Teen Driver Dies

According to local news reports an 18-year-old Cookeville teenager was killed in a traffic crash on the Gainesboro Grade in Jackson County on Wednesday afternoon. Three passengers, a 39-year-old woman, an 80-year-old man, and a 57-year-old woman, all of Gainesboro, Tennessee were injured.

The facts of the accident are confusing, at best. It appears that the teen driver was driving westbound in the eastbound lane and crashed head-on into an oncoming van. The driver was not wearing his seatbelt. The three people in the van were all injured but the report doesn’t describe their injuries.

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney, I’ll have to say, I’m confused and have lots of questions. The main question is why was the young driver in the wrong lane, followed by why he was not wearing his seatbelt. I’ll keep up with this story and try to gather more facts. Was he passing another car? Was he somehow incapacitated by a medical problem? Was he distracted in some way?

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Nashville automobile accident contact the experienced Tennessee auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation. Call 615-356-2000.

Teach Teens The Danger Of Distractions

Over the last several Blogs at “The Tennessee Auto Accident Attorney” we have talked about younger drivers and the hazards they face as the travel the highways and byways of Tennessee. As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney, I regularly speak to parents of teen drivers, and on every occasion I remind them that simply telling their children to act in a safe manner when they are behind the wheel, it is the duty of the parents to teach them by example.

I also share some sobering statistics. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities, accounting for 38% of all teen deaths in the United States. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

Reference a fatal accident in Bristol, Tennessee, in which one teen boy is dead and another remains in serious condition as I write this Blog. According to local media sources, the 16-year-old driver lost control rounding a curve, left the road and slammed into a tree. As an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer, my first thought is that speed and/or distraction were the cause of this tragic accident.

Most Americans typically learn to drive during the teen years, when the brain is not fully mature yet. Recent research is beginning to give us insight why many teens have difficulty regulating risk-taking behavior:

* The area of the brain that weighs consequences, suppresses impulses and organizes thoughts does not fully mature until about age 25.

* Hormones are more active in teens, which influence the brain’s neuro-chemicals that regulate excitability and mood. The result can be thrill-seeking behavior and experiences that create intense feelings.

Chances are, your community has been struck by a tragic accident involving a teenage friend, classmate or family member. Tennessee parents have an excellent resource available at the website of the National Safety Council. Check out http://teendriver.nsc.org/ for helpful tips and suggested study materials.

My experience investigating and trying Tennessee teen driver accident cases tells me that it is never too early to start training your child for the day he or she gets behind the wheel and you watch them drive off into the real world.

If you or a loved is injured in a Nashville or Tennessee automobile accident caused by a teen driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies. Call us at 615-356-2000.

Photo Courtesy of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Teen Drivers

According to witnesses the facts are simple, a 2009 Pontiac G-3 Hatchback, driven by a 19 year old, made a left turn out of KFC’s parking lot, headed east on Madison Street, the vehicle hit a curb, left the roadway, and struck a utility pole. Any questions? Was he speeding or hot-rodding, or was he distracted by the other teens in the vehicle?

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney, I’d bet that he was hot-dogging, and because of his inexperience was unable to maintain control of the car. Fortunately the driver and three passengers were uninjured, but unfortunately, the bad news is that the 19-year-old passenger in the middle backseat, the one not wearing his seatbelt, slammed forward into the windshield and suffered serious head injuries.

Among experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorneys, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), it is generally agreed that teen drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group. Per mile, the crash rate for 16 year-old drivers is 10 times the rate for drivers between 30 and 59. The basic reasons behind this statistic are obvious, teen drivers have no experience with the myriad issues faced by drivers with experience, furthermore, they are immature and often takes risks, most often speeding, and are easily distracted which contribute to the increased death rate.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a teen driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Teach Teens The Dangers of Texting

In a mock scenario,  one person died and two were seriously injured in a staged two-car crash at Station Camp High School Tuesday morning that involved Vanderbilt LifeFlight, Gallatin police and fire departments, and Sumner County Emergency Management Services.

The mock accident was caused by an activity popular among high school age students who text while driving. Here’s the scenario; A car full of teens whose driver had been texting collided with a car driven by a pregnant woman. The wreck was followed by a dramatic 911 call, followed by sirens and a dramatic rescue by emergency personnel and a LifeFlight air lift to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to save a dying woman and her unborn child.

Of the thousands of deaths caused by texting drivers who became distracted, I would bet that not one of them thought when they set out driving that day that they were going to kill themselves or another, but taking your eyes and your attention off the road for even a second can change your life, or end another’s.

The experienced auto accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates applaud the effort made by the school and emergency responder community of Sumner County for taking the time to being this important issue the attention it deserves.

Teen Drivers-Distractions-Speeding

In one of the cardinal sins following a motor vehicle accident, the 17-year-old female driver who, the night before, had driven her car into a home at speeds in excess of 60 M.P.H., posted on Face Book that she had suffered a seizure prior to leaving the road and slamming into, and destroying the house. No one was seriously injured.

Witnesses said it appeared that she was speeding and as she passed them and almost clipped their car. According to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teen drivers are approximately 50 percent more likely to crash in the first month of driving than they are after a full year of experience driving on their own, and are nearly twice as likely to crash as they are after two full years of experience.

In a recent post I mentioned a number of things to do and other things not to do if you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, and the number one thing to do is not to go on a social media page and talk about the accident. Things you say online are there forever and accessible to another party in the event of a law suit. She is now locked into to seizure defense and in the event that here medical report does not support it, she has real problems with the liability issue.

According to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teen drivers are approximately 50 percent more likely to crash in the first month of driving than they are after a full year of experience driving on their own, and are nearly twice as likely to crash as they are after two full years of experience.

Keep up with the latest information regarding highway safety by visiting our web site at Phillip Miller & Associates or call 615-356-2000

Teen Highway Fatality

Last week I wrote about a Knoxville Tennessee automobile accident involving teen girls. A 15-year-old girl injured in that car crash has died. According to local media reports she was riding with two friends last Wednesday around 4:10 p.m. in a Volkswagen Beetle on Yarnell Road in West Knox County when the car ran off the road, hit a pole and rolled over. The 15-year-old was airlifted to the UT Medical Center but the teen driver died at the scene. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of all of the young women involved in the crash.

According to local police reports, speed appeared to be a factor in the crash but at this time no charges have been filed. The lesson for all teen drivers and their parents is that speed is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. Teach your children to respect the streets and the other drivers. Speeding is a dangerous game and can end in death for the speeder, the driver and passengers of the other vehicles and for innocent pedestrians.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.  The basic reasons behind this statistic are obvious, teen drivers have no experience with the myriad issues faced by drivers with experience, furthermore, they are immature and often takes risks, most often speeding, and are easily distracted which contribute to the increased death rate.

If you or a loved is seriously injured or killed in a Tennessee motor vehicle accident by a speeding driver you ought to contact the experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out about your rights and remedies.

Teen Driver Dies

Over the last several Blogs at “The Tennessee Auto Accident Attorney” we have talked about younger drivers and the hazards they face as the travel the highways and byways of Tennessee. As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney, I regularly speak to parents of teen drivers, and on every occasion I remind them that simply telling their children to act in a safe manner when they are behind the wheel, it is the duty of the parents to teach them by example.

One teen died and two others were injured in a single vehicle crash in Grundy County, Tennessee when a teen driver lost control of the car when she attempted to negotiate a curve. The car went off the left side of the road and hit a tree, according to local media reports. From the media report is impossible to say whether speed or distraction, or both were the cause of the crash.

I also share some sobering statistics. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities, accounting for 38% of all teen deaths in the United States. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed and  more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

Most Americans typically learn to drive during the teen years, when the brain is not fully mature yet. Recent research is beginning to give us insight why many teens have difficulty regulating risk-taking behavior:

* The area of the brain that weighs consequences, suppresses impulses and organizes thoughts does not fully mature until about age 25.

* Hormones are more active in teens, which influence the brain’s neuro-chemicals that regulate excitability and mood. The result can be thrill-seeking behavior and experiences that create intense feelings.

Chances are, your community has been struck by a tragic accident involving a teenage friend, classmate or family member. Tennessee parents have an excellent resource available at the website of the National Safety Council. Check out http://teendriver.nsc.org/ for helpful tips and suggested study materials.

My experience investigating and trying Tennessee teen driver accident cases tells me that it is never too early to start training your child for the day he or she gets behind the wheel and you watch them drive off into the real world.

If you or a loved is injured in a Nashville or Tennessee automobile accident caused by a teen driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.

Teen Fatality

A 19-year-old Monroe County teen, a passenger in a vehicle driven by a friend was killed in an early morning roadway departure crash. According to local media reports the Toyota he was riding in was heading east when it went off the right side of the road and struck a tree. My prayers go out to the family and friends of this young man.

An important point to note is that neither man was wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident. Because of the time, 4:30 AM and the circumstances of the crash tests are being done to see if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.

Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a teen driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Tennessee Teen Driver Fails To Yield

A two-car accident sent three people to the hospital this weekend. According to local media reports. According to the reports a 36-year-old Leoma, Tennessee man was driving east on U.S. Highway 72 when another vehicle driven by an 18-year-old man pulled out in front of him while attempting to turn onto the highway.

The Tennessee Rules of the Road make clear that there are many important things to consider when making a turn, onto or off of a roadway. One of the most important and one that could qualify as the lesson here for Tennessee drivers is that before you turn make sure that no one is coming along in the lane. In other words, make sure all is clear before you pull out into traffic.

The driver of the vehicle that caused the crash that fortunately didn’t kill anyone will have a lot of time to think about what it was that distracted him when he pulled out in front of the victims here. Paying attention to what you are doing is the hallmark of a good driver. Pay attention and avoid distractions.

The lesson here is that no matter where you are, the interstate highway or the rural roads that wind through this beautiful state of ours, you have to be alert and mindful of your task. If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car crash, whether on a highway or a byway, contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and let us help you recover damages for your injuries and loss.

Asleep At The Wheel

Five Tennessee college men are in the hospital after a single vehicle crash on Interstate 81, in Virginia. Local media reports, quoting police reports, said the 19-year-olds were heading home to Chattanooga, Tennessee after attending a fraternity event in Washington, D.C. The police report says that the driver fell asleep at the wheel and ran off the road.

One occupant, who police say was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the car. Two men were airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The others were transported there in an ambulance. At the time of this writing, their conditions are unknown.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving “is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities.” But among all the major factors that cause or contribute to crashes, like speeding, alcohol use, and weather situations, drowsiness is the most difficult for police and other crash investigators to detect and quantify.

Sleepiness and driving is a dangerous combination. Most people are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving but don’t realize that drowsy driving can be just as fatal. Like alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your risk of crashing.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a serious Tennessee car accident due to somebody else’s negligence, then you may be feeling angry, frightened, or even alone in your suffering.

There is no reason for you to bear your burden alone.  The experience of a Tennessee auto accident is traumatic enough and your recovery will bring its own challenges.  You don’t need the added stress of worrying about who will pay for the medical care you need, how your car will be repaired, and if the individuals responsible for your suffering will be brought to justice.  This is the time to call Phillip Miller & Associates, the law firm of local Tennessee attorneys and staff who for the past 25 years have dedicated their lives to protecting the rights of injured men, women, and children in Tennessee.