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Author: Anthony Proffitt

Categories
Car Accidents

Aging eyes may increase risk of serious car accident

As people get older, their ability to detect and react to certain stimuli diminishes over time. This includes the critical sense of vision, which is vital to people who wish to drive on the open road. When people suffer from a reduced ability to see, they run the risk of causing a catastrophic car accident, as well as injuring or even killing an innocent person. It is crucial that people understand the importance of good eyesight before the get behind the wheel of vehicle.

Even though a driver may pass the standard eye test that is given when he or she obtains a driver’s license, his or her eyesight may still cause problems when it comes to making quick decisions. For example, the National Safety Council reported that a 50-year-old may have difficulty seeing in low light conditions when compared to a 20-year-old. Since a driver’s license requires renewal every five years in Tennessee, a person could begin to experience eyesight difficulties in the years after obtaining a license.

Not only is it natural for people to experience a general decline in their vision as they age, but there are a number of age-related eye disorders that people can acquire as well. According to American Optometric Association, these conditions include the following:

  •          Cataracts
  •          Diabetic retinopathy
  •          Macular degeneration
  •          Glaucoma
  •          Chronic dry eye
  •          Retinal detachment

In addition to these eye issues, older drivers may have trouble focusing on and reading street signs, seeing in low-light conditions, adapting to glaring headlights and perceiving changes in colors. When pulling out into traffic, elderly people may have difficulties judging the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles. This could put them in danger of becoming involved in a serious car accident.

 

 

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Two people killed: Officer charged with reckless driving

Even law enforcement officers in Tennessee must practice safe driving habits when traveling alongside other vehicles on the road. Just like other motorists, law officers run the risk of injuring and killing innocent people if they choose to drive recklessly or make negligent decisions while behind the wheel.

A Bartlett law officer was one who made a poor decision when he chose to speed through a major intersection in town. The speeding officer approached speeds of up 83 mph. Other motorists were not able to prepare for the speeding officer, as he did not have his siren lights on at the time the accident occurred.

The 34-year-old officer went on to hit a vehicle in the middle of a busy intersection and, as a result, two people lost their lives. The 49-year-old woman and 63-year-old man were killed in the tragic car accident. Although the officer was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, he was convicted of lesser charges. Rather than the felony charges, he was found guilty of a misdemeanor: two counts of reckless driving.

The officer argues that he was pursuing a fleeing car that he had tried to stop earlier, and that he was afraid the vehicle would go on to cause harm to others. Still, the officer did not have his emergency lights on during the chase, and two people were needlessly killed.

Car accidents can be extremely tragic, especially when innocent people lose their lives. It can be difficult to deal with the aftermath of a deadly auto collision. Victims and their families may want to seek legal counsel from a personal injury attorney.

Source: The Commercial Appeal, “Bartlett officer guilty of reckless driving in fatal crash,” Katie Fretland, Aug. 19, 2016. 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Can ignition interlock devices save lives?

As you navigate the roadways in Knoxville, it is important to keep in mind that you may be traveling alongside an intoxicated driver. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 267 people were killed in drunk driving car accidents in 2014. This accounted for 27.8 percent of all motor vehicle accident fatalities in the state that year. In 2013, the state enacted a law that requires all people who are convicted of a DUI to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicles. Since that time, drunk driving deaths have decreased by 3.6 percent, and people hope that the number of people killed in these catastrophic accidents continues to decrease.

One reason why interlock devices help to reduce the DUI fatality rate is that they help to keep intoxicated drivers from operating vehicles. Before a driver can start the vehicle, he or she must blow a breath sample into a tube that is connected to a dashboard monitor. The machine then evaluates the sample for the presence of alcohol. If the driver has a blood alcohol content level that exceeds the set level, the car won’t start. Not only that, but the device will require motorists to submit random breath samples periodically while they are driving.

Studies show that IID’s keep drunk drivers from committing repeat offenses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that interlock devices actually decrease the DUI recidivism rate by up to 67 percent. Even after the device is taken out of the vehicle, 39 percent of people continue to avoid driving drunk.

This information should be used for educational purposes and should not be taken as legal advice. 

Categories
Truck Accidents

Poor tractor trailer maintenance can lead to disaster on the road

Tennessee car owners must keep their vehicles well-maintained in order to ensure that they are working properly on the road. The simplest oversight can lead to a flat tire or worn brakes that could potentially cause a devastating accident. Similarly, it is crucial that tractor trailers are routinely checked and properly cared for so that they don’t pose a threat to other vehicles on the road. According to the Federal Highway Administration, big rigs can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and, in some cases, can span a length of over 56 feet. At Pryor, Priest & Harber, we understand that people can be severely injured if a piece of equipment malfunctions or a safety device fails to work properly.

Trucking companies are required to conduct a detailed inspection of all the tractor trailers in the fleet at least once a year and keep complete documentation as to the condition of each truck, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In addition, truckers must inspect vital truck parts prior to beginning their route. A surprising number of trucking companies and truck drivers, however, fail to perform these essential inspections, and as a result, put the lives of others on the road at risk.

In 2012, more than 2.1 million tractor trailers were taken off of U.S. highways after officials found that they had equipment safety violations. Trucks may have trouble stopping if there is a problem with the braking system. Furthermore, problems with the tires or steering components could make it difficult for the truck driver to maintain control of a massive truck.

Surviving the aftermath of a truck collision can be overwhelming. Read our page on commercial truck accidents to learn more.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Snapchat’s speed filter endangering lives on the road

In this day and age of social media and smartphone technology, people are able to post status updates and pictures from anywhere. Snapchat has taken the idea of posting to a new level by adding a filter that indicates how fast the user is going while they are taking a picture or a short video. Cellphone use while driving in Tennessee is highly discouraged, as talking and texting on cellphone while behind the wheel is proven to lead to deadly car accidents. In fact, Distraction.gov reported that texting while driving in the state is against the law. Some believe that Snapchat’s feature encourages motorists to speed and may increase reckless driving.

According to The Verge, a man in Georgia now suffers from permanent brain damage and cannot walk without assistance after being involved in a horrific car accident. The 18-year-old girl who hit his car was attempting to take a Snapchat photo using the speed filter to show how fast she was going. Evidence shows that she even posted a picture to Snapchat after the accident occurred to show her followers that she was still alive.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated accident involving the social media platform. There are several other impending lawsuits involving people who have been seriously injured in car accidents caused by people using the speed filter on the app. Despite many attempts asking Snapchat developers to remove the filter, it still remains available to users. As long as it is on the application, people will continue to use it while driving.

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Is touchscreen technology safe for motorcyclists?

Soon, motorists may not be the only ones who are able to follow navigational technology or interact with a voice-activated device while traveling down the road. If you are a motorcyclist in Tennessee or anywhere else across the country, you are now able to enjoy these luxuries. Several motorcycle manufacturers have designed and are implementing touchscreen technology for use in high-quality bikes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, your chances of getting injured or killed in a traffic accident are significantly higher if you are on a motorcycle. In fact, you are 26 times more likely to get killed in a collision that you would be if you were traveling in a car. This stems from the fact that motorcycles lack certain safety equipment, such as seat belts and airbags, and do not have the protective shell that cars have.

That is why some people are opposed to motorcycle touchscreens, saying that the added distraction can increase the risk of a devastating accident, according to Bloomberg Pursuits. Others argue that this improved technology can actually help to prevent motorcycle collisions, assisting bikers in developing better technique by indicating lean angles, braking and acceleration information.

In addition to these functions, touchscreens can help bikers navigate through traffic, sync to smartphones and alert the biker when there are bad weather conditions. There are also mechanical features that will alert you when you have a flat tire or will point you in the direction of the closest gas station when you are getting low on gas.

 This information is intended to educate, and should not be used as legal advice. 

Categories
Car Accidents

What you should know about hit-and-run accidents

As a Tennessee motorist, you may be well aware of the dangers you face while traveling along state roadways. Not only do you face hazards while you are on the road, but you are at risk of being injured while walking alongside the street as well. A number of motorists who are involved in car, bicycle and pedestrian collisions actually flee from the scene of the accident before aide can arrive. Not only can hit-and-run accidents cause problems when it comes to charging and convicting the person responsible for the collision, but it also means that you could have trouble recovering money from the auto insurance company.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, one out of every five pedestrian fatalities involve a hit-and-run motorist. This means that once the motorist has hit another vehicle, person or bicyclist, he or she fails to stop and render help to the injured person. In fact, bicycle and pedestrian fatalities across the nation are on the rise, causing great concern to U.S. law enforcement officials.

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you may not be able to recover damages from the other party’s insurance company unless you know the identity of the driver who fled the scene of the accident, according to Esurance.com. Your personal insurance company may be left paying for any injury expenses and property damage, which could come out of the uninsured motorist coverage depending on your specific insurance plan.

This information is intended to educate and should not be taken as legal advice.

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driver faces multiple charges after crashing into house

When people are charged and convicted of drinking and driving in Tennessee, there may be a good chance that they are a repeat offender and have been convicted of a DUI before.

Such is the case with a 28-year-old man from Nashville who decided to climb behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. As a result, the man was charged with vehicular assault, failure to render aid, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, open container violations and a DUI. It is unclear how far the man had driven before he hit a utility pole and smashed into the side of a house, killing a woman who was sleeping in her living room.

The man, who had been previously convicted of reckless driving and arrested for drinking and driving, refused to submit to a field sobriety test when law enforcement officers caught up with him and the passenger of the car. Although the men ran away from the automobile accident scene, officers said that they were injured and covered in drywall dust. Officers obtained a blood sample from the driver in order to determine his blood alcohol content level.

People who drink and drive put the lives of innocent people at risk. DUI offenders should be held responsible for their actions. Those who are injured in accidents involving drunk drivers may want to speak to a personal injury attorney regarding their legal options and rights.

Source: The Tennessean, “Woman, 71, killed after car slams into her Bellevue home,” Natalie Neysa Alund, Ariana Sawyer, Aug. 1, 2016. 

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle braking technology reduces risk of accidents

While motor vehicles come equipped with critical safety devices, including airbags, seatbelts, backup sensing systems and head restraints, most motorcycles lack this life-saving protection. As a result, a number of motorcyclists are injured and killed each year in tragic accidents. Studies show, however, that antilock braking systems on motorcycles can help to reduce the risk of accidents and could save peoples’ lives on the road. In fact, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety reported that motorcyclists riding bikes that have ABS technology have a 31 percent reduced risk of being involved in a fatal motorcycle accident than those who are riding bikes that are not equipped with the braking system.

Antilock braking systems sense when wheels are about to lockup and reacts by reducing brake pressure. Once the wheels have regained traction, brake pressure returns to normal. Cars that have this technology can avoid hydroplaning, or going into an avoidable skid. When the wheels of a motorcycle lockup, on the other hand, the results can be catastrophic, according to Consumer Reports. The motorcyclist may lose his or her balance altogether, fall or crash into another vehicle. Antilock braking systems allow bikers to apply the brakes in any situation without the fear of skidding, sliding or falling off of their bikes.

A number of mid-size motorcycles already come standard with antilock braking systems. Yet, many people argue that the technology should expand to all motorcycles, especially bikes that are most commonly bought by new riders. Antilock braking systems not only benefit bikers who are used to completing more advanced maneuvers and take high-risks when it comes to riding, but it can also help low-risk bikers who may be more cautious.

Categories
Truck Accidents

New rule requires truckers to use electronic logging devices

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set regulations requiring truck drivers to take periodic rests throughout their drive. In addition, truckers are prohibited from driving more than 11 hours in a 24-hour period and 77 hours each week, as stated in the Hours of Service regulations. While all truckers in Tennessee and across the nation are held to this rule, a number of truck drivers fail to keep accurate driving records. As a result, fatigued truck drivers are at higher risk of causing catastrophic accidents, as well as injuring and killing innocent people.

A rule that was recently passed by the U.S. Department of Transportation will require all bus and commercial truckers to use electronic logging devices when recording their driving hours, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Up until this point, truckers were responsible for keeping their own hours logged in a written book. Hand-written log books made it easy for truckers to manipulate their driving hours in order to spend more time on the road. More driving hours equates to a larger paycheck and helps truckers meet tight delivery deadlines. Yet a number of people are killed each year in truck accidents caused by drowsy truckers.

Not only do electronic logging devices record important information, including vehicle movement, miles driven, engine hours and location, this data can be sent to truck company headquarters to help control the fleet. The rule, which will require trucks to have electronic logging devices by December 2017, is expected to prevent at least 562 injuries and save countless lives every year.