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motor vehicle accidents

Why do so many people die from motor vehicle accidents?

It is no secret that driving or riding in a vehicle is a dangerous activity. However, it is something most people do every single day. For the majority of people in Tennessee, driving or riding in a vehicle is a necessary activity because they need to commute to work, take the children to and from school, visit the doctor’s office, go grocery shopping or do other things they must do. What this means is there is a very high number of vehicles on the roadways every day, and accidents happen all the time. While most are minor and do not result in serious injuries, there are some that end up being fatal. It is everyone’s responsibility to try to figure out how to prevent and stop fatal accidents.

This duty starts with understanding why so many people die from motor vehicle accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain the U.S. has an incredibly high rate of death from motor vehicle accidents that other high-income countries do not. The two leading causes of fatal accidents are drunk driving and speeding.

There are also a lot of risk factors in the U.S. that lead to serious accidents. Behind drunk driving and speeding is not wearing seat belts. These safety devices save lives as shown time and again by statistics. Yet, many people do not use them.

There is also an increasing number of people who drive distracted. When driving, you should focus only on that task. You should not look at your cell phone or even fiddle with the radio. You need your whole mind on driving and your eyes on the road.

Every cause of a fatal car accident is preventable. This makes it so frustrating when these accidents happen. It is why every driver must take responsibility, follow the laws and be a safe driver. This information is for education and is not legal advice.

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Uncategorized

Why is distracted driving so risky?

Residents of Tennessee like you deal with risks on the road every day. Some of the biggest risks come in the form of distracted drivers, who are engaging in a behavior that is dangerous in many different ways. 

First, distracted driving is dangerous because it can take your hands off of the wheel. This is true for everything from texting to eating. Even taking your hand from the wheel long enough to change the temperature or adjust your radio station could be enough to cause you to crash. Taking a single hand from the wheel can result in a loss of fine control that could have helped you avoid any incidents. 

Second, it takes your eyes off of the road. When you travel 60 miles per hour, you cross the distance of a football field in 3 seconds. This means that even glancing down at your phone to read a text message can result in you crashing into another vehicle or even drifting into another lane of traffic or off of the road entirely. 

Finally, it can take your mind off of driving. This lowers your reaction times and makes it harder for you to spot danger that you may have otherwise noticed in advance. As with the other two categories, this can therefore increase your chances of getting into a crash that you may have avoided. 

If you are interested in taking a more in-depth look into distracted driving and the related risks, consider viewing our web page on motor vehicle accidents. We closely examine all aspects related to it. 

Categories
Injuries

Why do women have a harder time getting an accurate diagnosis?

When it comes to feeling your best and taking proper care of your health, regularly visiting your Tennessee-area physician can be a necessity. But what do you do when, as a woman, you feel your current doctor cannot provide you with proper treatment or answers regarding a health issue? A missed, inaccurate or late diagnosis can result in unnecessary suffering, treatment and spending.

WebMD shines a light on the matter. Hopefully, you can learn how to protect your peace of mind and your health when your doctor drops the ball.

Insufficient research

Initially, the male body was the standard in medical research, meaning that discoveries could be unique to the male body. Even today, there is a lack of research aimed specifically at how disease and health differ in women’s bodies. This has resulted in a multitude of misunderstandings, confusion and unanswered questions surrounding how to provide proper treatment for women.

Opposing symptoms 

Even if a male and female patient both have the exact same medical condition, they can present different symptoms. Doctors unfamiliar with such different symptoms may mistakenly believe that a woman has a completely different condition. For instance, rather than the typical chest pain associated with a heart attack in men, a woman may instead experience neck pain, indigestion or trouble breathing. Women themselves may not realize their difference in symptoms, which can lead them to not seeking medical attention when they need it.

Downplaying concerns

Sometimes, doctors make women feel like they blow symptoms and medical concerns out of proportion, or that any discomfort they experience with something like their period is normal and nothing to pursue treatment for. If women do not push nurses and doctors to run tests or take their concerns seriously, or if medical professionals refuse to take a patient’s concerns seriously, the situation could become life-threatening.

Race

There are times when women of color have a harder time receiving a proper medical diagnosis because of their race. Some medical conditions are more common in black women when compared to white women.

Categories
motor vehicle accidents

Distracted driving statistics highlight the risk

Tennessee residents have certainly heard and read a lot about distracted driving over the last decade or so. A lot of the focus in this discussion has centered around the use of cell phones while driving. However, there are numerous things that may distract drivers including built-in infotainment systems, children and other passengers, eating and drinking in the car, even personal grooming and more. Just how serious is distracted driving in America?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted drivers claimed the lives of 3,450 people in 2016. In the prior year, almost 395,000 people were either injured or killed in distracted driving accidents. Today, it is believed that nine people die every day on U.S. roads in these crashes.

Records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that in 2017, distracted drivers were responsible for the deaths of 3,166 people. The use of cell phones was reported to be involved in 434 of those, highlighting the reality that distractions extend far beyond the phone.

The insurance comparison site, The Zebra, conducted a survey earlier this year to gauge the opinions of drivers across the country. It seems that job pressures may contribute to some distracted driving as 25% of people said they felt strongly compelled to respond to messages or calls when in the car if they were related to work. This pressure was felt even more by drivers between 18 and 34 years of age as 37% of those drivers indicated a strong urge to respond while driving. It seems many drivers still watch videos, take photos and more when they should be focused on the road.

Categories
motor vehicle accidents

Unsecured bale of hay falls off truck and kills Tennessee teen

Winning the state championship is an accomplishment that many high school football teams aspire to. However, one Tennessee team has made it a mission to take home the championship trophy in honor of one of their teammates who died approximately a week and a half ago in a motor vehicle accident involving another vehicle with what appears to have been an improperly secured load.

On a Saturday afternoon, the high school student was following a truck hauling bales of hay on a Tennessee highway. For reasons that are still under investigation, one of the hay bales fell out of the back of the truck. Details as to what, precisely, happened next are a bit vague, but authorities report a head-on collision between the errant bale of hay and the teenager’s vehicle in which the high school student lost his life.

The young man who died was a senior in high school, active in athletics. His football coach describes him as universally beloved. His teammates have reportedly taken the loss very hard, perhaps more so because it occurred the day after a significant gridiron victory which the deceased had been enthusiastic in celebrating at its conclusion.

Charges are pending against the 21-year-old driver of the truck that lost part of its load. Once the investigation reaches its formal conclusion, the district attorney will make a decision in regard to moving forward.

Nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, but family members have the right to seek damages against a negligent party that caused an accident. Hiring an attorney may be helpful in this endeavor.

Categories
Uncategorized

Do you have a case for a vaping lung injury?

Vaping injury stories are increasingly common in the news of late. This unnerving issue has many people on edge. Vaping was once seen as a healthier alternative to smoking, but now that is under question. To further confuse the issue, there is a lot of misinformation or half-truths floating around about this concern. It is difficult to know what is accurate about the vaping injuries reported in the Tennessee news.

If you vape, you may wonder if you should be concerned. After all, if you suffer an injury, you will want to hold someone accountable so that other people do not have to go through what you did. However, thus far there is not a lot of conclusive information about these concerns. The Washington Post explains officials are still researching and gathering information about the vape injuries.

An initial warning

The best officials can do is warn you to stop vaping. There is a specific warning against using THC products in vapes. Most of the people suffering from injuries used THC products. Many of these people admitted to using black market products or altering the existing vaping juice to add THC oil.

The confusion

The main confusion is because there are many conflicting reports. Some sources say only people who have used THC vaping have suffered, while others make more general statements and even name specific vaping brands linked to those with injuries. Official reports have not released a lot of information and only provided the general warning to stop vaping.

In addition, there are no clear explanations about the actual medical conditions of the injured people. According to most sources, they have a serious lung-related illness or condition, but further details are not yet forthcoming.

Without more complete knowledge, it is difficult to hold anyone accountable for these vape-related lung injuries. It will take more time and information to get to the bottom of things.

Categories
nursing home abuse and neglect

Deficiencies in Tennessee nursing homes

Not all Tennessee nursing homes have problems. Many families are able to find a suitable place that cares for their loved one. However, some Tennesseans are not so fortunate. A report by the Knoxville News Sentinel described negligence of care discovered in a number of nursing homes in the state, including one in Knoxville. These deficiencies in care have resulted in injury and contributed to the deaths of some nursing home residents.

As explained by the Knoxville News Sentinel, a common problem with these deficient nursing homes is a lack of staffing. Because of an inadequate number of care workers, residents suffered from a lack of proper care. It was common in these understaffed homes to find residents suffering from bedsores. There were also residents who had lost an excessive amount of weight, with some suffering from a lack of hygiene that contributed to infections.

Negligence in care was also found to cause serious injury. One nursing home resident suffered knee fractures after sliding out of bed during a changing of bed sheets. Her fall was not reported until she screamed in pain. A nursing home in Maryville had residents suffering multiple falls, with one resident falling nine times and experiencing one fracture. In a nursing home in Johnson City, residents were restrained, which put them at risk of hurting themselves because they tried to get free.

Medication errors were also common among the negligent homes, with some homes suffering medication errors above the federal standard. In a Humboldt home, a nurse provided a diabetic resident with an excessive amount of insulin that put the resident into a coma. A Madison nursing home failed to provide residents with needed insulin and also provided incorrect blood pressure and cardiac medication.

These examples provide an idea of the forms of negligent care that take place in some Tennessee nursing homes. Mismanaged care can significantly degrade the health of a senior citizen or even result in death. It is crucial to seek assistance if abuse or neglect is occurring to preserve the life of the resident being abused and if necessary, prepare for possible civil litigation.

Categories
Uncategorized

Fatal DUI crash caused by driver out on bond for prior offense

A young Tennessee man killed in a fatal DUI crash on Highway 385 near Rivervale would have turned 25 next month. He left behind a six-year-old daughter and a wife who were not in the car with him when the fatal accident occurred. As reported by WREG Channel 3 News, the alleged cause of the crash was another Tennessee man who was allegedly driving while intoxicated and out on bail for a previous DUI offense. He also fled the scene of the accident. 

A witness saw the driver who caused the accident speeding past at about 100 mph. When officers caught up with him, they smelled alcohol and the driver displayed the typical tell-tale signs of intoxication. He admitted to having caused the crash that killed the young father. Officers detained the driver, who now faces charges for multiple offenses, including vehicular homicide and DUI. 

The news team reporting on the tragic accident obtained documents showing a Collierville court charged the intoxicated driver six weeks earlier for another DUI. His payment of a $750 bond enabled him to get out of jail and return to the road prior to causing the fatal crash. According to data compiled by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the year 2018 saw more than 1,800 vehicle crashes caused by alcohol impairment. The THP also made close to 7,000 arrests for DUI during the same year. Out of the overall 29,186 crashes occurring in Tennessee in 2018, more than one third resulted in injuries or fatalities. 

Whether the cause is driver negligence, such as DUI or distracted driving, involvement in a vehicle accident can result in drivers and passengers — sometimes pedestrians and cyclists — battling serious and debilitating injuries. When catastrophic injuries or wrongful deaths result from a driver’s negligence or recklessness, a legal action may help survivors and injured individuals cope with the extremely difficult circumstances. 

Categories
catastrophic injuries

Filing a civil suit after a catastrophic injury

An individual or business could be responsible for your catastrophic personal injury even when this third party has not committed a criminal act. In this case, you can file a civil lawsuit to recoup associated medical costs and lost wages as well as damages for pain and suffering.

If you are struggling with medical bills and can no longer work after a serious injury, learn more about filing a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee.

Understanding negligence

You do not have to prove the other party acted purposefully to win a personal injury suit, but you do need to prove negligence. This means that the other party failed to fulfill his or her responsibility to refrain from injuring another person, that this failure directly led to your injuries and that you suffered financial loss or damages as a result of the incident.

Modified comparative fault

Tennessee uses a modified comparative fault standard to award damages in a successful personal injury case. With this law, you can share up to 50% of fault for your injury and still receive partial damages. For example, if you slip and fall in a store that did not post wet floor caution signs but you were also texting when the fall occurred, the judge could find you 20% at fault and you would receive 80% of the legally allowed damages.

Statute of limitations

Tennessee residents have one year after the injury to file a civil personal injury lawsuit. After this date, the court will dismiss your case and you are no longer eligible to sue for damages. If the injury occurs before an individual turns 18, the one-year clock begins running on his or her 18th birthday. If the responsible party also faces criminal charges, you will have two years to file a civil lawsuit.

In addition to economic damages such as lost wages and medical expenses, you can collect noneconomic damages in Tennessee. The state limits this category to a cap of $750,000 for most personal injury cases.

Categories
catastrophic injuries

The impact of traumatic brain injuries

One common type of trauma that often occurs in motor vehicle collisions, slip-and-fall incidents and other types of accidents is traumatic brain injury. Unlike other types of accident and personal injuries, such as broken bones, lacerations and bruises, brain injuries often result in long and difficult recoveries.

TBIs affect victims on multiple levels, including their psychological, physical, social and financial well-being.

How TBIs occur

The skull protects the brain but is not always ample enough shield against trauma. All it may take for a brain to become damaged is a blow to the head or the forceful back-and-forth movement of whiplash to bump the brain against the skull.

TBI can also occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen; the longer the loss of oxygen, the greater the severity of trauma.

Traumatic brain injury symptoms

Signs of mild TBIs which often result in short-term distress include loss of consciousness, forgetfulness, confusion, sleeplessness and mood changes. Mild TBIs often heal on their own.

Some TBIs are much more severe and the prognosis for recovery is not as optimistic. They can affect multiple body systems, cause paralysis and disability, impair cognitive and mental functions and reduce victims to a shell of their former selves.

There are circumstances when traumatic brain injuries are not immediately obvious. Some people who have them do not suffer a loss of consciousness. Gradual swelling from bruising or bleeding can lead to pressure inside the skull that causes damage days or weeks after the accident. Instead of immediate problems, victims may experience seizures or convulsions in the days after their accidents. Some TBI victims experience delayed symptoms of blurred vision, headaches, nausea, vomiting and weakness.

Because there may not be any outward symptoms, any person who sustains a blow to the head or whiplash may want to seek medical attention.