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July 3, 2024

The 5th of July

The 4th of July is almost here and the majority of people have some type of plans to celebrate Independence Day. Of course, those plans do not include a car accident, but because folks are heading to the mountains, the lake, a friend’s backyard BBQ or to watch a parade, etc., the roadways are expected to be very busy and dangerous. In fact, while the 4th of July is usually the peak of summer travel, this year is expected to be a recording setting weekend. Based on statistics from prior years, The National Safety Council estimates 599 people will lose their lives in car accidents over the 4th of July holiday and another 68,000 will be injured. Here are some tips for staying safe on the roads this holiday and living to enjoy the 5th of July. Continue reading

August 1, 2022

I Feel the Need, the Need for Speed

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

“I feel the need, the need for speed” is one of the most quotable lines from the original Top Gun movie. But when you consider the statistics and facts about speeding, speed is not needed on Tennessee roadways. In fact, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a new safety campaign about speeding because 11,258 people were killed in 2020 (the most recent complete and analyzed data year) because of speeding, which was a 17% increase over the prior year. In addition to the statistics, let’s look at whether speeding really saves time, when speeding rises to the level of reckless driving and other downsides of speeding including the points on your license. Continue reading

April 8, 2020

Smiles, Encouragement and Tips – Week 3

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

Time for a mid-week boost. We are back with some more legal tips and good news. First, we have a new give-away going on our Facebook page. All you have to do is upload a picture of you fur baby to be entered to win one of three $50 VISA gift cards to be given away on Friday, April 10, 2020. We have loved doing these fun quarantine give-aways to help folks with groceries or take-out dinner from a local restaurant. Now, on to some legal tips and more good news. Continue reading

March 8, 2018

What We Do

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

Last week, John and I were in Arizona for a meeting of the American College of Trial Lawyers. We were fortunate to get to hear a number of great speakers including FBI Director Christopher Wray who left us all assured the Bureau was in good hands, and Professor Goodwin who opened our eyes to the collateral damage of the so-called War on Drugs. But the two speakers we enjoyed most were: John Q. Barrett, the author of Justice Robert H. Jackson, Trial Lawyer at Nuremburg and Jason Schechterle, a retired Arizona police officer who was horribly burned from an on-duty accident but displayed a resilience and optimism that few can imagine let alone embrace. While these two speakers and their topics were incredibly different, both had a similar underlying message: the work that trial lawyers do is incredibly important Continue reading

January 9, 2017

Seven Questions You Should Ask Your Insurance Agent

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

At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we deal with insurance policies and insurance companies every single day. Unfortunately, all too often we see clients who declined uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or bought too low a limits for their circumstances simply because the right questions were not asked of their agent. So start the New Year off right by taking a few minutes to talk to your agent about your coverage so that you get the best premium possible and so you are adequately protected in the event of an accident. Below are some of the questions you should ask:

What optional coverage is available? At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we believe the most important optional coverage is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. (If you are unfamiliar with this type of coverage and how it works, go to the side bar on the right and just type in uninsured motorist in the Search function. You will be taken to a number of articles on the subject). From our experience with our clients, most people decline this coverage because they think it will be too expensive. Talk to your agent. We think you will find it is inexpensive especially when you consider 1 in 5 drivers in Tennessee are uninsured. This coverage could mean all the difference if you are involved in an accident with one of those drivers.
How will an accident affect my policy? Now some insurance companies are offering “accident forgiveness” and other similar benefits for their insureds. Discuss how an accident may affect your premium and/or even cancellation of the policy. This is especially important if you have teen drivers who tend to have more fender benders.

December 22, 2016

Dos And Don’ts If You Know Someone Who Is Injured or Suffering Through a Loss During the Holidays (or really anytime)

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

For most folks, the holidays are a happy time filled with laughter, family, friends and fun. But for those who are injured or who have lost a loved one, the holidays can be an especially painful time. Their present situation contrasted with the version of how things used to be can make the holidays nearly unbearable. If you know of someone who is injured or who is grieving the loss of a loved one, here are some suggestions on how to help.

Acknowledge their loss whether it is in the form of an injury or a death. Simply having the supportive presence of friends and family can make a huge difference.
Take them a meal. This is a gesture that promotes physical and emotional well-being. It does not have to be anything fancy. In fact, comfort food is king in these situations and will let that person and their family know they are thought of and loved.

November 22, 2016

Chattanooga Bus Crash Incident – Update

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

The Tennessean reports that the it is not the City of Chattanooga, the school district, or Hamilton County that owns the bus involved in the Chattanooga crash but rather a private company out of Illinois.

It that is correct, the cap on damages applicable to governmental entities discussed in my previous post will not apply and general Tennessee damages law will be applicable.

There are artificial limits on damages that may be awarded by a judge or jury in personal injury and wrongful death cases but they are not by any means as limiting as those against governmental entities.

November 12, 2015

How Much Should I Settle My Injury Case For?

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

This really is the big question, isn’t it? On Avvo, you see it asked a lot by folks who are trying to handle their case without a lawyer. And at The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we get asked this question, or some variation of it, almost every single day by clients who call in for a free initial consultation. And, believe it or not, other lawyers often ask us this question when they are trying to handle an injury or death case even though that is not their normal area of the law. So what is the answer? Continue reading

August 25, 2015

Pina Coladas and Ashley Madison

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

Remember the old song? Escape by Rupert Holmes. The guy is lounging in bed with his significant other and reading the personal columns. He notices one that catches his eye and, because he is in a rut in his relationship, he responds. A meeting is set up, and when he shows up at the appointed time, it turns out that it was his girlfriend who he intended to cheat on had actually placed the ad. She appears at the rendezvous not knowing it was her lover who had responded and is equally, but happily, surprised: “they laugh for a moment and I said I never knew that you like Pina coladas and getting caught in the rain . . .” A happy ending; all is well.

Today, most folks looking to cheat in their relationship apparently don’t use the personal columns but instead 32 million of them turned to Ashley Madison. And after the hack of the company’s website, spouses around the globe are checking to see if their spouse was a user of the site. Doubtful there will be any happy endings. In fact, divorce lawyers are seeing an uptick in business. Continue reading

August 17, 2015

Five Simple Steps to Keeping Children Safe This School Year

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

School is officially underway. In Williamson County, today was the first full day for kindergarteners. In surrounding area schools, it is the first day of school for students. Time to be on the lookout for the littles as they wait at the bus stop, enter and exit the bus and walk to and from school. Here are a few things you can do to help keep children safe this school year. Continue reading