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
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.
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
It is the first Monday after daylight savings time. If you are like most people, you may have needed some more coffee to get through this morning and this afternoon. In a few days, our bodies make the adjustment to the loss of the hour but until then we are all at an increased risk of car crashes. Indeed, researchers looked at 21 years of car crash data and found the number of fatal car accidents on an average Monday is 78.2. On the Monday following “spring forward”, the average jumps to 83.5. So what can you do?
Do you like to stay up late binge-watching Netflix? Does your FOMO result in you getting only a few hours of sleep? Does work stress and anxiety leave you tossing and turning? If these things or anything else is keeping you from getting at least seven hours of sleep at night, you are putting yourself and others at risk on the roadway. Just how big is the problem and the risk, consider these statistics: Continue reading
In 2016, the United States had a record 161,374 accidental deaths. According to the National Safety Council, every three minutes someone dies from a preventable accident. And every second, an American is injured in a preventable accident. These figures include motor vehicle accidents, falls, drownings, drug overdoses, etc. Obviously, we can and must do better. Safety on our roads, in our homes and in our businesses must become as much as a priority as curing cancer and preventing heart disease (the other top three leading causes of death)
Here are some things you can do to protect yourself and your family: Continue reading
Should I Move Over?
We probably all have a long list of driving pet peeves from drivers who tailgate or don’t use their blinkers to drivers who aren’t paying attention when a light turns green so you have to honk to get them to go. My biggest driving pet peeve is drivers in the left lane on the interstate who are going slower than the rest of traffic. (There is a reason the left lane is called the fast lane!) Of course, this requires other drivers who are going faster to pass them on the right, which can be difficult to do safely depending upon the number of lanes and the amount of traffic. Feeling trapped, some drivers will become frustrated and angry and resort to risky driving maneuvers which can cause accidents or the drivers can develop road rage. Exactly what comprises road rage? Continue reading
Government regulations are often scorned and characterized as job killers, expensive and unnecessary. To be sure, there are some odd regulations on the books that deserve some derision (I am looking at you, T.C.A. 70-4-115, the Road Kill law). But generally, government regulations are a good thing for the public. For example, government regulations (via the EPA and FDA) have stopped the pollution of our nation’s water and air and have ensured we have access to safe and uncontaminated food and drugs. Right now, there are several government regulations in the transportation industry that are being rolled back or nixed that would offer substantial protection to the public. Here are a few: Continue reading
We went to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone for Fall Break. While walking in downtown Jackson, we noticed flags stuck in posts at intersections. The first time we saw them we thought they were related to some work being done on the wooden sidewalks. But as we continued to walk, we noticed they were at all the intersections in the busy shopping area. We then realized what they were for: pedestrian crossings. The Jackson Hole area does not have many street lights. Presumably, the community has made a decision to limit the amount of artificial light to offer better star-gazing and protect the natural beauty of the area. So to increase pedestrian visibility, the town has installed these bright neon orange flags at intersections for pedestrians to use while walking in the crosswalk. Once safely on the other side, the pedestrian simply places the flag in the available post. (Yes, that is John in the hat and Kate waving the flag — I was taking the picture)
In any line of work, there are always a few that embarrass the rest of the profession whether you are talking about lawyers, plumbers, car salesmen, contractors, teachers, accountants, etc. Unfortunately, some of the bad apples tend to come out after injury accidents, so here is what you need to know. Continue reading
Tennessee Injury Law Center