Motorcyclist Didn't Have a Chance

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney I can tell you when a motorcycle hits an SUV head-on there is not going to be a good outcome. This was the case last week in Morgan County Tennessee when the motorcyclist rounded a curve to find an SUV had veered into his path. The 67-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Charges are pending.

The article on the web site of WBIR TV in Knoxville didn’t mention whether speed, distraction, or both was the reason the SUV driver was unable to stay in his lane. Either way he has to live with the fact that his bad driving killed another human being.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes. Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.  Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, and drowsiness.

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.

Honor The Centerline

As an experienced Tennessee motorcycle accident attorney I would advise riders to always stay in your own lane. This might sound stupid, but more than often I see accidents happen when the driver, especially on rural roads, plants his bike in the middle of the road.

This set of events happened last weekend in Overton County Tennessee. A 54-year-old Harley–Davidson driver was in the center of the road, came around a curve and met a car coming the other way. The rider swerved to avoid hitting the car, lost control, left the road, went down a ravine and hit a tree killing the driver and injuring his passenger.

Lines and symbols on the roadway (1) divide the road into lanes, (2) tell you when you may pass other vehicles or change lanes, (3) indicate which lanes to use for turns, (4) define pedestrian walkways and (5) show where you must stop for signs or traffic signals. Line colors tell you if you are on a one-way or two-way roadway.

Lines separating traffic moving in opposite directions are yellow. Yellow lines are also used to mark a boundary or barrier of the travel path at the location of a particular hazard, such as bridge supports, etc. Broken yellow lines mean that you MAY cross the line to pass if there is no oncoming traffic and it is safe to do so.

Two solid yellow lines between lanes of traffic mean you MAY NOT cross the lines from either direction, even if no oncoming traffic is in view. You may cross a solid yellow line to turn into a driveway or side road if it is safe to do so. One solid yellow line and one broken yellow: Where there is both a solid and a broken yellow line between opposing lanes of traffic, you may not pass if the solid yellow line is on your side. If the broken yellow line is on your side, you are in the “passing zone” and may pass if it is safe to do so. You must safely return to your side of the roadway before the passing zone ends.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed by a negligent driver who ignores the traffic lines contact the experienced Nashville auto/motorcycle accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.