Drinking And Driving Don't Mix

The off-duty Nashville firefighter who led police on a high-speed chase from Lebanon to Hendersonville on Friday night told arresting officers that he failed to stop because he was afraid of getting a DUI. It is widely understood that getting a DUI would have a negative effect on this man’s job, but add to that a list of charges, including 23 counts of reckless endangerment, one count of leaving the scene of an accident and one count of evading arrest. He also faces two misdemeanor charges in Wilson County and was cited for 21 other traffic offenses in Gallatin, so I think it’s fair to say that this guy’s career is toast. Fortunately he didn’t kill anyone to save is job.

According to local media reports, the guy actually did get away from the pursuing officers who broke off the chase when the man reached speed of 110 MPH and began running stop signs. From my point of view they did the right thing because the man showed a reckless indifference to human life. Well stupid is as stupid does, the pursuing officers were able to identify the man from his license plate and he was arrested in Nashville about 4 AM.

As an experienced car accident lawyer I want to remind you that driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. If you follow my blog you will see that in Tennessee we continue to see a tragic number of people with debilitating injuries and deaths as a result of impaired driving. This careless disregard for human life must stop.

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In Tennessee in 2008, 327 people were killed in crashes where the driver or motorcyclist had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. That is down from 377 people killed in 2007 with a BAC of .08 or higher. Over the 2008 Labor Day holiday, 12 people were killed in 10 fatal crashes on Tennessee roadways, down from 17 people killed on Tennessee roadways in 2007.

If you are a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car accident caused by a drunk driver you owe it to yourself to contact an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer like those at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out about your rights and remedies.

Practice Christmas Season Driving Safety

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney, I approach the Christmas holiday season with mixed emotions. It’s a time for family and friends, a time of hope and joy, the ending of another year, and on the other hand it’s the high season for drunk drivers. This morning I thought I might make a list of drunk driving facts to show you how this problem manifests itself.

* Most drunk drivers are males but statistics show that the number of women driving under the influence is definitely on the rise. Between 2004 and 2008 in Tennessee, impaired women drivers involved in fatal crashes increased by 4.7 percent.

* The group most likely to be involved in an alcohol related fatal crash will be men and women in the 21-24-year-old range. During the 2006 holiday season, alcohol was a factor in almost 37 percent of the fatal crashes with drivers this age. Compare that to drivers 44-54, where 20 percent of the fatal accidents involved alcohol

* While drivers 21-24 constituted 11 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2007, they made up 18 percent of all alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes.

* In 2008, about one-third of all fatal crashes involved alcohol-impaired drivers.

* Nationwide in 2008 there were 37,261 total highway fatalities with 11,773 of them involved alcohol-impaired drivers.

* In Tennessee there were 1035 fatalities during this same period with 327 involving alcohol-impaired drivers

December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, with assistance from other agencies, will staff more than 100 sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints through New Year’s Day. Don’t be a statistic, if you drive, don’t drink and if you drink don’t drive. If you see a or suspect a driver of being under the influence take action and call the police, you may save a life. In an urban are dial 911 and in a rural area dial *847 for the State Troopers.

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. Details about our attorneys and staff can be found by viewing our website at www.seriousinjury.com where you can get to know the men and women who will be looking out for your best interest. Call 615-356-2000.

Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety

What Caused This Tennessee Roadway Departure Crash?

It was a short life, 20 plus years, or so, and I’m sure the young man left family and friends who loved him. I really hate to read an article reporting the death of a person with so few facts to rely on to understand what really happened leading up to his death.

The staff and lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates send out deepest regrets to the family and friends of Gordon Anito of Knoxville. According to local media reports he was driving his 2005 Subaru Impreza northbound on Andersonville Pike near the intersection with Hill Road at approximately 3:29 a.m., when he went over a hill crest and struck a tree off the right side of the roadway,

I hope that the investigation will shed some light on the facts surrounding this death so that the family will make some sense of their loss and gain some closure. We know that the wreck took place very early in the morning, but we don’t yet know whether the man was coming home or heading to work.

Investigators will have to determine from evidence at the scene as to whether he was speeding, under the influence, was distracted, of had some type of medical emergency. If you or a loved one are injured or killed in a Tennessee car crash you owe it to your family to contact an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. Call 615-356-2000.

Practice Winter Weather Safety

About this time every year I try to focus my blog on specific things a Tennessee driver can do to stay safe during the holiday season. I think that you might want to focus on three things: 1. Road Safety 2. Parking Lot Safety and 3. Weather conditions.

Road Safety- The Winter holidays are very busy times for the average American. It gets darker sooner in the day, holiday shopping makes everyone a bit on edge and many drivers become downright aggressive, and holiday parties can lead to drunk drivers.

Aggressive Driving

In Tennessee and throughout the country, the public’s concern over aggressive driving continues to grow. Some studies indicate the public is actually more fearful of aggressive drivers than it is of impaired drivers. Aggressive driving is truly dangerous and cannot be tolerated. Several states are considering legislation to deal specifically with the aggressive driving issue.

Traditionally, the traffic safety community has defined and attempted to measure aggressive driving in a variety of ways. Some studies of aggressive driving have focused on specific driving behaviors, such as speeding, tailgating, or violating traffic control devices, which are commonly thought of as behaviors typically associated with aggressive driving.

Drunk Driving

Alcohol played a factor in a significant number of crashes during last year’s holiday season. Forty-two percent of the fatalities that occurred during last year’s Christmas holiday were alcohol related. The number of alcohol-related crashes grew to 57 percent during the New Year’s holiday.

December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, with assistance from other agencies, will staff more than 100 sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints through New Year’s Day. Don’t be a statistic, if you drive, don’t drink and if you drink don’t drive. If you see or suspect a driver of being under the influence, or driving in a dangerous aggressive manner, take action and call the police, you may save a life. In an urban are dial 911 and in a rural area dial *847 for the State Troopers.

Parking Lot and Shopping Safety

The number one rule when you are in big box store parking lots is to keep your eyes open for trouble. Do not get out of your vehicle unless you have carefully studied the area for people who don’t belong there.

Don’t shop at night if avoidable, and always shop with friends or family. A single person is always a target. Always trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Report suspicious activity to mall security or call the police. Be careful in parking lots. Some people are in such a rush that they back out of a parking spot without paying attention to other cars or pedestrians.

Weather –

Be aware of hazardous conditions. There are several driving events that require intense concentration on the part of the driver. A driver must always be on the defensive, thinking about what other drivers might do AND be prepared to respond with proper reactions. In addition, certain conditions, especially bad weather, trigger the need for special knowledge and skills.

Wet pavement can be as treacherous as snow and ice. To drive under these conditions:

Slow Down. The pavement is particularly treacherous when it first begins to rain. Dirt and oil accumulations make a greasy film on the roadway, and it takes several minutes for it to wash away.

Avoid Hydroplaning. A lot of water standing on the road during a heavy rain causes tires to lose all contact with the road, even if driving under 50 m.p.h. If the vehicle starts to hydroplane, slow down by letting up on the gas. Never suddenly apply the brakes.

Improve Your Vision: (a) keep windshield wipers in good condition, (b) wait a few minutes after the rain starts so the rain/wipers can remove dust and grime, (c) use the defroster/air conditioner to keep windows/mirrors clear.

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. Details about our attorneys and staff can be found by viewing our website at www.seriousinjury.com where you can get to know the men and women who will be looking out for your best interest. Call 615-356-2000.

Photo Courtesy of the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety

A 31-year-old Knoxville woman is in serious condition and serious trouble with the law. The woman was behind the wheel when her vehicle left the road and struck a culvert. Two passengers were killed and the driver and another woman are in serious condition in a local hospital. Police say charges are pending. My prayers go out to each of these unfortunate people.

Police reports indicate speed and alcohol played a part in the crash and no one was wearing a seat belt. Whether it’s referred to as drunk driving, driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence, impaired driving simply means a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle is compromised by alcohol and other drugs that change the function of the brain and body.

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes, add speeding and the chances of something really ugly happening, increase greatly. Add the fact that none of the people in the car had taken the time to secure their seat belts and death becomes a forgone conclusion.

The experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates have handled hundreds of cases involving drunk drivers and can help you if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in such an accident. Contact us for the free consultation and find out about your rights. Call 615-356-2000.

New Tools In The Battle Against DUI

As an experienced Nashville car accident lawyer I want to remind you that driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. If you follow my blog you will see that in Tennessee we continue to see a tragic number of people with debilitating injuries and deaths as a result of impaired driving. This careless disregard for human life must stop.

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In Tennessee in 2008, 327 people were killed in crashes where the driver or motorcyclist had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. In 2009 that number was down to 303 but we can’t rest on our laurels. In an attempt to continue the fight against drunk driving fatalities the legislature has enacted new laws that will take effect in January of 2010.

For the past several years if a driver is involved in a personal injury accident, no consent is needed to draw blood for a Blood Alcohol Test. Starting in January, there will be two other circumstances added to this. The first one is if a person is stopped for DUI and has had a prior DUI conviction and the second is, if the driver suspected of DUI has a passenger under the age of 16-years.

As an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer I applaud this effort to deal with drunk driving fatalities. If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a drunk driver, contact the experienced Nashville personal injury lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation.

Deter Repeat DUI Offenders

I’m not sure what makes them do it, I’m referring to the propensity of some folks to get drunk and then get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. At lunch the other day I posed this question to a good friend who has been sober for many years and who regularly works with alcoholics trying to call it quits.

His reply, “They don’t want to miss anything”, caught me off guard, but he went on to explain that alcoholics have a disease that is characterized by self centered fear and self will run riot. Following up on the puzzled look on my face he went on, “ they are so afraid that they are going to miss out on the fun, although for the chronic alcoholic the fun has ceased long ago.”

Reference an article in the local Johnson City, Tennessee media in which a 50-year-old woman with a previous DUI conviction, driving on a suspended license, got drunk, got into a vehicle and headed out onto the road. She lost control of her car, jumped a curb, ran through some bushes, went through a busy parking lot at a local murder mart and slammed into the building. Using her best thinking, she then attempted to flee the scene.

How can society protect itself from these repeat DUI offenders? My first thought is that the authorities ought to confiscate the vehicle and let the owner, if other then the offender, come to court and explain why they should get their car back and what they intend to do in the future to keep the offender from driving it.

Alcohol ignition interlocks are a proven tactic to reduce repeat offenses for driving while intoxicated (DWI), but given a choice most offenders don’t voluntarily put them in their vehicles. Even when installation is mandatory, some offenders may sidestep the requirement by agreeing not to drive at all or claiming not to have a vehicle.

When the alternative is house arrest, though, convicted DWI offenders pick interlocks 7 out of 10 times. This is the main finding of a Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation study of one New Mexico counties experience with interlocks. The study looks at Santa Fe, where four judges agreed to a 2-year pilot to sentence all DWI offenders, including first-timers, to home confinement via electronic monitoring as an alternative to interlocks if they claimed to have no car or no intention to drive. The aim was to boost DWI offenders’ use of interlocks.

In May 2010, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen signed into law a tougher interlock law requiring the use of ignition interlock devices if the offender has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 percent or higher; is accompanied by a person under 18 years of age; or violates the present implied consent laws. The legislation also provides that those convicted of drunk driving with a BAC under 0.15 have the option to install an ignition interlock device instead of being geographically restricted by a court.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee auto accident caused by a drunk driver contact the experienced Nashville auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out all you need to know about obtaining a full and complete financial recovery.

Tennessee Troopers Cracking Down On DUI Drivers

For those of you who regularly read my Blog, you know that in and around Johnson City, Tennessee is well known for automobile accidents caused by impaired drivers. It appears that the local and state authorities have finally come to realize the nature of the problem and have instituted a program to address the problem.

It appears that the Tennessee Highway Patrol is stepping up its efforts to stop those drivers. According to a press release by the Department of Safety, “Our troopers received additional training this year, not just on alcohol but drug-impaired,” said Lt. Jarrett Ramsey.

Statistics show that Troopers have arrested more than 100 people for driving under the influence from January to August in Washington County alone. Statewide that number is in the area of 95 percent, with DUI arrests up 39 percent. This is great news but only a start, the next step is keeping the drunk drivers from becoming repeat offenders. This moves the ball into the Judiciary and the prosecuting attorneys court. Tennessee’s new Ignition Interlock law is a step in the right direction.

Judges can require anyone convicted of DUI to place an ignition interlock on their cars to prevent them from driving impaired in the future. The men and women of Phillip Miller & Associates send a shout out to the law enforcement officers who are on the ground directly attacking this problem.

If you are a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car accident caused by a drunk driver you owe it to yourself to contact an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer like those at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out about your rights and remedies.

Child Safety Seats Save Lives

A two-year-old Pulaski, Tennessee boy is in Vanderbilt Hospital in critical condition and his mother in jail after a single car accident on Fall River Road this past Sunday night.

According to local media reports, the boy suffered head injuries when his mother lost control of her car in a curve, overturned and hit a tree.

Both mother and child were properly restrained and according to the report, investigators said that “probably saved their lives.” The mother was arrested and charged with DUI and vehicular assault. Speed and drunkenness were the probable causes of the crash.

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.

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

Drunk Drivers Die And Kill

A 37-year-old Brighton, Tennessee man died when his pickup truck left the roadway and slammed into a tree. Police investigators say that the man was driving at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at a stop sign at a three-way intersection. Investigators say speed and alcohol were the cause of the crash. The man was dead when emergency responders arrived. My prayers go out to the family and friends of this unfortunate man.

What is the lesson for Tennessee Drivers? Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. Alcohol was a factor in 10,839 highway deaths in 2009. In the past two decades, it accounted for 268,442 deaths. And 10 percent of people in the United States recently admitted to being drunk behind the wheel in the past year, a poll found.

Drinking and driving do not ever mix. Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a drunk, or otherwise impaired driver, contact the experienced Nashville automobile attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates.