Author: Anthony Proffitt

Roundabouts in Tennessee and other states act as a safety precaution that counteracts the dangers of a normal intersection. Roundabouts create a circular intersection that leads to a safer environment because vehicles must travel at lower speeds, and the devices also have operational advantages, reducing conflict.

The Federal Highway Administration recognized that signalized intersections have faults because one-third of intersection fatalities occur at these spots. About 2,300 people die each year due to these signalized intersection fatalities, and around 700 people die yearly due to collisions after a driver runs a red light.

Roundabouts reduce the amount of injuries and deaths resulting from intersection crashes. The rate of severe crashes drop 82 percent when a roundabout replaces a two-way stop control mechanism, and all motor vehicle accidents are reduced by 44 percent. The amount of crashes at previously signalized intersections are also reduced when a roundabout is used.

Roundabouts are an effective safety feature because they help manage speed and can serve as a transition from a high-speed area to a low-speed area. These safer intersections can be paired with a range of traffic conditions in rural and urban locales. Roundabouts might be best at rural high-speed intersections, freeway interchange ramp terminals, highway projects involving construction or when replacing an intersection with safety issues.

When otherwise preventable accidents take place because of the negligence of others, an injured party could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses. If a driver runs a red light at an intersection, he or she may be responsible for a car accident. If this occurs, the injured party may benefit from discussing their case with a lawyer who is familiar with personal injury lawsuits.

Source: US Department of Transportation , “Proven Safety Countermeasures – Roundabouts“, December 05, 2014

People in Tennessee may have a limited understanding of what whiplash is. The condition is a common injury suffered in car accidents, and the economic cost of the injury across the country may reach an estimated $30 billion every year.

Whiplash is most commonly caused in rear-end collisions, which cause the person’s head to experience a sudden acceleration followed by a rapid deceleration in a violent front to back motion. The motion can cause injuries to muscles, surrounding tissue and bones, depending on the severity of the injury. While many people are able to bounce back quickly after a minor motor vehicle crash, those with severe whiplash injuries may experience disabling pain and chronic problems that can sometimes last years after an accident occurred.

In order to prevent whiplash in the event of a collision, people should take some safety measures. Car manufacturers have made improvements in safety belts. Safety belts should always be used while riding in a vehicle. Additionally, head restraints should be placed in their proper position as they help prevent hyperextension of the neck in the event of a collision.

People who are involved in a car accident may suffer some serious complications if they have suffered whiplash, and treatments can become expensive. However, when people are injured in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, they may wish to consult with a personal injury attorney about recovering compensation for their losses. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, an injured plaintiff might be able to recover the cost of medical treatments and rehabilitation. In addition, funds covering loss of income might also be included in an award won in court.

Source: MedicineNet.com, “Whiplash“, November 29, 2014

As many drivers in Tennessee may know, there is always a risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Accidents can happen due to a variety of circumstances beyond the purview of the driver, including poor road conditions, faulty driving by other drivers on the road and defective auto parts.

However, there are available technologies that can help motorists avoid traffic accidents, and the National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, is calling for the federal government to mandate their implementation by new car manufacturers. Such technologies can use sensors that can detect when other vehicles are perilously close and force the car to slow down accordingly. Other sensors provide alerts to the driver. These technologies might improve a vehicle’s reaction time to impending collisions and heighten drivers’ awareness of nearby perils.

Many accidents result from rear-end collisions, vehicles that run off the-road and lane-change collisions. These accidents account for a combined 60 percent of all motor vehicle accidents, reportedly. They are also the types of accidents that would most likely to be avoided if government mandated the new technologies, according to the NTSB. Although the crash-avoidance technologies are available as optional upgrades on many cars, a mandate would instead make car manufacturers include them as standard options in each and every new vehicle.

Even if such a mandate were put into effect, there may be a reduction in auto accidents but not a complete extinction. For, traffic still relies on the harmony of several fallible factors, human judgment not the least of them. When people are seriously injured as a result of a distracted driver, poorly maintained roadways or a defective auto part, they may seek restitution for the damages they suffered in civil court through a personal injury lawsuit.

Source: National Transportation Safety Board, “Mandate Motor Vehicle Collision Avoidance Technologies“, November 21, 2014

A trial stemming from a 2013 collision that involved an alleged wrong-way driver commenced on Nov. 17 in a Circuit Court in Clarksville. The 2013 accident occurred on May 13 at approximately 7 a.m., authorities reported. A Tennessee woman is facing several charges in connection with the incident, including DUI, reckless endangerment and vehicular assault.

Prosecutors allege that the Tennessee woman crossed the center lane on Highway 48 in Montgomery County in her S-10 pickup truck and hit a Chevrolet vehicle head-on. Moreover, prosecutors accuse the woman of taking the prescription painkiller Oxycontin prior to the incident. The two women in the Chevrolet vehicle were seriously injured as a result of the wreck, reportedly.

According to an eyewitness, the pickup truck’s brakes were never applied at any point leading up to the collision. The eyewitness also stated that the Tennessee woman gave off the impression of being impaired in the aftermath of the accident, by her ‘mannerisms” and ‘how she was acting.”

The Tennessee woman’s defense attorney says that the woman was prescribed the Oxycontin and that the crash was a tragic accident and not a crime. The defense claims that the case should be a civil matter and not a criminal case.

In a car accident like this one, the injured individuals may wish to bring a civil suit against the person they deem responsible for the wreck, no matter the resolution of any criminal charges that may have been filed in relation to the incident. To prevail in a personal injury lawsuit, accident victims and their legal counsel would have to show with a preponderance of evidence that the defendant’s negligence contributed to the event.

Source: The Leaf-Chronicle , “Trial begins in wreck that hurt MCHS cheerleaders“, Tavia D. Green, November 17, 2014

Tennessee residents are likely aware that the use of mobile electronic devices has grown markedly in recent years. While smartphones are packed with innovative features, they are also a contributing factor in a growing number of automobile accidents each year. According to NHTSA, 18 percent of traffic collisions in 2010 involved a distracted driver. These accidents claimed the lives of 3,092 people and injured 416,000 others.

The problem of texting while driving is particularly pronounced among younger drivers. A Pew survey found that 40 percent of teens reported being in a car when a dangerous situation developed because a cellphone was being used behind the wheel. Experts advise parents to warn their children about the dangers of distracted driving and to set a good example by not using a cellphone while driving themselves.

While there is no federal law banning texting behind the wheel, several states have passed legislation outlawing the practice or requiring drivers to use only hands-free devices. The issue is also being addressed by the FCC, electronics manufacturers and safety organizations. The importance of these efforts was highlighted in a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute that found an accident was 23 times more likely when drivers read or send text messages.

Distracted drivers often cause accidents by straying into the path of oncoming traffic or weaving between lanes. This type of unpredictable behavior might not give other motorists sufficient time to react to avoid a crash. Those injured in distracted driving accidents may pursue civil remedies, and a personal injury attorney could file a lawsuit on their behalf against the negligent driver responsible. This lawsuit could seek damages to cover an accident victim’s property damage, medical expenses and lost income.

Source: FCC, “The dangers of texting while driving “, November 14, 2014

On Nov. 7, a 37-year-old Bristol woman and a 28-year-old Bluff City woman were injured in a crash that occurred at the intersection of West State Street and Route 126. The women were in a Toyota Sequoia that was stopped at the traffic light.

The Sequoia was reportedly rear-ended by a Chevrolet Avalanche that was being driven by a 41-year-old man from Freeman, West Virginia. The Toyota caught fire after being struck by the Avalanche. Both women were taken to the hospital after emergency personnel responded to the scene.

Authorities suspect that alcohol and drugs were a contributing factor in the accident. The Avalanche driver was taken into police custody on charges of DUI and aggravated assault.

In this instance, the injured women may have some legal recourse to sue for damages which can include medical expenses, reimbursement for time lost from work and/or compensation for pain and suffering. If either of the women suffer a permanent disability that results from the crash, they may consider pursuing a personal injury suit in civil court.

Personal injury claims are not dependent on the conviction of the perpetrator, but negligence on the perpetrator’s part could potentially introduce the consideration of punitive damages as well as compensatory damages into the case. Punitive damages are intended to punish the perpetrator of a crime while increasing any monetary amount awarded as compensation. If a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, consulting an attorney who is familiar with personal injury claims may be a good source for support and guidance.

Source: TriCities.com, “West Virginia man charged in Bristol, Tenn., crash“, Robert Sorrell , November 08, 2014