Death Cases

November 12, 2021

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

October 20, 2021

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month

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

Whether you live in downtown Nashville or out in the country, we are all pedestrians. For example, when you drive to the grocery store or to the football game and you get out of your car to walk into the store or to the stadium, you are a pedestrian. So pedestrian safety impacts each one of us. Nationwide, a pedestrian is killed every hour and a half. In Tennessee, crashes involving pedestrians are increasing. And more locally, last year, Nashville alone had its worst year of pedestrian deaths with 39 and is on pace to surpass that horrible mark this year. Do you know Tennessee law with respect to pedestrians? Read on for a refresher and for tips on staying safe. Continue reading

October 12, 2021

Another Reason Not to Drive Distracted: Voided Insurance Coverage

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

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

September 17, 2021

A Safe Ride Home from The Law Offices of John Day and MTSU

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

The first person ever arrested for drunk driving was a man named George Smith. According to the History Channel, on September 10, 1897, Mr. Smith, a young taxi driver, got drunk and then drove his taxi into a building. 124 years and 6 days later, drunk driving continues to be a problem on roadways. That is why The Law Offices of John Day continues to offer safe ride homes, and we are excited about our current free rideshare program with Middle Tennessee State University. Continue reading

August 31, 2021

Labor Day: A Dangerous Time To Be On The Road

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

Labor Day is typically viewed as summer’s last hurrah. To celebrate the holiday weekend this year, 42.9 million people are expected to take a road trip. So maybe it is not surprising that Labor Day is the second deadliest holiday weekend in the United States. Read on to find out what day and time-period of the holiday weekend is the most dangerous to drive and tips on how to stay safe. Continue reading

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers, Indeed

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

Since 1983, Best Lawyers has recognized the top 6% of private practicing attorneys as decided by other lawyers in a peer-review process. Permit us to toot our horn for a moment and then explain why injury victims should care about whether their lawyer is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

This year, the attorneys at The Law Offices of John Day garnered the following recognition from Best Lawyers: Continue reading

August 9, 2021

Back To School – For Drivers

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

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

July 19, 2021

Tennessee Ranks 9th in the Nation in Street Racing

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

In Tennessee, for every 100,000 drivers, 10.19 engage in street or drag racing, and street racing is on the rise. In some areas of our State, police calls about street racing have more than doubled in two years. For example, in Memphis, in 2018, there were 843 calls about drag racing in 2018. In 2020, reported incidences of drag racing had jumped to 1,973. The Tennessee Legislature has recently enacted new legislation to combat this dangerous practice and we have some tips on what you can do. Continue reading

July 12, 2021

If Your Vehicle Has Certain Technology, You Now Have a Duty to Report Some Types of Crashes to the NHTSA

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

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.

June 28, 2021

The Champlain Towers South Collapse – What If It Had Happened in Tennessee?

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

The rising death toll and enormous property loss arising from the collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium building near Miami, Florida will give rise to litigation. Families of those who die in the tragedy will file suit, hoping to find answers and obtain compensation for the loss of loved ones. Injured people will also take legal action, seeking money to pay medical bills, replace lost income, and lost property. The insurance companies who sold homeowner’s insurance to the condo owners will also file suit, seeking reimbursement of the losses they will pay to their insureds. Continue reading