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
Articles Posted in Motorcycle Accidents
Technology Helps Truck Accident Victims
According to recent data, in just a single year, 4,282 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents, a 33% increase since 2011. Another 107,000 trucks were involved in injury accidents. (These statistics include trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds) Not surprisingly, trucking companies and their insurance companies are looking for ways to reduce the number of accidents involving their fleets of trucks. Improved technology in the cab with drivers is helping safety managers monitor their drivers more closely in an effort to improve safety on our roadways. And this technology could be useful to injury victims who are involved in accidents with large trucks. Continue reading
Accidents with Self-Driving Cars
Self-driving cars are not really “self-driving.” Instead, manufacturers warn drivers of autonomous vehicles that they must remain in control of the vehicle. For instance, Tesla states: “keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times” and to always “maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle.” ProPILOT (Nissan/Infiniti) and SuperCruise (GM) focus on the fact that those programs are an assistance feature and not a substitute for a human driver. And yet, a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that 53% of SuperCruise, 42% of Autopilot (Tesla) and 12% of ProPILOT said they were “comfortable treating their vehicles as fully self-driving”. Perhaps not surprisingly, in the event of an accident, drivers using a self-driving vehicle could face legal trouble – both criminal and civil. If you have a self-driving vehicle or you have been injured in an accident with one, read on for the latest.
Road Rage Is Raging Out of Control
Have you heard about these recent road rage incidences in Tennessee? Four days ago, a man was shot in the hip in a road rage incident on I-24 in Nashville. On October 18th, a man in Sevierville got out of his car and started punching another driver and was then shot. On September 18th, a man was killed and children were injured in a car accident caused by road rage. A month earlier, in a Chattanooga road rage incident, a man followed a woman and her son home and has now been charged with assault, vandalism and disorderly conduct. And these are just the ones that made the news! Road rage problems are plaguing our roads and police are ramping up enforcement in an effort to curtail it. But do you know what to do to help prevent road rage and how to protect yourself if it occurs? Continue reading
Technology and Car Accidents
Lane departure warnings, blind spot alerts, back-up cameras, and automatic emergency braking are just some of the more recent accident-avoidance technology that has become prevalent in new cars and trucks. Today, we want to tell you about some technology that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending in order to combat drunk driving and the crash detection technology in the new iPhone 14 that is creating some headaches for emergency dispatchers. Continue reading
Labor Day Safety Advice
Did you know that Labor Day is one of the most dangerous days to be on the road? It is second only to Memorial Day. On average, traffic deaths spike 37% on Labor Day weekend. In fact, for the most recent data year (2019), 433 people were killed on Labor Day weekend and thousands more were injured. So here are a few simple steps you can take to stay safe this holiday weekend.
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
Road Rage in Tennessee
Here is a statistic that is both tragic and embarrassing for our State: Tennessee has the 3rd most road rage shootings in the nation. A recent study found that in 2020 three people were killed and 25 injured in roadway gun violence. In 2021, five people were killed and 2021 injured in road rage shootings. Of course, these numbers do not reflect the number of accidents caused by road rage or the road rage incidences that resulted in physical violence with things like bats, knifes, bear spray (yes, bear spray), vehicles and objects other than guns. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of road rage, the civil and criminal penalties for road rage and how to avoid being a victim. Continue reading
I Want a Lawyer and a Sandwich. Oh, and I Want to Update My Facebook Status
It is fascinating to see what some people search for on the internet. “I want a lawyer and a sandwich” is commonly searched because of a popular line in the 2011 movie titled Blitz. A sassy criminal suspect delivers the line in response to being placed in police custody. Of course, most internet searches focus on more routine and basic legal issues such as “When do I need a lawyer for a car accident?” and “How do I hire a lawyer with no money?” and “Can anyone be your lawyer?” We have rounded up some of the most common questions and answered them. Read on. Continue reading
Legal Answers to Common Motorcycle Accident Questions
World Motorcycle Day is June 21st. As a hat-tip to all the motorcycle enthusiasts, we have decided to round up some commonly asked questions related to Tennessee motorcycle accidents. Read on if your inquiring mind wants to know. Continue reading