On this day in 1904, Henry Ford set a land-speed record of 91.37 miles per hour in Michigan. A lot has changed since then. Ninety-one miles per hour is hardly a record. In Nashville, you can find folks doing that speed during rush hour on Interstate 65. But like so many of our decisions and actions, drivers that speed are not just placing themselves at risk but others on the road as well. Do you know how many accidents were caused by speeding last year? More importantly, how do you keep you and your loved ones safe on the roadway? Continue reading
Articles Posted in Bus Accidents
Bad Accidents and Good Fortune
Last week, author Seth Godin wrote a blog post about good and bad accidents and, to be honest, we keep thinking about it. Perhaps Seth’s article has stuck with us because at the Law Offices of John Day, our award-winning lawyers see bad accidents and their lasting aftermath every single day. Quite frankly, it can get you down. Needless injuries and deaths caused by carelessness can be hard to stomach day in and day out. So what keeps us going? Good fortune. Or as Seth put it, good accidents. In follow-up to Thanksgiving, we thought we would share some with you. Continue reading
Deadly Car Accidents Increase Significantly in First Six Months of 2021
Two weeks ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released the statistics for fatal traffic accidents for January through June of 2021, and the numbers are depressing. More than 20,000 people lost their lives in the first half of 2021, an increase of 18.4%. Of course, 2020 saw major changes in driving behaviors, but the jump can’t simply be chalked up to the decrease in driving in 2020. Why? Because the first half of 2021 is the largest number of fatalities from January to June since 2006. The NHTSA has also reached some conclusions as to what is causing so many car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian accidents and what drivers can do to protect themselves and others on the road. Continue reading
National Use Your Common Sense Day
November 4, 2021 is National Use Your Common Sense Day. Yes, we are serious. Our only problem with this particular national observance is that it is limited to only a day. Quite frankly, and I think most of you will agree, it should be Use Your Common Sense Day every single day. At the Law Offices of John Day, we see the results of failing to use common sense so we have some suggestions on where people might want to concentrate their efforts. We encourage you to join us in our little rant and add your lack-of-common-sense pet peeve in the comments. So here we go, this is our list: Continue reading
Another Reason Not to Drive Distracted: Voided Insurance Coverage
An insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurance company. At its most basic, you agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay certain claims. For instance, in an Accidental Death policy, the insurance company agrees to pay benefits to the designated beneficiary in the event the insured dies in an accidental manner such as a car accident. Again, that seems relatively straight-forward. And if that were the only sentence in the policy it would be very simple. But anyone who has ever purchased insurance knows, insurance contracts are long, complex and filled with exceptions or exclusions. And texting and driving may be an exclusion that could void the insurance coverage for which you have been paying, maybe for years or decades. Let us explain. Continue reading
Back To School – For Drivers
Tomorrow is the first full day of classes for Metro Nashville schools. Williamson County and Rutherford County schools are already in full swing, and a host of private schools start classes next week. But, judging by recent statistics, drivers are the ones who need to go back to school. For example, in some areas, tickets issued for speeding in excess of 100 mph have more than doubled since the start of the pandemic. With more children in and around the roads, we all need to evaluate our driving practices. Here is what you can do to help: Continue reading
If Your Vehicle Has Certain Technology, You Now Have a Duty to Report Some Types of Crashes to the NHTSA
If you are operating your car, truck or SUV using technology that both helps you stay in your lane and adaptive cruise control or other Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), then a recent order by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires the vehicle’s operator and others to report certain crashes to the NHTSA. The purpose of this General Standing Order from the NHTSA is to more closely track advanced driver safety systems and the safety issues surrounding them. Read on to learn more about when the duty to report is implicated.
Car Accidents: Changes You Need to Know
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
Memorial Day Weekend – Nashville Is a Favorite Destination This Year
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
Car Accidents and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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