Saving Teen Lives

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.

Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

I believe comprehensive Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is the most effective way to save teen lives.

Although 49 states, including Tennessee, in the United States have some form of GDL, only a handful have comprehensive licensing systems that allow teens to learn to drive in lower-risk situations, which gives them the best opportunity to learn the difficult skill of driving.

In addition to laws, safety experts agree that parents play a key role in helping teens become good drivers. Parents should not rely solely on drivers education classes to teach good driving habits and should restrict night driving, restrict the numbers of passengers riding with their teen, supervise practice driving, always require use of seat belts and choose vehicles for safety, not image. Parents can also set a good example by practicing safe driving techniques themselves.

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

Get Fired or Die

The U.S. National Safety Council (NSC) estimates at least 23 percent of all motor vehicle crashes each year involve cell phone use. And now, not only can texting-while-driving get you killed, it can also quite possibly get you fired.

NSC recently surveyed Fortune 500 companies on this topic and found that one out of five respondents has a total ban on cell phone use while driving, and the ban covers all employees. More than half of respondents report that these policies were implemented in the past two years. Organizations with total bans, range in size from 100 employees to 70,000.

The lawyer in me wonders how the company can enforce such a ban, and the cynic in me wonders whether it’s an attempt by the companies involved to cover their you know what’s.  But the facts show a different picture, among those Fortune 500 companies surveyed by NSC that have total bans on cell phone use while driving, 22 percent say they experienced decreased crash rates, and 22 percent also say they saw decreased property damage.

If you are interested in learning how your company can achieve these numbers, the NSC offers a free Cell Phone Policy Kit for Employers. According to the NSC, allowing employees to use cell phones while driving can incur significant corporate liability. The NSC says crash scenarios in which employers have been liable include employees who were driving:

During work hours and outside typical work hours

To or from work appointments and for personal reasons

In business or personal vehicles

While having business and personal conversations

While using employer-provided and employee-owned phones

While using hands-free and handheld devices

If you or a loved one is killed or seriously injured in a Tennessee auto accident caused by a driver distracted while using a cell phone, an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer like those at Phillip Miller & Associates, might well be able to help you recovery for all of the damages, both property and physical, that you have suffered.

Motorcycle Fatality

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney, I can tell you for certain that when you mix an inexperienced motorcycle rider, excessive speed and alcohol, that you have a dangerous cocktail. Reference a recent case in Madison County, Tennessee in which a 52-year-old man died after he consumed alcohol, got on a motorcycle, drove at excessive speed, lost control, left the road and slammed into a culvert.

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. The good news is that the number of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes has declined 49 percent since 1982, going from 21,113 in 1982 to 10,839 in 2009, a record-low level. There were 10,000 fewer drunk-driving fatalities in 2009 than in 1982.

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.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident casued by a drunk driver you owe it to yourself to contact the experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates for a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.

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

Statistics from the United States Department of Transportation indicate that 33,808 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2009. Although this represents the fewest people killed in crashes in a single year since 1950, it also represents an average of 93 lives needlessly cut short on an average day as the result of crashes on our roads.

Since 2006, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has been sponsoring research to better understand traffic safety culture. The Foundation’s long-term term vision is to create a “social climate in which traffic safety is highly valued and rigorously pursued.” In 2008, the AAA Foundation conducted the first annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, a nationally-representative telephone survey, to begin to assess a few key indicators of the degree to which traffic safety is valued and is being pursued.

Summary of Major Findings

Personal experience with crashes

• One of every two Americans has been involved in a serious crash, has had a friend or relative seriously injured or killed in a crash, or both.

Perceptions of safety

• More than half of all drivers (52%) say driving feels less safe today than it did 5 years ago a 17-percentage-point increase from only a year ago. Nearly half cite some form of driver distraction as the main reason or as a reason for their feeling less safe.

Attitudes and behaviors: Drinking and driving

• Drivers view drinking and driving as a very serious threat, virtually all drivers disapprove of drinking and driving and acknowledge that others also disapprove of it, and very few drivers admit drinking and driving (fewer than 2 drivers in 100 admit having done so in the past month).

• There is almost universal support for requiring alcohol-ignition interlocks for drivers convicted of DWI more than once, and more than 2 in 3 Americans support requiring interlocks for first-time DWI offenders.

Attitudes and behaviors: Cell phone use and texting

• Cell phone use while driving has become widespread—more than 2 in 3 drivers report talking on their cell phone while driving in the past month; more than 1 in 3 say they do so fairly often or regularly. There is moderate social disapproval toward using a hand-held cell phone while driving, but over half of all drivers believe incorrectly that most others actually approve of it. Presently, people are generally accepting of hands-free cell phone use.

• Most people view drivers texting and emailing while driving as a very serious threat to their own personal safety and consider it completely unacceptable. However, many drivers don’t perceive social disapproval from others. Nearly 1 in 4 drivers (24%) admit to texting or emailing while driving.

• A two-thirds majority of Americans support restricting the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, but more people oppose (50%) than support (46%) an outright ban on using any type of cell phone (including hands-free) while driving. There is strong support for laws restricting texting while driving.

Attitudes and behaviors: Speeding

• Speeding on freeways is widespread—45% of drivers say they have driven 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway in the past month—and nearly 1 in 3 say they consider it acceptable to do so. In contrast, driving 15 mph over the speed limit on residential streets is much less common, and is rated as one of the most unacceptable things that a driver can do.

• Nearly 2 in 3 drivers report at least occasionally feeling pressure from other drivers to drive faster than they want to drive; more than 1 in 3 say they feel such pressure fairly often or regularly.

• More than 2 in 3 Americans support having more police on the roads to enforce speed limits.

Attitudes and behaviors: Red light running

• Most drivers view it as unacceptable to drive through a traffic light that has already turned red if they could have stopped safely; however, 1 in 3 drivers admit doing this in the past month.

Attitudes and behaviors: Drowsy driving

• Most drivers view driving while extremely drowsy as a serious threat to their safety and a completely unacceptable behavior, however, more than 1 in 4 still admit to driving when they were so tired that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open at some point in the past month.

Attitudes and behaviors: Seat belt use

• Most drivers view it as unacceptable to drive without wearing a seatbelt, and more than 3 of 4 say that they never do; however, nearly 1 in 10 admits that they drive without wearing their seat belt fairly often or regularly.

• 2 of every 3 Americans support laws allowing police officers to stop and ticket a driver for not wearing a seat belt even if they’re not breaking any other law.

For information on Tennessee highway safety issues and advice if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident contact Phillip Miller & Associates.

Teen Driver

It’s hard to tell what really happened by reading the local media report, but from what I can garner, a 19-year-old Chattanooga Tennessee man was driving his vehicle in the left lane of US highway 11A in Greene County Tennessee when for some unknown reason he lost control and crossed into the right lane and struck a tractor-trailer in the rear-end.

A 20-year-old passenger in his vehicle was killed as a result of the crash. The driver and another passenger were injured. The media report quoted the THP investigator, as saying criminal charges are pending. It’s hard to tell what caused the wreck, but you can bet that the driver was either speeding, driving recklessly, driving drunk or under the influence of drugs.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.

Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

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

Teen Driver

In November I wrote in this Blog about an accident in Memphis which resulted in the death of a 14-year-old girl and injured two other passengers. This past week the results of the investigation were released and they were as we assumed at the time of the crash.

It appeared that the 18-year-old teen driver was going 35-miles-per-hour over the speed limit when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a tree. His blood alcohol was .07. Alcohol and speed made up a deadly cocktail. The two other passengers were treated and released from the hospital.

The teen driver suffered severe head trauma and is still in extremely critical condition. There is a possibility of criminal charges but under the circumstances and the injuries to the driver they are unlikely at this time.

I have been thinking a lot lately about teens drinking and then driving. I’ve discussed here many times the sad fact that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.

The basic reasons behind this statistic are obvious, teen drivers have no experience with the myriad issues faced by drivers with experience, furthermore, they are immature and often takes risks, most often speeding, and are easily distracted which contribute to the increased death rate. Couple these factors with alcohol use and the picture is way more uncomfortable.

If you or one you love is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a teenage drunken driver you owe it to your self to contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out how to protect your interests.

Teen Driver

The recent death of a Murfreesboro teen leaves his family and friends with so many unanswered questions. My prayers go out to the family and friends of this young man. The facts of the accident are that for some unknown reason the young man’s pickup crossed the centerline and slammed head-on into a dump truck on South Church St. What caused this child to lose control of his vehicle is the question that will remain unanswered.

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney we know that these crashes are referred to as “Roadway Departure Crashes” (RDCs). The Federal Highway Administration defines a RDC as a non-intersection crash that occurs when a vehicle crosses an edge line or a centerline, or otherwise leaves the traveled way.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, roadway departure crashes are frequently severe and account for the majority of highway fatalities.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.  The basic reasons behind this statistic are obvious, teen drivers have no experience with the myriad issues faced by drivers with experience, furthermore, they are immature and often takes risks, most often speeding, and are easily distracted which contribute to the increased death rate.

Among experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorneys, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), it is generally agreed that teen drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group. Per mile, the crash rate for 16 year-old drivers is 10 times the rate for drivers between 30 and 59.

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

Male Teen Drivers

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.

Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

When experienced highway safety professionals talk about medical conditions as the cause of roadway accidents we usually refer to older drivers and medications and emergency events. (strokes, heart attacks and such).

An interesting study from the University of Toronto, led by Dr. Donald Redelmeier, a professor of medicine made findings that the single most risky demographic on the road today are teenage boys, who have a crash rate that is twice the rate of the general population. Add a medical condition like ADHD and the rate goes even higher.

Male teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are more likely to be injured in traffic accidents than teens without disruptive behavior disorders, whether they’re drivers or pedestrians, new research shows.

I suggest that parents who have sons with this diagnosis might want to take a close look at this study to see how it might relate to their children.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident by a teenage driver you owe it to your family to contact an experienced and certified civil trial practitioner like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates.

Teen Drivers Kill

A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety takes an interesting look at teen driving fatalities. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

The study took a slightly different look at teen crash fatalities. When we consider all crashes involving 15- to 17-year old drivers we find that, on the average, nearly two individuals are killed for every teen driver killed. Government statistics typically quantify the number of teen drivers and their passengers who have died in motor vehicle crashes. This report investigates the number of people, other than the teen driver, who have died in crashes involving young drivers, such as teen drivers’ passengers, drivers and passengers of other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

The report reveals the extent of fatalities among other road users: nearly two other individuals are killed for every teen driver killed. As teen driver deaths have declined during recent years, though, there has been a large drop in deaths of other road users. So, although teen crashes put everyone at risk, everyone stands to benefit from safety improvements that reduce teen driver crashes.

An example of this in action occurred Friday in Fayette County Tennessee when an SUV driven by a 16-year-old thrill-seeker was driving on an unfinished section of new highway around midnight when his vehicle veered into a ditch and flipped over landing on it’s roof. The deceased was another teen riding without his seat belt in the back seat.

What does one say about this situation? The questions that come to mind are; “Why did the car leave the roadway? Was the driver distracted, most probably he was. Was excessive speed part of the equation? The answer to that question will have to be answered by the accident reconstruction investigators.

Another question that comes to mind is whether any of the deceased passengers would have survived the crash had they been wearing their seatbelts. No one can answer that one, but statistics show that seat belts can, and often do, help save you and your passengers’ lives in the event of a traffic crash. The use of seat belts is required by Tennessee law.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a teen driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies