Tomorrow is the first full day of classes for Metro Nashville schools. Williamson County and Rutherford County schools are already in full swing, and a host of private schools start classes next week. But, judging by recent statistics, drivers are the ones who need to go back to school. For example, in some areas, tickets issued for speeding in excess of 100 mph have more than doubled since the start of the pandemic. With more children in and around the roads, we all need to evaluate our driving practices. Here is what you can do to help: Continue reading
Tennessee Ranks 9th in the Nation in Street Racing
In Tennessee, for every 100,000 drivers, 10.19 engage in street or drag racing, and street racing is on the rise. In some areas of our State, police calls about street racing have more than doubled in two years. For example, in Memphis, in 2018, there were 843 calls about drag racing in 2018. In 2020, reported incidences of drag racing had jumped to 1,973. The Tennessee Legislature has recently enacted new legislation to combat this dangerous practice and we have some tips on what you can do. Continue reading
If Your Vehicle Has Certain Technology, You Now Have a Duty to Report Some Types of Crashes to the NHTSA
If you are operating your car, truck or SUV using technology that both helps you stay in your lane and adaptive cruise control or other Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), then a recent order by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires the vehicle’s operator and others to report certain crashes to the NHTSA. The purpose of this General Standing Order from the NHTSA is to more closely track advanced driver safety systems and the safety issues surrounding them. Read on to learn more about when the duty to report is implicated.
The Champlain Towers South Collapse – What If It Had Happened in Tennessee?
The rising death toll and enormous property loss arising from the collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium building near Miami, Florida will give rise to litigation. Families of those who die in the tragedy will file suit, hoping to find answers and obtain compensation for the loss of loved ones. Injured people will also take legal action, seeking money to pay medical bills, replace lost income, and lost property. The insurance companies who sold homeowner’s insurance to the condo owners will also file suit, seeking reimbursement of the losses they will pay to their insureds. Continue reading
Pedestrian and Cycling Deaths Hit 30 Year High
The bad news from 2020 does not seem to relent as evidenced by the recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) report on pedestrian and cyclist deaths. According to the NHTSA, in 2020, the United States had more pedestrian and cyclist deaths than any year since 1990. When you consider that most people drove substantially less in 2020, these numbers become even more alarming. In 2020, 6,238 pedestrians lost their lives, which equates to about 17 pedestrians per day. For bicyclists, the numbers were better but still terrible: 857 bicyclists lost their lives or roughly 2 per day. Read on to find what experts believe are the cause of the dramatic increase and what you can do to help. Continue reading
Car Accidents: Changes You Need to Know
Across the country and locally in Nashville, there is important news about car accidents. First, in 2020, deaths caused by car accidents rose 7.2% despite the fact that most Americans were driving less due to the pandemic. Second, in local news, Metro Police will no longer respond to some traffic accidents. Read on for more information on both of these issues and what you should do if you are in a car accident in Metro Nashville. Continue reading
Memorial Day Weekend – Nashville Is a Favorite Destination This Year
As we start to put the pandemic in our rearview mirror, travel for the holiday weekend is expected to be 60% greater than last year. According to AAA, 37 million Americans are expected to make a road trip for the holiday, and Nashville is the fifth most popular destination behind only Las Vegas, Orlando, Myrtle Beach and Denver. So whether you are staying home in Middle Tennessee or going somewhere to enjoy the holiday weekend, you can expect the roads in and around Nashville to be busy. Here are top 10 tips for staying safe and sane. Continue reading
Car Accidents and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The first awful moment is when you anticipate the accident – those seconds before the impact has happened but nothing can be done. Your heart and mind race and you brace. And then, the impact – tires squealing, horns honking, glass breaking, metal crunching, people yelling, sirens blaring and more. Unless you have been knocked unconscious, those moments after the impact are spent assessing the extent of any injuries for you and anyone with you. Other drivers rubberneck and gawk out of morbid curiosity. Medical treatment is given for the physical injuries. But for a surprising number of people, psychological injuries need treatment too. Did you know that car accidents are the leading cause of PTSD in the general population? Indeed, the numbers may surprise you. Continue reading
Summer Camp Season Is Almost Here. Are You Ready?
For public and private schools in Middle Tennessee, only a few weeks of the school year remain. At our house, Kate Day can’t wait for summer because it means she will spend two weeks at her happy place – summer camp in the mountains of North Carolina. Whether you are just considering a summer camp for your child or if you have already booked one, we have some legal advice for you and some important questions that are never too late to ask. Continue reading
Car Accidents Numbers in Tennessee for 2021 Are Ugly
To understand the breadth of the current problem, let’s first look at 2020. Despite fewer people being on the road due to the pandemic, 2020 saw an 8% increase in motor vehicle accidents (car, truck, motorcycles and buses). That 8% increase was the highest year-to-year jump in 96 years. But, it gets worse. In Tennessee, fatal accidents are up by an astonishing 21.5% for the first quarter of 2021. 356 fatal accidents have occurred on Tennessee roadways so far this year. At this time last year, there were only 209 according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. For more information on where these wrecks are happening and what age groups and types of vehicles are most involved, read on. Continue reading