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
Tennessee School Zone Safety
Public schools in Middle Tennessee have been in session for a couple of weeks now. And, as of last week, Middle Tennessee private schools are back in session, so every weekday morning and afternoon there are going to be more pedestrians, bicyclists and school buses on our roadways. Now is a great time to refresh ourselves on school zone safety and the penalties for violations of school zone rules. This is especially true since in 2021 the number of pedestrians killed rose by 13% and the number of bicyclists who were killed increased by 5%. 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 Feel the Need, the Need for Speed
“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
New Technology to Improve Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian accidents continue to climb. In fact, pedestrian deaths are up 46% over the last decade compared to an increase of 5% for other traffic-related deaths. The root causes of pedestrian accidents continue to be the same but now there is new technology to help prevent and minimize pedestrian accidents. And, of course, there are things you can do to help too. 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
Car Accident Deaths Continue to Soar
Deaths related to car, truck and motorcycle accidents increased by 10.5% in 2021, the highest number of deaths on U.S. roadways in a single year since 2005. Unfortunately, the bad news does not end there. Pedestrian deaths increased by 13% with 7,342 pedestrians killed in a single year. Bicyclist deaths increased by 5% with 985 bicyclists losing their lives last year. Now for the better news, the federal government has taken two significant steps to try to reduce U.S. roadway deaths, and there are steps you can take too. Continue reading
The Problem with Advice
We all give advice. Whether you are a lawyer, teacher, parent, doctor, plumber, etc.., at some point, someone is going to ask for your advice. But here is the thing about the advice you seek: you do not know how good it is until you do the exact opposite.[1]
Why do people not follow advice? Well, some folks do not really want advice. They want permission. They are only asking as a way of confirming what they wanted to do in the first place. The other main reason people do not follow advice is because it is not easy. Having the discipline to do what you know you should do can be hard i.e., exercising, saving for retirement, studying for exams, etc. So, we thought we would give you some important legal advice that is easy to follow and, trust us, you won’t know how good it is unless you don’t follow it. Continue reading