Automobile Accidents

June 24, 2021

Pedestrian and Cycling Deaths Hit 30 Year High

The bad news from 2020 does not seem to relent as evidenced by the recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) report on pedestrian and cyclist deaths. According to the NHTSA, in 2020, the United States had more pedestrian and cyclist deaths than any year since 1990. When you consider that most people drove substantially less in 2020, these numbers become even more alarming. In 2020, 6,238 pedestrians lost their lives, which equates to about 17 pedestrians per day. For bicyclists, the numbers were better but still terrible: 857 bicyclists lost their lives or roughly 2 per day. Read on to find what experts believe are the cause of the dramatic increase and what you can do to help. Continue reading

June 15, 2021

Car Accidents: Changes You Need to Know

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

Across the country and locally in Nashville, there is important news about car accidents. First, in 2020, deaths caused by car accidents rose 7.2% despite the fact that most Americans were driving less due to the pandemic. Second, in local news, Metro Police will no longer respond to some traffic accidents. Read on for more information on both of these issues and what you should do if you are in a car accident in Metro Nashville. Continue reading

May 26, 2021

Memorial Day Weekend – Nashville Is a Favorite Destination This Year

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

As we start to put the pandemic in our rearview mirror, travel for the holiday weekend is expected to be 60% greater than last year. According to AAA, 37 million Americans are expected to make a road trip for the holiday, and Nashville is the fifth most popular destination behind only Las Vegas, Orlando, Myrtle Beach and Denver. So whether you are staying home in Middle Tennessee or going somewhere to enjoy the holiday weekend, you can expect the roads in and around Nashville to be busy. Here are top 10 tips for staying safe and sane. Continue reading

May 4, 2021

Car Accidents and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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

The first awful moment is when you anticipate the accident – those seconds before the impact has happened but nothing can be done. Your heart and mind race and you brace. And then, the impact – tires squealing, horns honking, glass breaking, metal crunching, people yelling, sirens blaring and more. Unless you have been knocked unconscious, those moments after the impact are spent assessing the extent of any injuries for you and anyone with you. Other drivers rubberneck and gawk out of morbid curiosity. Medical treatment is given for the physical injuries. But for a surprising number of people, psychological injuries need treatment too. Did you know that car accidents are the leading cause of PTSD in the general population? Indeed, the numbers may surprise you. Continue reading

April 22, 2021

Car Accidents Numbers in Tennessee for 2021 Are Ugly

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

To understand the breadth of the current problem, let’s first look at 2020. Despite fewer people being on the road due to the pandemic, 2020 saw an 8% increase in motor vehicle accidents (car, truck, motorcycles and buses). That 8% increase was the highest year-to-year jump in 96 years. But, it gets worse. In Tennessee, fatal accidents are up by an astonishing 21.5% for the first quarter of 2021. 356 fatal accidents have occurred on Tennessee roadways so far this year. At this time last year, there were only 209 according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. For more information on where these wrecks are happening and what age groups and types of vehicles are most involved, read on. Continue reading

April 14, 2021

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

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

At this point, I wonder if anyone really does not know that distracted driving is dangerous. The media has covered it, public service announcements have been done, police departments have increased enforcement, our State legislature has passed stricter laws about it. Yet, distracted driving continues to be on the rise. For some of us, we just can’t seem to give driving our full time and attention despite knowing the dangers. In fact, according to one study, Tennesseans are the worst in the nation when it comes to distracted driving with distracted driving in our State being five times the national average. Read on for more stats and what you can do to protect yourself from distracted driving. Continue reading

April 9, 2021

Tiger Woods Accident and “Black Box” Data

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

In a press conference earlier this week, the cause of Tiger Woods’ single car accident on February 23, 2021 was announced by police. The culprit: speed. As part of their investigation, police accessed the black box data or EDR data from Woods’ car and discovered Tiger Woods was driving 84 to 87 mph when he lost control of the vehicle. The speed limit was 45. Almost everyone has heard about black box data, but read on if you want to learn what data these devices record, how the data is extracted and the role EDRs can be play in car and truck accidents that result in injury or death. Continue reading

March 25, 2021

Tort Tidbits: Spinal Cord Injuries, Adaptive Cruise Control and Drowsy Driving

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

Tort law encompasses so many different areas; it is not just car and truck accidents. Essentially, if you were injured or a loved one was killed because of someone else’s mistake, that is almost certainly covered by tort law[1]. So, it includes dog bites, medical malpractice claims, construction accidents, defective products, drownings, golf cart accidents, etc. As a result, the news constantly has little tidbits that relate to our client’s cases and injuries. So, we have decided to collect these tidbits and from time to time publish a Tort Tidbits post. Today’s Tort Tidbits includes encouraging news for spinal cord injuries, a word of warning about adaptive cruise control and drowsy driving.

March 3, 2021

Spring Break Driving Tips

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

Middle Tennessee schools and many colleges are poised for spring break. As a result of the pandemic, more families are opting to drive to their destination this year. Even those that are not planning on taking a trip should be prepared to share the roads with those that are. Are you and your car ready? Do you know the most important things you can do to avoid being in a car accident?

Researchers at two Florida universities found that there are significantly more fatal accidents in the month of March at top vacation spots like Florida, California and Arizona. Of course, one of the first factors that comes to mind is drunk driving by college-aged students. To be sure, drinking and driving is dangerous but that is just one of many factors that leads to the increase in spring break car accidents. So, let’s review some of the steps you can take to reduce the chances that you are involved in a car accident:

February 26, 2021

Radical Listening

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

A recent New York Times article discussed how the health care industry was attempting to teach medical professionals the art of “radical listening”. What is radical listening? And why is it so important especially for professionals like doctors and lawyers. Continue reading