Tennessee Injury Law Center

May 17, 2016

Dog bites: how to avoid being a statistic or a defendant in a lawsuit

This is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, so it is a great time to give you some advice on how not to be a dog bite statistic and how to avoid being sued if you, like us, are a dog owner.

First, let’s look at the numbers of this very real and common problem. About 4.5 million people are bitten or attacked by a dog each year in the United States. While some of the bites are not terribly serious, almost 900,000 of those dog bites will require medical attention. Each year, roughly 27,000 victims will require reconstructive surgery – not just stitches. And, while more rare, dog attacks can be deadly. The average dog bite claim costs $37,214.

So, let’s start with a few tips for how to avoid being the victim of a dog bite.

May 10, 2016

Ten Tips To Help Avoid Pedestrian Accidents

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

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security statistics, there were 1,579 pedestrian accidents last year. But, there were actually many more because the State’s statistics do not include pedestrian accidents that occurred on private property, which means parking lots (where lots of pedestrian accidents occur because of the unavoidable interaction between cars and pedestrians). For the first quarter of this year, there have already been 378 pedestrian accidents, so we thought we would share some tips to help avoid being a pedestrian accident statistic: Continue reading

April 25, 2016

A Driving Safety Tip You May Not Know

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

The summer driving season is just around the corner. Time for vacations, trips to summer camp and the like. Gas prices are expected to remain low. In fact, the federal government is expecting gas to be at its lowest since the summer of 2004. So, the roadways will likely be busy and, unfortunately, dangerous. Here are a few tips for making sure you and your family stay safe including one you might not know.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security offers licensed Tennessee drivers the ability to add emergency contacts to their driver’s license online. So, if you are involved in an accident, emergency workers can quickly contact your spouse, parents, legal representative, etc. If you are unconscious, this could save valuable time in a medical emergency as your contact could provide medical history, information on any medications you are taking, etc. In addition, not only will your loved ones be alerted to the emergency quicker but they can begin helping quicker. For instance, maybe at the time of the accident you were on your way to pick up your daughter from school, if your spouse is quickly alerted to the accident, he could get someone to your daughter promptly. The process is simple. Just go to www.dl.safety.tn.gov. The 7^th star on the page is a link for Manage Emergency Contacts. Click it, fill out the requested information and hit submit. Now, your emergency contacts are linked to your driver’s license number.
Register your vehicle and your tires with the manufacturer so that you are kept updated on any recalls. Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration oversaw a record number of recalls. If your vehicle and tires are not registered, the manufacturer cannot notify you directly. Vehicles and tires are only recalled if there is a safety defect or if they fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. So, recalls are serious business. At www.nhtsa.gov, you can search to see if there are any recalls affecting your vehicle, tires, child safety seats, etc. You can also sign up for safety alerts.

April 18, 2016

Fundamentals Win Games and Lawsuits

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

Almost any coach will tell you that fundamentals win games. While lawsuits are definitely not a game, they are about winning. So just as a good baseball coach will instruct you to field a grounder with your glove on the ground and your bare hand above the glove, we want to tell you four fundamentals you can do to help win your lawsuit. Continue reading

April 11, 2016

Pedestrian Accidents Are on the Rise in Middle Tennessee

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

At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we are definitely seeing more accidents involving pedestrians but we are not relying on just our own anecdotal evidence for this post. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is projecting, once all the data is in, that 2015 will have the largest year-to-year increase in pedestrian fatalities since national records have been kept. Pedestrians now account for about 15% of all motor vehicle crash-related deaths. So what is to blame for the national increase and what are the statistics for pedestrian accidents in Middle Tennessee? Continue reading

April 4, 2016

New Technology Could Prevent Retained Sponges During Surgery

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

Here is the scenario we often see: a patient goes in for a surgery. The surgery is successful but the patient continues to experience pain and other symptoms without any identifiable source. Often the patients are treated as though they are whiners or malingerers. Finally, at some point, the medical providers realize the source of the patient’s pain and problems: a surgical item has been left inside the patient during the surgery. Of course, this necessitates a second surgery with all the attendant risks, more medical bills and more pain and suffering. Think this is a rare occurrence? Think again. Continue reading

March 30, 2016

Unbelizable Facts About Driving in Belize

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

Over Spring Break, we were blessed to get to vacation in Belize. On our last day of vacation, we took a catamaran to Caye Caulker. While walking through the village, we noticed the island’s traffic laws posted on the wall. While Title 55 of the Tennessee Code dealing with motor and other vehicles has 53 Chapters, Caye Caulker on the other hand has a very limited set of regulations. Beyond requiring a license, registration and insurance, drivers are prohibited from driving on the airstrip runway, the beach, the football field and any unauthorized piers. The Tennessee Legislature might take a tip or two on brevity from the Caye Caulker Traffic Control Committee.

Some other interesting fact about driving in Belize: Continue reading

March 15, 2016

As Tay Tay says: “All You Are Ever Going To Be Is Mean”

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

I know you may think this article is about politics and it surely could be. The rhetoric in this election year has been meaner and uglier than I can remember. But, I am talking about lawyers. While mean is not the quality anyone is usually looking for in leaders, family or friends, contrary to a lot of folks popular belief, it is also not the quality you should be seeking in a lawyer. Let me explain. Continue reading

March 2, 2016

Jury Hits Johnson & Johnson with $72 Million Dollar Talcum Powder Verdict

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

In a nutshell, here is the case: Jacqueline Fox had used talcum powder for more than 35 years. After she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a pathologist found talc in Fox’s ovaries. Experts believe the talc caused inflammation, which led to cancer and Fox’s death. During a recent trial, a St. Louis jury awarded $72 million dollars to Fox’s family. Continue reading

February 25, 2016

If you see something, say something! (It’s the law)

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

I have been meaning to write about this for days but work and other matters have kept me too busy to do so. But in the days since I first heard about this, I can tell you my anger has not dissipated. Earlier this month, Newsweek ran the following headline on a story: “New Catholic Bishops Told They Don’t Have To Report Sexual Abuse to Police”. French Monsignor Tony Anatrella told bishops they do not have a duty to report abuse to the police because that is the responsibility of the victims and their families. Oh really? Let’s discuss this for a moment. Continue reading