Drivers are using their cellphones during 58% of trips taken, an 8% increase from just 3 years ago. Just as alarming, the amount of time drivers are interacting with their phones while driving increase by 23% during that same time period. In 2020, drivers would interact with their phone while driving for 1 minute and 47 seconds. A recent report indicates that has now increased to 2 minutes and 12 seconds. Not surprisingly, all of this distracted driving is literally killing people. Accidents involving cars, bicycles and pedestrians are all up because distracted drivers are 2.4 times more likely to cause a crash. Read on for more scary statistics and tips to protect yourself. Continue reading
Articles Posted in Insurance
The South: A Dangerous Place to Drive
Perhaps, too many of us watched an excessive number of Smoky & The Bandit reruns or thought Ricky Bobby of Talladega Nights should be used for driving inspiration. We don’t know the cause, but we do know this: the South is a dangerous place to drive. In fact, according to recently released federal statistics, 8 of the top 11 most dangerous places to drive are “southern states”, as that term is defined by the U.S. Census as opposed to the teams currently comprising The SEC. Read on to learn where Tennessee is ranked and our number one piece of advice on protecting yourself. Continue reading
Answers to Common Dog Bite and Dog Attack Questions
Our award-winning lawyers see a steady flow of dog bite and dog attack cases. Unfortunately, sometimes man’s best friend is a menace. While we have a lot of information on our website (links to pages below), here are some quick answers to other common questions:
- Can dog bites be stitched?
This depends upon the damage done by the dog bite. If it is a deep puncture wound, medical professionals may decide to leave the wound unstitched. Placement of drain and antibiotics may be the preferred course of treatment. Other wounds will need to be stitched. The best course of action for anyone who has sustained a dog bite is to seek medical attention and follow the advice of medical professionals.
Scary Statistics on Car Accidents and How to Protect Yourself
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released its report on accidents involving cars, trucks, pedestrians and cyclists for 2021 (the most recently analyzed data) and the numbers are alarming. So, let’s just get right to them. More Americans were killed on our roadways in 2021 than any year since 2005 – 42,915 people lost their lives. Another 4.5 million people were injured and 23 million vehicles were damaged. 7,342 pedestrians were killed in 2021, the biggest number since 1981. 985 cyclists were killed, the biggest number since 1980. What is causing this increase in car, pedestrian and bicyclists accidents? What are the financial costs? And how can you protect yourself from this growing trend? Continue reading
“We’re Not the Suing Family”
Kristen Chenoweth, the Emmy and Tony winning actress, has a new book out, and this week she has been giving interviews to promote it. In the interviews, she has talked at length about the serious injuries she sustained in an accident on the set of the television show “The Good Wife.” Lighting equipment on the set fell and hit her causing a fractured skull, a fractured rib and nose, broken teeth and other long-lasting injuries. Chenoweth’s Dad counseled her to get legal representation. She did not. She now regrets it. Here are some things you should think about if you are hurt in an accident and are reluctant to seek legal representation. Continue reading
Some Easy New Year’s Resolutions
Well, here we are – the second week of January. How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Or as some people refer to them: casual promises I make to myself but I am under no legal obligation to fulfill. If you are struggling with your resolutions, you are in good company. Twenty-five percent of resolutions fail within the first week and the overwhelming majority fail within the first month. For this reason, every January, we like to give people some resolutions that are easy to keep and can make a huge difference in your life. More good news: these three can be done together! Continue reading
‘Tis the Season
It is the time for holiday shopping, cards and parties. Unfortunately, it is also the time for holiday drinking and driving. December is a National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. According to a recent survey, 26 million people over age 16 admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs during the past year. The largest percentage were drivers age 20 to 25 years old. The consequences are staggering. Drunk driving costs approximately 10,000 lives each and every year and injures even more. So as the holiday season enters full swing, and in honor of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, here are some reminders about how to stay safe on the roads while still enjoying the festivities. Continue reading
Advice About Teenage Drivers
At the Day household, we have a new driver. Our youngest daughter, Kate, got her learner’s permit a few weeks ago. While we have gone through this phase with the two older kids, it has been a while so we are once again reminded of all the issues surrounding teenage drivers. If you have teenage drivers now or will have them in the near future, this post is for you. For the rest of you, read on to learn what to do if you are involved in an accident with a teenage driver. Continue reading
Animals and Accidents: What You Need to Know
We all know that animals can cause all types of accidents including car and motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, trips and falls, etc. We also know that animals can be hurt or killed in accidents and by other animals. But there are so many questions from these two basic facts. For example, does auto insurance cover pet injuries? Do I have to report an accident involving an animal? If a neighbor’s dog kills my dog, how much can I recover? If my dog bites someone, is it covered under my homeowner’s policy. Read on for quick answers to common questions surrounding animals and accidents: Continue reading
April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
The reality is that, by this point, everyone knows you should not drive distracted. So maybe it is not more awareness we need, but more action. But just like losing 10 lbs. or learning a new language, it can be difficult for some people to find the discipline to actually stop driving while distracted. In fact, Americans seem to be doing worse instead of better. Recent studies show distracted driving has actually increased nearly 30% since the start of the pandemic. So what can you do? Continue reading