It is all too easy to become distracted while driving, especially if you’re traveling a familiar route. Tiredness, children talking to you from the back seat, your favorite song on the radio, these are all things that might make you lose concentration for a moment. Unfortunately, a moment is all it takes for a car accident to occur. Recently, one such occurrence in Tennessee landed a mother and her infant child in a hospital.

The incident occurred late one morning as the 26-year-old woman drove along Boones Creek Road. According the report, when the young woman reached the intersection, she passed a red light and ran into a pickup truck. Fortunately, her infant son was in a child seat, while she was secured by her seat belt. Johnson City Police Department was called to the scene.

The mother and child were said to have suffered possible injuries and were transported to Johnson City Medical Center. The driver of the pickup truck managed to come away from the accident unharmed. It was a different story for the two vehicles, however. Police reported that neither the car nor the pickup was drivable after the crash. Whether any charges will be brought has not yet been made clear.

Fortunately, no one was killed in this accident in Tennessee. However, it shows how quickly and easily disaster can strike and how much could be at stake. If you are involved in a car accident, particularly if it is through no fault of you own, worries about recovery, costly repairs and medical bills can be a strain. However, an attorney may be able to help you seek compensation or get the best deal out of your insurance.

Source: Johnson City Press, “UPDATE: Woman, 1-year-old son treated after 2-car wreck,” April 28, 2014

It only takes a moment for a drive through town to turn into a dangerous situation. Drivers who are speeding, under the influence or otherwise operating a vehicle irresponsibly pose a risk to all other drivers on the road. Tennesseans are involved in serious car accidents each day, many of which could have been avoided. These tragic occurrences can leave innocent victims and their families feeling lost, confused and overwhelmed.

In Memphis, a massive car crash sent multiple people to the hospital and resulted in the death of at least one person. The incident happened near the intersection of Covington Pike and Raleigh Lagrange Road. In all, the accident involved 10 vehicles, some of which overturned during the collision. Six people were taken to the hospital, including a 4-year-old in critical condition. In addition, an adult male died at the scene.

Several of the cars involved were twisted and badly damaged during the accident, and police closed down the area for several hours afterward in order to conduct an investigation and clear the road.

Car wrecks happen each day on roads across the state, and some of them result in serious injuries and even death. Although there is no way for victims to avoid some collisions, there are still options available after the fact to help them recover from the incident. Working with insurance companies, paying medical bills and dealing with pain and suffering in the wake of an accident is never easy, though compensation is available to help victims involved. Understanding Tennessee law is the first step toward finding help.

Source: WMCTV, “10 cars involved in fatal crash, child in critical condition,” April 17, 2014

Whether it is commuting to work, picking the kids up from school or driving around town with friends, cars provide convenience and pleasure in many aspects of everyday life. But when drivers abuse the privilege of operating a motor vehicle, the machines can quickly become dangerous and deadly weapons on the streets. Motorists are harmed or killed in car accidents every day across the United States. Although drunk driving and negligence are common factors in fatal accidents, a new trend is also contributing to accidents in Tennessee.

In Memphis, a 19-year-old man is dead after a collision with another vehicle. Initial reports suggest the accident may have been the result of street racing. The teenager was turning left through an intersection when his vehicle was struck by driver behind the wheel of a 2003 Ford Mustang. The teen died after being taken to a nearby hospital.

The teen is not the first street racing fatality in the city. Just last year, a 20-year-old man was killed after a pair of street racers collided with his vehicle. This trend in Memphis, and in many other parts of the country, poses risk to innocent people anywhere in the vicinity of racing cars, as the high speeds of the vehicles commonly lead to catastrophic injuries and death.

Compensation may be available, via personal injury lawsuits, to families of car accident victims in Tennessee to help them cover expenses related to medical bills and funerals. This money can also be sought for pain and suffering related to the loss of a loved one. In many cases, insurance companies will attempt to deny claims or pay as little as possible, leaving victims feeling exasperated. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, for the best chance of recovery, pursing a claim sooner rather than later is a good idea.

Source: WMCTV, “Memphis teen killed in car crash,” Jerica Phillips, April 6, 2014