Nashville Auto Accident Lawyer Reports On Fatal Hydroplaning Accident Involving Elderly Driver
Elderly Driver Killed
An 81-year-old man was killed in Knoxville Tennessee when the car he was driving hydroplaned on a downtown street hit a tree in the median leading to the man being ejected from the vehicle. Police investigators say that the weather played a major role in the crash. As an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer I only have the few facts that were contained in the article, but based on those facts, there appears to me to be two more important factors that lead to his death.
Hydroplaning is not something that occurs simply because there is heavy rain. The problem of hydroplaning becomes an issue when the driver is carrying to much speed for the wet conditions. I can tell you without hesitation that speed and no seatbelts never lead to a happy ending.
Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. Th economic cost of speeding-related crashes is estimated to be in excess of 40.4 billion dollars per year. In 2007, speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, and 13,040 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes. The total economic cost of crashes was estimated at $230.6 billion in 2000.
Tennessee law requires the use of seat belts. An overwhelming number of studies show that seat belts, when used correctly, save lives. Seat belts help prevent injury by Preventing ejection. Ejection greatly increases the chance of death or serious injury. The chance of being killed in a crash by being ejected from a vehicle is one in eight. Safety belts virtually eliminate ejection. The belted driver stays inside the car and is better protected from injury.
For more information on these and other topics check the web site of the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates.
Phillip Miller is a Tennessee Accident Attorney specializing in
Phillip has an AVVO rating of 10.0 (Superb), has been designated as a “Superlawyer”, and is the President Elect of the Tennessee Association for Justice.
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