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Author: Anthony Proffitt

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Why are fixed object collisions sometimes fatal?

When you think about the fatal car accidents that occur in Tennessee, you may immediately think of collisions with multiple vehicles. A single-vehicle collision can be deadly, though, if a car crashes into a tree or other fixed objects.

Collisions between a car and a fixed object can be fatal for many reasons. According to Road and Track magazine, when most cars run into a fixed object, they do not collide head-on. This means that if 25 percent of your bumper hits the object, your car’s supportive structure cannot take the brunt of the impact and your car has less time to slow down. In this scenario, your suspension system can move backward and may sometimes cause damage to your steering column and the door frame.

This situation can be fatal because you travel at the same speed as your car. Your body typically continues to move forward even when your car slows down after hitting a fixed object. Additionally, your vehicle may rotate if a collision was not head-on. This means that your body may hit a window or move toward your car’s center instead of being cushioned by the airbag. After your car hits an object, it may sometimes spin and crash into another object. This can sometimes cause seats to become unattached from the floor.

Fixed object collisions can be fatal for passengers as well. As your car rotates, passengers may experience more deceleration on their side of the car, and the wounds they incur can be more serious if they are not wearing seat belts. 

This information is intended to educate and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents and alcohol

While Tennessee residents may know it is dangerous to drink alcohol before driving their car, they may not always consider the hazards of riding a motorcycle while intoxicated. It is important for people to understand that they may be involved in a fatal collision if they drink before getting on their motorcycle.

Drinking can make motorcycle accidents more deadly than other kinds of motor vehicle crashes. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the blood alcohol concentration of passenger car drivers was 0.08 or higher in 21 percent of the fatal collisions that occurred in 2015. Motorcyclists, though, had a BAC level higher than the legal limit in 27 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents. Bikers wearing helmets are not necessarily safer than bikers without this headgear. Motorcyclists wore helmets in 51 percent of the fatal crashes in 2015. Additionally, collisions that occurred at night involved a legally drunk motorcycle rider in 42 percent of these incidents.

When motorcyclists are involved in fatal collisions because they are drunk, the crash is usually not their first. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2014, 13 percent of motorcyclists who were in a fatal accident and had a BAC level of 0.08 or higher had been in a prior collision, while 24 percent had ther license either revoked or suspended at some point. Additionally, 18 percent of bikers in fatal crashes had speeding convictions on their driving record.

A motorcyclist’s age sometimes is a factor in fatal collisions involving alcohol. Bikers between the ages of 21 and 24 were involved in 30 percent of fatal accidents in 2014, while bikers between the ages of 45 and 54 were involved in 20 percent of these incidents. Gender may also play a role. Men were involved in 23 percent of the fatal collisions that occurred in 2014, while women were involved in 15 percent.  

 

Categories
Truck Accidents

Potential change to truckers’ rules

People in Tennessee who have ever been in a standard passenger vehicle right up next to a large commercial vehicle like a tractor trailer know how immediately dwarfed and vulnerable they can feel. The size differential alone can be foreboding and when the difference in weight between these types of vehicles is considered, it is no wonder why accidents involving semi trucks can be so incredibly dangerous and often deadly.

It is for this reason that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration outlines a robust set of rules that truckers must follow in order to ensure safety on the road for everyone. One of these rules is called the Hours of Service rule. This basically outlines when a trucker may operate a vehicle and when breaks must be taken. It also stipulates how long a break should last. There is a maximum number of hours able to be worked per day and a maximum number of hours able to be driven per day. The goal is to prevent undue trucker fatigue.

Now the FMCSA is preparing to review some potential changes to these rules for times when a truck driver operates a big rig for personal purposes instead of for work. This is called for personal conveyance. It is unclear exactly what, if any, changes may ultimately be made to the rules for these times but the need for safety remains the same regardless of the reason the truck is being driven.

Tennessee residents who are involved in a large truck crash might want to contact an attorney to learn how they should seek compensation.

Source: Transport Topics, “FMCSA Proposes Revised Hours-Of-Service Personal Conveyance Guidance,” John Sommers II, December 18, 2017

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Knox County leads region in drunk driving deaths

It has been many decades now since groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving began their important efforts to highlight the dangers of drinking and driving. Because of this, many people might assume that drivers in Tennessee today make the right decision when it comes to consuming alcohol and operating motor vehicles. Sadly, this is not the case. Despite widespread public awareness and a growing number of ride options including ridesharing services, too many innocent people continue to be killed by drunk drivers.

In looking at data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is clear that Knox County is far and away the deadliest county among its neighboring counties when it comes to drunk driving fatalities. Over the five years spanning from 2012 to 2016, a total of 77 lives were lost in Knox County at the hands of people who refused to put away their car keys after consuming alcohol. The neighboring county with the next-closest number of fatalities in that period was Blount County where 27 people died.

In Sevier, Anderson and Loudon Counties intoxicated drivers claimed another 19, 17 and 11 lives, respectively. Roane and Jefferson Counties were each the locations of another 10 vehicular fatalities involving alcohol. Rounding out the region were Grainger County where eight drunk driving deaths occurred and finally Union County where another six drunk driving deaths were recorded.

If you would like to learn more about how to get help after an accident caused by a negligent drunk driver, please feel free to visit the impaired driving crash assistance page of our Tennessee personal injury and accident website.

Categories
Car Accidents

Car skids and accidents

When one thinks of car accidents in Knoxville, one of the first things that come to mind is speed. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, 966 people lost their lives in 2016 to car crashes. Many accidents happen when excessive speeds are an issue. Some incidents that involve excessive and slow speeds happen because there were slick road conditions. No matter how motor vehicle wrecks happen, the pain and suffering they cause are often heartbreaking and challenging for victims and their families to live with. 

When a vehicle skids on the street, the driver is no longer capable of controlling it. Keep in mind that the driver’s actions before the skidding starts plays a major role in the outcome. Fatigue, panic and intoxication often cause inattentive and inexperienced motorists to overcompensate in their actions. As they attempt to control their vehicles by jerking their steering wheels, they lose control of their cars. Many insurers and accident reconstruction experts use tire skid marks to determine the speed of vehicles in car accidents, states Sciencing.com. 

It is imperative for drivers to pay attention to the roads, weather conditions and traffic when they are behind their steering wheels. They should also be mindful of how other people drive around them. When hazardous conditions arise that increase their risk of collisions, they should rely on their knowledge, education and stay calm. Drivers should also operate their vehicles safely by adhering to posted speeds, the flow of traffic and road and weather conditions. When the streets are slick, icy and wet, drivers should adjust their speeds and driving behaviors so they are suitable for the conditions they are in.

Categories
Car Accidents

Is old age to blame for truck accidents?

When you think about truck accidents, the last thing on your mind is age. Many of truckers on the roads in Knoxville and across the country are senior citizens. Some of them are so old they are approaching retirement age. Others who are old enough to retire, do not. Instead, they continue working to help alleviate the shortage in the industry and support themselves while staying active. 

In the trucking industry, older drivers mean a higher rate of commercial vehicle accidents. According to CBSNews.com, from 2013 to 2015, there was a 19 percent increase in truck accidents among operators who were over the age of 70. 

With old age comes a decline in cognitive function and motor skills. Many older people are not capable operating motor vehicles safely because they do not have the reaction time, nor mental clarity they need to handle various road and traffic situations. They may also need medications and have health problems that interfere with their ability to operate their vehicles safely and efficiently. 

Because there is a driver shortage, the trucking industry is recruiting drivers and encouraging them to work for as long as they can. For some individuals, this means they will work until they are well past the age of 65. 

Motorists should remain cautious when they are near commercial vehicles. Large trucks and semi-trailers need more time to slow and stop. Passenger car drivers should avoid blind spots and stay attentive to trucks, road conditions and other motorists to prevent and avoid collisions with commercial vehicles and other cars.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Drunk driver critically injures daughter and kills mother and son

When one hears about a DUI car accident, one of the first things that may run through their mind is if someone was hurt. It is not uncommon to learn innocent people have suffered serious injuries or died after being hit by drivers who are too intoxicated to be in the driver’s seat. Most victims of drunk driving accidents had no clue that someone would change their lives in undesirable ways. 

A recent accident multivehicle accident on I-40 West, near the Pellissippi Parkway and Lovell Road exits claimed the life of a male toddler (three years old) and his mother (32 years old). The mother and son died at the scene when a drunk male pickup truck driver hit the front of their car after it collided with a commercial vehicle. Not much is known about why the mother made a sudden lane change before losing control of her car and hitting the semi-trailer. Her young daughter was also a passenger in the vehicle and is currently listed in stable but critical condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. 

The pickup driver is a 30-year-old male and has a $15,500 bond. He is from Lawrence City and is currently incarcerated at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. During his arrest, law enforcement found marijuana in his possession. He is also a repeat DUI offender and faces charges for drug possession and second offense DUI. 

The commercial vehicle operator is from West Virginia and is 55 years old. He is not believed to be at fault. Law enforcement officials are still investigating the incident and are trying to determine if the kids were in proper child restraints and the mother was wearing her seat belt. 

Source: KnoxNews.com, Police: Crash kills woman and 3-year-old son, man charged with DUI”, Dec. 13, 2017

Categories
Car Accidents

Parking lots and distractions do not mix

Many drivers in Knoxville believe that parking lots are among the safest places they can operate their vehicles. Some of them do not realize how common parking lot accidents are. Many motorists are trying to back up and pull into small parking spaces not realizing the dangers they may be subjecting themselves and others to. 

There are many factors that lead to car accidents in parking lots. Poor design, structure hazards, inattentive drivers and pedestrians and varying traffic speeds are all the perfect makings of accident conditions. According to a study on CBSNews.com, more than 50 percent of participants “did not have a problem with using their cellphones while driving in parking lots.” Their false sense of security might exist because there are fewer vehicles and slower speeds. There are also more pedestrians and other factors to consider that make parking lots less than ideal places to drive while distracted. 

Many of the same rules that govern traffic on the streets and highways still apply in parking lots and structures. Motorists can avoid collisions and injuring pedestrians by staying alert, states U.S. News & World Report. If they are on their cellphones and distracted by other means, they cannot give the parking lots their full attention to know what is going on. They will not have enough time to react and avoid accident situations because they are more likely to panic, make hasty decisions and mistakes that cause them to overcompensate in their actions. 

Parking lot accidents are very common, but they are preventable. Besides property owners maintaining their structures, motorists should follow all traffic rules and pay close attention to their surroundings and everyone who is in them to avoid accidents.

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

What should you do if you experience whiplash?

When residents in Tennessee get into a car accident, it’s very plausible that they’ll also end up with a case of whiplash. This can be more severely damaging to your health and future than you might think, which is why you should be mindful of the symptoms.

Medicine Net states that people who experience whiplash will generally exhibit the following signs:

  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Fatigue or irritability
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Pain and stiffness in the neck or shoulders
  • Headaches
  • Problems with upper arm mobility

Whiplash can actually affect way more than your neck alone, which not everyone is aware of. It can cause you problems over your entire body, as it affects your spine which impacts everything else. The bulk of the pain and tenderness is generally focused in the shoulders, neck, and head, however. This can last for days, weeks, months, or even years if it isn’t treated properly and early.

If you experience any symptoms of whiplash, you should see a doctor as quickly as possible. The ways to treat whiplash vary depending on the severity of the injury. For example, you may be prescribed physical therapy or asked to wearing a brace that will keep you from moving your head much, allowing the muscles to heal. However, the longer you wait to get it treated, the harder it might be to return to your pre-accident physical state.

Whiplash should not be written off simply because it’s a “common” accident-related injury. If you believe you’re suffering from whiplash, the sooner you treat it, the better.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

What are the biggest dangers to motorcycles?

As the number of motorcyclists in Knoxville increases, so too does the number of bike-related accidents. Pryor, Priest & Harber can help out if you ever get into a harmful or serious crash with another vehicle. They can provide you with the information and support needed to help you get through this troubling time.

When considering the biggest danger to motorcycles, other non-motorcycle vehicles will always top the list. Getting into a crash with another motorcyclist can be painful and result in injury, but it likely won’t be catastrophic because you’re running into something that’s roughly equal to you in size, mass, and speed. Cars, trucks, vans, and other covered vehicles are much larger, heavier, and tend to be going faster than you are. This results in you taking the brunt of the impact.

As for the biggest dangers to a motorcyclist on the road, blind spots are the worst. When you’re riding in this spot, a driver is unable to see you. They may merge into your lane and hit you without ever realizing you’re there. This is why it’s generally suggested for motorcyclists to ride through blind spots as quickly as possible and to not linger in these danger zones. It’s also why motorcyclists should never assume that drivers are looking out for them. This assumption could cost you your life.

A motorcycle accident can undoubtedly be physically, mentally and emotionally traumatic. For this reason, you should gain as much compensation as possible to help you out on the road to recovery. To read more about dealing with the aftermath of a serious accident, visit our linked web page on motorcycle crashes. There, you’ll find more helpful information.