Automobile Accidents

July 26, 2018

We Hate To Disappoint People, But We Do. Everyday.

At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we have two intake specialists, Penny Whitaker and Lauren Bates. When people call into the offices for a free consultation, Lauren and Penny take the basic accident information for a free review by one of our award-winning attorneys. Let me say, Penny and Lauren do a great job; they understand that when people call our office they are often confused about their rights and options, scared about what the future may bring and looking for help. And, we desperately want to help. But all too often, we can’t and that is where the disappointment comes in. This is never truer than when someone did do something wrong and injuries or death resulted. Let me explain. Continue reading

July 20, 2018

Do You Have The Right Insurance? And, Do You Have Enough?

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Every single day, an attorney at The Law Offices of John Day, P.C. has to tell a client they are not going to receive any money for their injuries or the death of a loved one or they are going to receive a lot less than they should. Every. Single. Day. And, we hate it. Sometimes, we have to tell them this simply because they do not have a case. In other words, there was a terrible accident but no one is to blame under the law. But more often than not, we have to tell people they are not going to recover or they are going to recover substantially less than they should because there is no insurance or not enough insurance.

While you can’t make other people buy insurance, you can still protect yourself from people and companies who either do not have it or do not have enough. And, of course, you can review your own insurance to make sure you are protected in the event you make a mistake and cause an accident. Here are 5 incredibly important questions you should ask yourself, and more importantly, your insurance agent: Continue reading

June 4, 2018

The Hidden Dangers of Many Church Vans

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Summer is a popular time for church retreats, which can be a wonderful time for a church community to gather, bond, plan, have a great time, etc. Unfortunately, actually getting to the retreat can be very dangerous if your church is using a 15 passenger van. Before you or your family heads out on a church retreat, here are some things you should know: Continue reading

May 23, 2018

Memorial Day Weekend: Safety Tips

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Memorial Day weekend is almost here and over 34 million Americans will travel in excess of 50 miles for the Memorial Day holiday. Unfortunately, all those cars on the roads means more accidents. The risk of dying in a car accident over Memorial Day weekend is four times greater than a regular weekend. In fact, Memorial Day weekend is the most dangerous holiday weekend to be on the road according to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration. Here are some tips to help ensure you get to your destination safely: Continue reading

May 16, 2018

The 100 Deadliest Days: Advice for Parents of Teen Drivers

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

We are about to enter the Deadliest Days for teen drivers. The days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most dangerous and deadly for teen drivers. Throughout the year, teen drivers ages 16 to 17 are three times more likely than adult drivers to be involved in a deadly accident. The number of fatal teen accidents spikes in the summer because teen drivers are out of school and on the roads, but there are some things parents can do:

Emphasize the importance of seatbelts. No matter how short the trip, everyone in the car should buckle up. 4,200 lives could be saved each year if 90% of the population would always wear their seatbelt.
Use apps like LifeSaver or Mojo or True Motion to block calls and texts while the vehicle is in motion. Reading just one text message requires a driver to take their eyes off the road for 5 seconds. Maybe that does not sound like a long time, but it is when you are traveling in a car. While you are driving, have your kids close their eyes and use a timer to show them just how long that really is so they can get a better sense of how far you can travel in such a short time especially at higher rates of speed.

April 24, 2018

Distracted Driving Awareness Month: Britain Got Tough

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

John and I just returned from a meeting of the International Society of Barristers in London. We had a great time and learned a lot including some interesting information on how Britain is effectively dealing with distracted driving. Continue reading

April 17, 2018

Distracted Driving Awareness Month: 8 Tips for Avoiding It

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

After years of trending downward, fatal car accidents have been on the rise, and most experts blame distracted driving as a leading culprit for the upward trend. Distracted driving comes in many forms: cellphone use, navigational systems, friend in the car, eating, etc., The good news is there are some relatively easy ways to reduce the chance that you will be distracted behind the wheel. Here are some tips on how to just drive: Continue reading

April 10, 2018

Distracted Driving Awareness Month: FOMO and Over-Confidence

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

When I first heard about Distracted Driving Awareness Month I thought it was a great idea. But shortly thereafter, I found myself thinking: Is there really anyone who does not know about the dangers of distracted driving? Really? But a recent study by the Travelers Companies helps explain why we need Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

April 3, 2018

Distracted Driving Awareness Month: Pedestrian Safety

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The problem is huge: 92% of drivers admit to using their phone while driving (phonecalls, navigation apps, etc) and a 71% admit to texting while driving. Distracted driving does not just put other motorists at risk; it also puts pedestrians, skaters, bicyclists and anyone else sharing the road at risk. On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, we saw a unique approach to help improve pedestrian safety. Continue reading

March 23, 2018

If These 2 Facts Don’t Make You Buy Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Nothing Will

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Tennessee is one of the top five states for uninsured motorists. Roughly 20% of the vehicles on our roads are not covered by insurance. Second, 46.8% of all ride-share drivers do not have ride-share insurance. So why are these two facts so scary? Continue reading