 dead, 2 injured in Campbell County crash,” March 12, 2015