Let’s face it, the pandemic is leaving an indelible mark on almost everything, so there is no reason to believe jury awards in injury and death cases will be any different. Jury and trial consulting firms have been conducting surveys since the inception of the pandemic and they have some theories on how the pandemic will affect the amount of jury awards, how it will impact medical malpractice cases and whether it will generally be better for the defendant or the injury victim.
Last week, news outlets reported road rage was likely the reason for the December murder of Nashville nurse, Caitlyn Kaufman who was shot and killed while driving to work. According to court testimony, the shooter was angry with Ms. Kaufman because she allegedly cut him off. This story is so tragic but unbelievably the use of a firearm is fairly common in road rage incidences (37% of them) even if the firearm is just brandished. In most instances, a perceived or actual slight on the road boils over into road rage due to a driver’s stress in other areas of life. Unfortunately, most of us are under stress right now due to the pandemic so, now more than ever, we need to be aware of what are the most common triggers of road rage, how to avoid them and what to do if you are involved in a road rage incident.
2019 had been the deadliest year on record for pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in Nashville with 32 people killed. And then, of course, 2020 was worse. In 2020, Nashville had 37 pedestrian and bicyclist deaths. In response, Metro Nashville has adopted some programs to help. Metro’s Traffic Calming Program and Vision Zero program are being used to improve safety, and one big step is reducing speed limits on our roadways. Continue reading
In Tennessee, this unfortunately happens a lot. Tennessee is sixth worst in the nation for uninsured drivers. The next time you are out driving, consider this: one in every five vehicles you meet does not have insurance. Of course, this is why we are constantly encouraging people to buy uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. But today, we want to look at what happens if you drive without insurance in Tennessee and whether someone who does not have insurance can still pursue a personal injury case. Continue reading
As I type the title to his blog post, I am reminded of Seth Godin’s comment that resolutions do not work but habits and systems do, so maybe the title should be: New Year’s Legal Habits. In essence, it boils down to the difference between writing something down on paper vs. actually doing what you have written down on paper. One is much harder than the other and then, of course, you must first know what you should be doing, so we thought we would help with that part, at least for the legal side of things. You can decide for yourself if you want to lose weight, write the great American novel or learn how to make fresh pasta.
While doing some cleaning out last weekend, we came across this old Peanuts book titled: Security is a Thumb and a Blanket. 2020 has certainly caused many of us to long for more security whether it be in our economic situation, our health, our relationships, etc. If only a thumb and a blanket could keep us from danger or threat. As we flipped through the book, we saw the above photo. It is a great reminder of the importance of choosing the right team. If you think you or a loved one might need an injury attorney, read on to learn more about how to pick the right one for you – even if it is not us. Continue reading
Another 709,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment benefits last week and millions remain unemployed. And for others, they have kept their jobs but have been forced to accept pay cuts and other reductions in benefits. Needless to say, the pandemic has caused chaos for many families’ budgets. Of course, if you have less money coming in, the natural reaction is to look for ways to save money. When the car insurance bill arrives in the mailbox, many people wonder about simply not paying it or slashing coverage. So, we wanted to offer some advice on these issues and remind you what is required under the law and, most likely, under your car loan or lease agreement. Continue reading
Today, October 26th, is National Tennessee Day. We did not even know there was such a thing, but we did know that it is still National Pedestrian Safety Month and in five days we will be celebrating Halloween and lots of pedestrians will be out and about. Right now, there is so much we can’t control (the pandemic, the election, our self-control around Halloween candy, etc.), but we can control some things to help ensure the safety of all those trick-or-treaters on Saturday. Take a minute and refresh yourself on these Halloween safety tips. Continue reading
No matter where you live or your typical form of transportation, we are all pedestrians. When you get out of your car to walk through the parking lot to go into Target, you are a pedestrian. When you walk your dog through your neighborhood, you are a pedestrian. Your children or grandchildren are pedestrians when they get off the school bus. As such, pedestrian safety should be important to all of us, which is why the federal government has designated October as National Pedestrian Safety Month. Here are some important facts and safety tips you should know. Also, if you are the victim of a pedestrian accident, we have one piece of information that could mean the difference between you receiving compensation or not. Continue reading
Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death for children, and this week is Child Passenger Safety Week to try and raise awareness about how to prevent child passenger injuries and deaths. When used properly, car safety seats can reduce the risk of death by 70% in infants under 1 year of age and 54% in children in the 1 to 4 age range. So if you are a parent, grandparent, nanny, babysitter or have any reason to be driving children around, take a minute and review these important safety tips. Continue reading
Tennessee Injury Law Center