Motorcycle Accidents

November 8, 2017

The Unfair Character Assassination of Government Regulations

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

November 2, 2017

Pedestrian Safety (Wyoming and Everywhere)

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

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)

October 17, 2017

A Few Bad Apples

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

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

September 27, 2017

Distracted Driving and Self-Driving Boats

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

As a driving community, we recognize distracted driving is dangerous and should be illegal, yet not only do we continue to do it but we also have the nerve to think we are good at it. A recent study by Progressive Insurance Company found that a majority of drivers believe distracted driving is the number one cause of car, truck and motorcycle accidents, 1/3 of drivers are still confident in their own ability to text and drive. Want to know who thinks they are best at it? Continue reading

July 20, 2017

Driving Under the Influence of Electronics

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

Sit at an intersection and watch the cars go by and notice how many drivers have a phone in their hand. Or, if you are a passenger in a car, watch the drivers of oncoming cars to see how many drivers are using their phones. Perhaps most frightening is to be a pedestrian and see just how many cars that are passing you are being operated by drivers using their phones. If you do any of these, the numbers below probably will not surprise you.

Roughly 3500 people are killed and nearly 400,000 are injured in car accidents involving distracted driving. 11 teens die every day because of distracted driving. A driver distracted by their cellphone is more dangerous than a driver with a BAC of .08. An accident is 23 times more likely to occur when the driver is distracted. From 2014 to 2015, there was a 32 percent increase in deaths attributed to distracted driving. And despite these statistics, drivers continue to text, take photos, surf social media and the internet and more while driving. Now, one State has decided to do something about it. Continue reading

June 1, 2017

Drugging and Driving

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

Here is a statistic that will make you uneasy: more fatal accidents are now being caused by drugged driving than drunk driving. Here are 15 facts you may not know about drugged driving:

May 18, 2017

Hit and Run Accidents: Do You Know What To Do?

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

According to a recent report in The Tennessean, Franklin police need help locating a driver who caused a deadly motorcycle accident last week on McEwen drive. According to witnesses, an unidentified Nolensville woman, age 50, changed lanes and knocked the motorcycle into a curb. The motorcyclist, who was thrown from his bike, was severely injured and later died at the scene. If you or a family member was involved in an accident with an unidentified driver who does not stop, you can still recover money for your losses if you have the right insurance and know what to do. Continue reading

March 14, 2017

DUIs Are Up Across the Country. What Is Your Risk in Tennessee?

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

In 2015, more than 10,000 people lost their lives and another 200,000 were injured in drunk driving related car accidents and another 200,000 were injured. In Tennessee, despite law enforcement making over 23,000 DUI arrests, drunk driving car accidents claimed 252 lives. How does Tennessee compare to other states? Continue reading

March 3, 2017

Protect Yourself: Driving Fatalities at their Highest Since 2007

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

Last year, 40,200 people lost their lives in car accidents. Think about that. 40,200 lives cut short. 40,200 funerals. 40,200 families mourning the loss of a loved one. For more perspective on that, the Chicago White Sox stadium holds 40,615 people, so we lost almost a stadium full of people to car accidents last year. The death toll represents a 6% increase over 2015 and a 14% increase over 2014. Experts attribute the rise in deaths to a number of factors and, of course, have offered suggestions to protect yourself. Continue reading

February 15, 2017

ATVs and Young Drivers: A Dangerous Combination

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

Jamie Lynn Spears’ daughter’s accident reminds us that all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) can be very dangerous for children. Spears’ 8-year old daughter’s ATV accidentally went into a pond on the property and the girl was trapped underwater for several minutes. Thankfully, the child appears to have escaped the incident without any neurological injuries.

Unfortunately, Spears’ accident is not uncommon. In 2015 alone, 58 children were killed and nearly 27,000 were injured in ATV accidents. So what age is the appropriate age for ATVS and what steps can be taken to prevent an ATV accident? Continue reading