Buckle Those Babies

Every day in the United States, an average of 4 children age 14 and younger were killed and 529 are injured in motor vehicle crashes. In the 14-and-younger age group, males accounted for 60 percent of the fatalities and 48 percent of those injured in motor vehicle crashes during this same period

In 2008, there were 61 million children age 14 and younger in the United States. This age group made up 20 percent of the total U.S. resident population. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for ages 3 to 14.

Even though it’s the law, far too often we see a young child riding in a vehicle without a safety seat or, if there is a safety seat, the child is not properly restrained. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationchild safety seats (NHTSA) which studies all manner of highway safety issues says that using safety seats, properly installed, reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars. Placing children in age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats also reduces serious injuries by more than half.

It is a shameful fact that but true, Tennessee continues to have one of the lowest child safety seat usage rates in the nation and one of the highest child traffic death rates. In every county in Tennessee there are centers where parents can go to find out about properly securing their children. The people at these center are trained and will inspect the child safety seats in your vehicle and make sure you are doing everything you can to protect your children. To find one near to you call the Department of Safety at 615- 251-5166.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee highway automobile accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident law firm of Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urges you to register your child restraint with the manufacturer.

In the event of a safety recall all manufacturers are required to notify all registered owners by first class mail that their child restraint is included in the recall. Therefore, it is very important that the manufacturer of your child restraint has your current mailing address, and all of the information necessary to identify your child restraint. To register your child restraint you will need to provide the following information:

Your Name

Your current mailing address

Manufacturer’s Name (Example: Graco, Britax, Evenflo, Combi, etc.)

Date of Manufacture (Example: Label says “Manufactured in” )

Model Number (Example: 8643CDR2, 808688, 317147P1, etc.)

Model Name (if known) (Example: Snugride, Centre EX, Embrace, etc.)

All manufacturers are required to include the model number and date of manufacture on each restraint they produce. It can be found on a label attached to the restraint (look on the rear, the bottom, or the side of the restraint).

You can go to the website of the manufacturer where they are required to provide a registration portal. You can also visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to register your child safety seat.

For these and many other helpful Tennessee highway safety suggestions vist the web site of the experienced Nashville auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates.

Speed Kills

Whenever I read about a driver losing control of her SUV and flipping over before hitting something solid, I have to think speed was involved. When the driver or passenger, in the case in point a child , are ejected from the vehicle, I immediately think, and an investigation into this matter will probably determine, that they were not wearing their seat belts.

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee police are investigating a fatal accident that fits these facts. The ejected driver, an 18-year-old woman was killed and for some unknown reason the child passenger that was ejected was survived. My prayers go out the the family and friend of the deceased young woman as well as my prayers for a speedy recovery to the child and another passenger who were injured.

Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The lesson of this incident for all Nashville drivers is obvious, 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.

Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in passenger cars. Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.

Tennessee was the first state in the country to pass a Child Passenger Protection Law requiring children to be restrained in child safety seats (car seats and booster seats).

A.  A child under one year old, or any child weighing less than 20 pounds, must be in a child passenger restraint system (car seat) that is facing the rear of the car.

B. Children who are one through three years old, and who weigh more than 20 pounds, must be in a child passenger restraint system that is facing forward.

C. Children who are four through eight years old and whose height is under four feet, nine inches, must be in a belt positioning booster seat system (child booster car seat) and wearing a seatbelt.

These seats should be in the rear seat of the car, if possible. The children can’t make the decision to protect themselves, this is the legal responsibility of the parents. It is also the responsibility of the parents to teach by example.  If you are driving and witness a parent driving without having their child properly restrained it is your duty to notify the authorities. Call 911 is you are in an urban area and *847 in a rural area. Make the call and save a child’s life.

If you are the victim of a Nashville or Tennessee automobile accident we urge you to contact our car accident attorneys today for a free consultation. When you hire an auto accident attorney from Phillip Miller & Associates, you’re getting a qualified and dedicated lawyer.

Take Driving Privilege Away Forever

It’s been a while since I nominated someone for my annual award for the person who should be taken off the road and never allowed to drive again award. I have one today, and he is a strong candidate.

Today’s candidate is a 49-year-old Memphis man who was pulled over by police when the officer witnessed him driving a car with an expired tag and driving without a seat belt. When the officer addressed him he observed that the man had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and was unable to provide any identification.

When asked if had anything to drink that day he told the officer he had consumed a pint and a fifth of Vodka. The part of the story that earns him such scorn in this Blog is that he had four children (his grandchildren) in the backseat and none of them were in child safety seats, or for that matter, any seat belts at all. I’m going to follow this case and keep my readers advised of the outcome.

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

The 4-Year-Old Dind't Have A Chance

A series of negligent acts all came together into a multiple car collision in Nolensville, Tennessee the other day. A 28-year-old woman droving a black Honda southbound on Nolensville Road, for some unknown reason, swerved into oncoming traffic, side-swiped two other vehicles and then slammed head-on into another vehicle carrying a mother and 4-year-old child.

Police investigators believe that alcohol was involved because the 28-year-old’s car contained plenty of evidence. She was not wearing her seat belt. They also believe that the 4-year-old child who was ejected from the third car and who died at the scene would have survived had her mother properly secured her in a child safety seat.

One of the other persons involved was cited for leaving the scene of an accident and driving on a suspended license. This tragic incident could have been prevented if the drivers had exercised some simple efforts. The child’s mother was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center and her present condition is unknown. Charges against her for the child’s death are pending the final outcome of the investigation.

Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in passenger cars. Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.

The children can’t make the decision to protect themselves, this is the legal responsibility of the parents. It is also the responsibility of the parents to teach by example.  If you are driving and witness a parent driving without having their child properly restrained it is your duty to notify the authorities. Call 911 is you are in an urban area and *847 in a rural area. Make the call and save a child’s life.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee highway automobile accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident law firm of Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies

Over the last several weeks we have seen several Tennessee accidents, fatal accidents, in which children were killed even though they were secured in their safety seats. The problem appeared to revolve around the fact that the parents did not have them properly secured, and in one case they weren’t secured at all.

If you are going to make the effort to purchase a child safety car seat, it seems intuitive that you would want to go the extra mile and see to it that it was properly installed. If you have any doubt, or just want to proceed on the safe side, the Tennessee Department of Safety has established centers, state–wide where you can take your vehicle and have professionals check them.

To find a location in your state you can go to the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and find a convenient location.

Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in passenger cars. Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.

Tennessee was the first state in the country to pass a Child Passenger Protection Law requiring children to be restrained in child safety seats (car seats and booster seats).

A.  A child under one year old, or any child weighing less than 20 pounds, must be in a child passenger restraint system (car seat) that is facing the rear of the car.

B. Children who are one through three years old, and who weigh more than 20 pounds, must be in a child passenger restraint system that is facing forward.

C. Children who are four through eight years old and whose height is under four feet, nine inches, must be in a belt positioning booster seat system (child booster car seat) and wearing a seatbelt.

These seats should be in the rear seat of the car, if possible. The children can’t make the decision to protect themselves, this is the legal responsibility of the parents. It is also the responsibility of the parents to teach by example.  If you are driving and witness a parent driving without having their child properly restrained it is your duty to notify the authorities. Call 911 is you are in an urban area and *847 in a rural area. Make the call and save a child’s life.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee highway automobile accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident law firm of Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.

An Avoidable Child Death

There is more information left out of the media report on the death of a 6-year-old then there is in it. I wish reporters would spend a minute and learn the right questions to ask so that readers could understand what happened and how the incident applies to their own driving habits.

The best I can make out is that a 21-year-old driver with two children in his car, one was 6 and the other 3. The driver was speeding and drove through a radar trap, but instead of stopping he attempted to flee. He made a quick turn and lost control, left the road and hit a tree. The police officer was not in pursuit.

The 6-year-old was pronounced at the hospital and the driver and the other child were listed in satisfactory condition. One very important fact that was surely available if the reporter had asked , was whether the children were in properly installed child safety seats.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death to children ages 2 to 14 and the leading cause of injury-related death for children under 2. When installed and used correctly, child safety seats and safety belts can prevent injuries and save lives. Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.

Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in passenger cars. Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.

If you are a loved one are injured or killed in a Tennessee motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent driver, contact the experienced Nashville auto accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Not Sure If Your Car Seat Is Properly Installed

Over the last several weeks we have seen several accident, fatal accidents in which children were killed even though they were is safety seats. The problem appeared to revolve around the fact that the parents did not have them properly secured, and in one case they weren’t secured at all.

If you are going to make the effort to purchase a child safety car seat, it seems intuitive that you would want to go the extra mile and see to it that it was properly installed. If you have any doubt, or just want to proceed on the safe side the Tennessee Department of Safety has established centers, statewide where you can take your vehicle and have professionals check them.

To find a location in your state you can go to the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and find a convenient location.

Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in passenger cars. Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.

Tennessee was the first state in the country to pass a Child Passenger Protection Law requiring children to be restrained in child safety seats (car seats and booster seats).

A.  A child under one year old, or any child weighing less than 20 pounds, must be in a child passenger restraint system (car seat) that is facing the rear of the car.

B. Children who are one through three years old, and who weigh more than 20 pounds, must be in a child passenger restraint system that is facing forward.

C. Children who are four through eight years old and whose height is under four feet, nine inches, must be in a belt positioning booster seat system (child booster car seat) and wearing a seatbelt.

These seats should be in the rear seat of the car, if possible. The children can’t make the decision to protect themselves, this is the legal responsibility of the parents. It is also the responsibility of the parents to teach by example.  If you are driving and witness a parent driving without having their child properly restrained it is your duty to notify the authorities. Call 911 is you are in an urban area and *847 in a rural area. Make the call and save a child’s life.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee highway automobile accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident law firm of Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.

Roadway Departure Crash

Something distracted a 20-year-old driver from Madisonville, Tennessee as she drove along Highway 68 just outside of Sweetwater and the result was fatal to her and her fetus and her 25-year-old passenger, and two children aged one and two.

Whatever distracted her caused her to cross the centerline and slam into an oncoming tractor-trailer. Neither adult was wearing a seatbelt and the two children were in child safety seats but the seats were not secured by safety belts. This situation was a recipe for disaster. My prayers go out to the family and friends of these victims.

This was a preventable accident and could have and should have been avoided if the driver would have exercised due care and taken a minute to do a couple of simple things. The first thing that would have prevented this collision is to have avoided whatever it was that caused her to take her eyes and her mind off of the road ahead.

The second is to have properly secured the children’s safety seats including her own as well as her passengers. A Trooper at the scene said that this was the worst wreck he had seen in his 15 years on the job.

The lesson for all Tennesseans is clear. Buckle up and keep your eyes and your mind on the road ahead. If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a negligent driver, contact the experienced Nashville auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Family Decimated In Crockett County Crash

As an experienced Tennessee auto accident lawyer, I regularly write about child safety. The main topics are usually safety seats and school zone safety. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Every day during 2007 in the United States an average of five children age 14 and younger were killed and another 548 injured in such accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which studies all manner of highway safety issues says that using properly installed child safety seats reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars. Placing children in age and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats also reduces serious injuries by more than half.

Reference a terribly sad case that happened on State Highway 152 in Crockett County Tennessee this past week. A family, the mother, father, infant son (age 2), grandmother and a friend were riding along when the driver (Mother) for some reason left the roadway, overcorrected trying to get back on the road and left the road into a deep ditch and then it hit a culvert.

The child was in a safety seat that was not properly installed, and he, along with his grandmother, who was not wearing her seatbelt, were killed.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee highway automobile accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident law firm of Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.