With so many vehicles on the roads, it is hardly surprising that occasionally accidents occur. These can be brought on by distractions, sleepiness, illness or the influence of substances such as narcotics and alcohol. It is not always easy to determine the cause of an accident, as often several factors are involved. Unfortunately, the results of these brief slips of judgment can cause widespread damage, as happened with one automobile accident recently in Tennessee.

A 57-year-old man was found driving around Humboldt early one morning after law enforcement officials had been called out to investigate a downed power pole. The front of his car was heavily damaged and, as a result, he was arrested on suspicion of knocking over the pole.

The driver is now facing charges related to drunk driving and possession of marijuana and cocaine. He has also been charged with leaving the scene of an accident. In addition, the damage to the power pole resulted in power outages to large areas of the city. The outages lasted until the Humboldt Utility Department was able to remedy the problem that afternoon.

Fortunately, no one was harmed in this accident. Nevertheless, any car crash is a traumatic experience for all involved. Whether a collision takes place as a result of simple human error, or because of a drunk driver’s actions, victims are entitled to seek compensation for their injuries. Residents of Tennessee are advised to make themselves aware of their rights, and ensure that any such accidents are investigated fully in order to find the best possible support for all affected.

Source: wbbjtv.com, “Alleged Drunk Driver Knocks Out Power For Hours,” Krystyna Biassou, Feb. 14, 2014

Sunday afternoons are a time when many families decide to visit with each other, go out to lunch or just go for a drive to sightsee. It is also a time when many tourists to the Tennessee area pack up to return home. Regardless of the reason for being on the road, Sunday afternoons are not typically thought of as a time when a driver needs to be vigilant, because the risk of a drunk driver sharing the interstate with him or her is likely. However, as proven by a recent car accident, an accident caused by an alleged drunk driver can occur at any time.

Police report that a woman driving north on Interstate 75 was hit from behind by another vehicle. The force of the impact caused the first car to leave the roadway and to flip several times before coming to rest in a wooded area. The car that hit her bounced off the inner wall of the interstate and proceeded to flip as well.

There were a total of three women involved in this accident, and all three were airlifted to a nearby hospital. The woman who was driving the car that was hit suffered serious injuries, and her condition has been reported as critical. The driver who hit her, along with a passenger in this driver’s car, also required medical attention; however, their current condition is not known.

While the exact circumstances leading up to this car accident have not been determined yet, Tennessee police have stated that they believe alcohol was involved. Charges against the driver who caused the accident have yet to be filed and will most likely depend on the outcome of the investigation. Even so, the others who were injured in this accident will be facing numerous medical expenses, lost time from work and other financial and emotional losses. A civil claim may be their best option for addressing these issues.

Source: wate.com, 3 women airlifted after accident on I-75, No author, Feb. 9, 2014

With car accidents among the leading causes of death in the United States, driving safety has become increasingly important. An automobile accident can completely change the lives of those involved, whether they were responsible or not. Tennessee, in particular, has been cracking down on the enforcement of driving laws as they strive to reduce the number of traffic fatalities.

For the last 50 years, Tennessee roads have had over 1000 people die every year but four. 2013 was one of the four years to break this trend with just 988 deaths from vehicular collisions. As officials continue to move toward the goal of fewer fatalities, the enforcement of seat belt laws and an increase in DUI arrests have proven to be highly effective. The number of arrests made for driving under the influence has almost doubled since 2010, while the amount of deaths from accidents involving a drunk driver has gone down by almost 30%.

The concentrated effort to lower the amount of intoxicated drivers on the road is simply one way authorities have made driving safer. Another aspect state troopers have been focusing on is the enforcement of seat belt and child restraint use. In 2013, over 70,000 citations for unrestrained motorists were issued. Unfortunately, the number of deaths involving pedestrians has increased, but officials are now seeking ways to decrease this statistic as well.

Driving under the influence is a major cause of car crashes and fatalities not just in Tennessee, but also across the U.S. Not following road safety laws, such as proper seat belt use, also increases the likelihood of serious injury in an automobile accident. However, collisions can sometimes be unavoidable. If someone is involved in an accident and suffers injury or even death, that individual or surviving relatives may have the right to file civil claims for negligent driving or wrongful death.

Source: WBIR-TV, 988 people died on Tennessee roads in 2013, No author, Jan. 2, 2014