Learn The Basic Speed Rule

Many of us, myself included took our drivers test some several years ago and that was the last time we even looked at a drivers license study guide. As a Nashville personal injury attorney I would like to take this opportunity to refresh your recollection about a very important driving concept known as the Basic Speed Rule.

The Basic Speed Rule: The speed at which you drive determines how much time you have to act or react and how long it takes to stop. The higher the speed, the less time drivers have to spot hazards. Judge the speed of other traffic, and react to avoid the mistakes of other drivers.

The Basic Speed Rule (BSR) is not a Tennessee law, but it is a general safety principle. The BSR does not set an exact speed limit, instead it teaches that the speed you may drive is limited by current conditions. For example, if the posted speed limit is 65 m.p.h. and you are driving at night on a two-lane state highway and it’s raining or foggy, 65 m.p.h. is too fast for those conditions. To obey the BSR, think about your speed in relation to other traffic (including pedestrians and bicycles), the surface and width of the road, hazards at intersections, weather, visibility and any other conditions that could affect safety.

Principles of the Basic Speed Rule:

1. Your speed must be careful and prudent. Use skill and good judgment.

2. Your speed must be reasonable and proper, not too fast and not too slow, for any conditions including:

* Amount of Traffic – How many cars on the road

* Speed of Traffic – How fast or slow it’s moving

* Whether Pedestrians are Present – Especially children in school zones or neighborhoods

* Surface of the Road – Rough or smooth, paved, gravel, etc.

* Width of the Road – One-lane, two-lane, four-lane

* Structure of the Road – Straight, curving, bridges, narrow shoulders, etc.

* Visibility – How far ahead you can see clearly

* Weather Conditions – Rain, snow, ice, fog, etc.

* Your Own Driving Ability

If you or a loved is injured or killed by a negligent driver violating the BSR you owe it to yourself to contact the experienced Nashville auto accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out about your rights and remedies.

Drunk Driving Can Get Expensive

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) includes not only alcohol, but any intoxicant, narcotic drug, or other drug producing central nervous system effects –including prescription drugs.

• Alcohol is alcohol, regardless whether it is hard liquor, beer or wine coolers.

• A cold shower or cup of coffee will not sober you up.

• Alcohol affects your physical mobility, and your ability to reason and use good judgment.

• Large amounts of alcohol can do major damage to your heart, liver, stomach, and other critical organs.

• Nobody reacts the same to alcohol.  Body weight, time of day, body chemistry, and mental state all affect a person’s physical reaction to drinking alcohol.

• Large amounts of alcohol consumed in a short period of time can be lethal not only for you, but for your spouse, your children, your family and your friends.  Is it worth the risk?

• If you are going to drink alcohol, ALWAYS assign a designated driver A single DUI conviction could cost you as much as $5,000 or more after all fines and fees have been paid.

Potential costs of a DUI conviction include:

• Fines

• Court costs

• Bail

• Towing and vehicle storage fees

• Attorney fees

• Alcohol education program enrollment

• Driver license reinstatement fees

• Ignition Interlock Program costs

• Higher insurance premiums and SR-22 Form.

Instead of throwing your money away on a DUI conviction, think of all the wonderful things you could buy with $5,000.

• College tuition

• Family vacation

• Down payments for homes or cars

• Home entertainment system with high definition big screen television

• Pair of season tickets to a professional sports team

If you or a loved one is injured or killed by a negligent driver under the influence of alcohol, contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates. Take advantage of a free consultation by calling 615-356-2000.

Two Teens Killed

It was a bad holiday weekend in Middle Tennessee for teenagers. Two Lawrence County teens, a 17-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, were killed and three persons were injured in a single car accident on the Fall River Road on Friday night. Three others were injured and transported to local hospitals.

The 22-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle in a curve and left the road, hit a mailbox and then a fence before coming to a stop. There is no indication from local media sources whether any of the people involved were, or were no wearing their seatbelts.

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney the facts indicate to me that either driver distraction or speed, or both, were contributing factors in this tragic accident. The lesson here is that a driver, no matter what is going on in their vehicle, must keep his/her eyes on the road and observed all traffic rules.

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

Chain Reaction Crash

No matter what precautionary measures we take when we get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and head out onto the highways and byways of Tennessee there is no guarantee that the other guy won’t make an error that can cause us to wreck.

Last week in Roane County on State Highway 347 there was what highway traffic investigators call a “chain reactions crash” involving 6 cars that left one driver dead.

The first car “hydroplaned” and came to a top with his front end still in the right lane, the second car hit that car, the third swerved to avoid the crash and hit another car on his left and was then struck from behind causing one of the vehicle to leave the roadway and slam into a concrete divider. When the driver of that car got out of her car, another car came along and struck her car and ran over her.

All of this happened in seconds and the fact that only one person died is a miracle. The conditions of the other drivers is unknown at the time I write this Blog, but my prayers go out to the friends and family of the 76-year-old woman who died at the scene.

If you or a loved one are injured or killed in a Tennessee auto accident caused by a negligent driver, contact the experienced Tennessee certified civil trial lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and get a top notch civil trial lawyer on your side.

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.