As an experienced Nashville, Tennessee automobile accident and personal injury attorney, I often speak before groups, legal and non-legal, about all manner of topics related to automobile accident, medical malpractice, product liability and other cutting edge legal issues. It has been my experience that another forum, especially during the holidays, are the myriad parties thrown by friends and business associates. This past weekend I was visiting my house in New Orleans and attended a holiday garden party at a neighbors home. The topic of conversation got around to interstate driving and what to do if you breakdown or have an accident. As boring as it might sound for party fare, I though this might be a good topic for my Blog this afternoon.

Use Common Sense

If you need help, raise your hood and tie a white cloth to the hood or radio antenna.  If possible, it is better to stay in or near your vehicle on the side away from traffic.  Walking along the interstate is dangerous.  Keep children away from traffic. If you stay with your vehicle, a police patrol will stop to help you when they drive by, if they are not on another call. Use your cell phone to call for help.

If you are within one of the major metropolitan areas of Tennessee (Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga or Knoxville), you may also receive assistance from one of the yellow Tennessee Department of Transportation Incident Response Units (HELPTruck).  HELP operators have the authority to “remove or cause to be removed” any vehicle that is an “obstruction or hazard to traffic”.  HELP operators are trained to deal with incident scenes.  You should follow their instructions just as you would those of other police or traffic control personnel.

If you are involved in a traffic crash on the interstate, Tennessee law allows you to move the vehicle to help prevent blocking the traffic flow. If the vehicle is still drivable and there are NO SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURIES or deaths, you may pull the vehicle(s) to the emergency lane and await the arrival of a trooper or police officer to the crash scene.  Never attempt to move a seriously injured crash victim unless directed to do so by proper emergency personnel.  Never disturb a crash scene in any manner when a fatality is involved.

Under Tennessee law, you must not leave the scene of any type of crash, but, while remaining at the scene, you should not unnecessarily block traffic.  In the event of a highway emergency, your free cellular phone call connects you directly to a Tennessee Highway Patrol Dispatcher for assistance. Dial: *-T-H-P(or *847)

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee  interstate highway accident contact the experienced Nashville Tennessee automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.