Don't Let Drunks Drive

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney I regularly counsel, friends, clients and those who attend my lectures, that if they have been drinking, don’t drive, give up their car keys to another designated driver. This is sound advice, especially since 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.

There is a catch, the key to doing the designated driver thing successfully is to give your keys to someone who hasn’t been drinking. Reference an article in the Greeneville Sun the other day. It appears that Tara Ann Jennings, 21, had been drinking and gave her keys to her friend who himself was drunk, had already had three DUI convictions and had previously been adjudged an habitual motor vehicle offender. Add to those qualifications the fact that he didn’t have a license, and you get a gold star for stupidity.

For her clear thinking Ms. Jennings was charged with DUI by consent which means she, as the registered owner of the vehicle, turned over control of the vehicle to a person she knew or through the exercise of due diligence, should have known, was drunk.

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