Tennessee Injury Law Center

August 27, 2019

Dos and Don’ts of Labor Day

Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day. No, you should not celebrate the holiday without knowing its origins. (Following the bloody Pullman strike and other labor strife, Labor Day was created by the federal government in 1894 as a recognition of the American worker’s contribution to this country’s prosperity). Yes, you should be especially careful while driving this weekend. Labor Day is the second most dangerous weekend to drive – only Memorial Day weekend is more dangerous. Read on for more safety dos and don’ts of Labor Day:

Yes, you can still drink rose and fruity beer. No, you absolutely should not drink and drive. Alcohol-related car accidents spike during the holiday weekend. Call a ride-sharing service or a taxi. Use a designated driver or stay overnight but do not place yourself or anyone else at risk of an accident. And if you see a vehicle being operated erratically, keep your distance if possible and contact police.
Yes, you can take a road trip to the mountains, river, lake or anywhere else but be sure to use your seatbelt as it could save your life. Each year, seatbelts save almost 15,000 lives and experts estimate another 2,500 or more could be saved if everyone wore one.

August 6, 2019

Back to School: Take Our Driving Quiz

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

Davidson County, Rutherford County and other area schools are already back in session, Williamson County schools start this Friday and a number of private schools start next week. Hopefully, everyone has done their summer reading and is ready. Drivers also need to be ready especially since there have been some changes in Tennessee law. Take our true or false quiz below to find out if you are an A+ driver. Continue reading

July 25, 2019

Jet Ski Accidents

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

John Day loves his jet ski. At sunrise on almost any Saturday or Sunday for the last fifteen years, he has been out on to the water for an hour and a half ride. I have long asserted that, as a result of all that time on the jet ski, John could be blindfolded and dropped at any place on Tims Ford Lake and he could drive straight home as he knows every nook and cranny of the 11,000 acres and 240 miles of shoreline of that lake. Needless to say, after all those years, John is an experienced rider but even experienced riders, and certainly inexperienced ones, should know these facts: Continue reading

July 16, 2019

Tennessee’s Driving Report Card

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

I know, it is summer and we should not be talking report cards. But, Allstate is out with its driving report card in which the 200 largest cities across the country are ranked based on their driving safety record. The report considers things such as claim history and the number of hard braking incidents for every 1000 miles. This year, Allstate has also identified the 15 riskiest roads based on number of accidents. So did any Tennessee cities or roads make the list? Read on to find out. Continue reading

July 12, 2019

Tractor-Trailer Accidents Are on the Rise Yet Trucking Industry Seeks to Roll Back Safety Regulations

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

Tractor-trailer accidents are on the rise — up 10% from last year. Despite the increase in deadly crashes (there were 4,657 fatal truck accidents in the last stat year) the federal government is moving to relax safety regulations and delay the implementation of other new safety regulations. One key safety provision at risk could result in our roadways becoming a lot more dangerous. Continue reading

July 2, 2019

4th of July: The Most Dangerous Day to Drive

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

For most Americans, the 4^th of July means a day off from work filled with cookouts, the pool or lake, family, friends and fireworks. Unfortunately, it also means the day with the highest number of fatal roadway accidents. Yes, the 4th of July is deadlier than New Year’s Day or any other holiday. If you plan to be on the roadways this 4^th of July, please follow these five important safety tips: Continue reading

June 24, 2019

New Tennessee cellphone law effective July 1st

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

You probably have seen them – the bumper stickers, sometimes profanity-laced, urging drivers to put down the dang phone and drive. On July 1^st,if you don’t put down the dang or %#@$ phone, you could be talking to a police officer. Continue reading

June 19, 2019

Five Important Safety Tips to Keep Your Family Safe on Tennessee Lakes and Rivers

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

We love being on the water. On a typical weekend morning, John is on his jet ski at sunrise ready to cruise every nook and cranny of Tims Ford Lake. The day continues with several boat rides during the day, maybe pulling a knee boarder or a skier, and we usually wrap up with a short evening cruise after dinner. And while we love the water, we also respect it. Joy’s grandfather drowned in a boating accident and every year Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has to deal with accidents and tragedies. In fact, over Memorial Day weekend, TWRA made 21 boating under the influence arrests, worked five injury accidents and six property damage accidents, and two teens have already drowned on Middle Tennessee lakes this summer. Here are the top 5 things you should and should not do while on the water.

June 14, 2019

Share the Road on June 17th (and everyday)

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

June 17^th is the 28^th Annual National Ride to Work Day. Bicyclists, scooter riders and motorcyclists are encouraged to ride to work to help raise awareness about all the positive aspects of two-wheel transportation such as the health benefits (at least for bicyclists) fewer emissions, less space needed on roadway and for parking, etc.

Unfortunately though, commuters on two wheels face greater dangers than those in cars and trucks because they are not as protected in the event of a crash. In 2017, more than 5,000 motorcyclists were killed and over 700 bicyclists. As a car or truck driver, do you know your obligations to bicyclists, motorcyclists and scooter riders on Tennessee roadways? Continue reading

June 6, 2019

Accountability v. Responsibility

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

In a recent blog post, Seth Godin wrote: “Accountability is done to you by the industrial system, by those that want to create blame. Responsibility is done by you. It’s voluntary. You can take as much of it as you want.” Seth Godin is a marketing guru and I enjoy his blog. As it relates to the legal field and the work of the lawyers at the Law Offices of John Day, I would change this post slightly: Accountability is done to you; when you do not take responsibility. Here is why I say that. Continue reading