All one has to do these days is pick up a newspaper, go online or catch the evening news on TV, and see a report on another in what has become an epidemic of roadway departure crashes. If these deaths were caused by a virus or bacteria or active prion disease the public health departments and the political leaders of our state would be scrambling for a solution. But it seems that fatal roadway departure crashes don’t get the attention.

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.

The latest, but not the only RDC happened when a 61-year-old Kingsport man was killed when his Cadillac crossed the centerline and hit a tractor-trailer head-on. The man was killed at the scene and unlike many of these crashes both men were wearing their seat belts.

The main culprit here was probably some distraction that caused the man to take his eyes off of the road. It only takes a second and you are out of your lane. The lesson here is that our political leadership needs to step up to the plate and engage in an intense public education program to remind an increasingly disengaged public to pay attention and arrive alive.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee auto accident caused by a distracted driver, you owe it to your self to contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.

Teen Drivers + Speed

The news article identified the five people seriously in a late night Nashville auto crash as teenagers. The scene is a two-lane rural Tennessee highway late at night, a car driving at a high rate of speed when the driver loses control, leaves the road and flips, ejecting several of them who were probably not wearing their seatbelts.

This is a story that plays out so often that it is becoming a Tennessee chiche. Through the grace of a loving God, none of these people were seriously injured. As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney my hope is that the, or at least some of them will learn the lesson that their parents should have taught them.

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyer I have seen far too many teen deaths and I strongly encourage parents to be realistic about the skills and propensities of their children. It’s a time of excitement and dread for every parent, the time when their precious little Bobby or Betty reaches the age when they can drive. Excitement because their child is growing up and the parents can relinquish to job of being the chauffeur for their busy teens and dread because the know in their heart of hearts the dangers that teen drivers face as they take to the highways and byways.

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.

Motorcycle Roadway Departure Crash

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyer I have come to learn that accident investigators may never be able to determine what caused a fatal or near-fatal accident. The classic case in this category is the one where the driver is alone on a deserted highway and they leave the road and either roll over or slam into a hard object.

Others, like a recent motorcycle accident in Christian County Kentucky just north of the Tennessee line fit squarely into this category. According to local news media a motorcyclist was traveling East on I-24 when he suddenly switched lanes, crossed the median and then the oncoming lanes and launched the bike which landed in the upper branches of a tree. What could possible have precipitated this accident? Did he have a mechanical failure? Was he distracted?

If there is a happy aspect of this horrible crash it’s that he passed through the oncoming lanes without being hit by a tractor-trailer or other vehicle. Our prayers go out to the man for a quick and complete recovery. He is in serious condition at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney I 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. In 2008, there were 19,794 fatal roadway departure crashes resulting in 22,080 fatalities, which was 53 percent of the fatal crashes in the United States.

If you or a loved one is injure or killed in a Nashville interstate highway accident caused by a negligent driver contact the experienced Nashville auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates for a free consultation about your rights and remedies.

Roadway Departure Crash

The news articles about fatal Tennessee roadway departure accidents always end with the line saying that the cause of the accident is under investigation. As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney I can tell you that these kinds of accidents can be caused by only a couple of things.

Reference an article on the website of WVLT TV a Knoxville Station. One driver is dead and the other injured when the deceased driver crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic. Was the driver attempting to commit suicide? Was the driver drunk or under the influence of drugs? Was the driver drowsy and fell asleep or was the driver distracted by something or someone and took his attention from the task at hand?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes. Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event. Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, and drowsiness.

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. In 2008, there were 19,794 fatal roadway departure crashes resulting in 22,080 fatalities, which was 53 percent of the fatal crashes in the United States.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car crash by a distracted driver or a case like the present one that will require an experienced Tennessee automobile accident lawyer contact the lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates for a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.

Buckle Up Or Die

So, what do you think was going on when a 28-year-old woman who is driving along a US Highway when she left the road, sideswiped a guardrail, crossed to the other side of the roadway, hit another guardrail, flipped and rolled down a steep embankment? Another question her family and friends are going to be asking themselves is why didn’t she take a moment and secure her seat belt? She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said that an autopsy will be performed but the didn’t think that alcohol was a factor.

Distraction from the primary task of driving could present a serious and potentially deadly danger. In 2008, 5,870 people lost their lives and an estimated 515,000 people were injured in police-reported crashes in which at least one form of driver distraction was reported on the crash report.

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. In 2008, there were 19,794 fatal roadway departure crashes resulting in 22,080 fatalities, which was 53 percent of the fatal crashes in the United States.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car crash by a distracted driver or a case like the present one that will require an experienced Tennessee automobile accident lawyer contact the lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates for a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.

Tennessee Roadway Departure Crash

It seems that everyday I check the state news I find at least one, and usually several roadway departure crashes leading to fatalities. I’m always amazed at the number of fatalities that could have been prevented had the driver and passengers been wearing their seat belts.

Reference an article this morning from the website of the Northwest Tennessee Today in which a 46-year-old woman from Dyer County lost control of her vehicle in a turn, left the roadway and went into and a long way along a roadside ditch before coming to a stop. She was not wearing her seatbelt according to the article and the investigating officer said he thought the outcome would be different had she taken a second to buckle up.

The initial question is, what caused her to lose control. Was she speeding? Was she distracted by something inside the car like a radio, cell phone, GPS or other electronic device? It’s hard to say but the lesson here for Tennessee drivers is that you must keep all of your attention on the act of driving and avoid distractions.

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. In 2008, there were 19,794 fatal roadway departure crashes resulting in 22,080 fatalities, which was 53 percent of the fatal crashes in the United States.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car crash by a distracted driver or a case like the present one that will require and experienced Tennessee automobile accident lawyer contact the lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates for a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.

Another Tennessee Roadway Departure Crash

The local media coverage of a 17-year-old Tennessee man’s death at the hands of a distracted driver included only five lines. A head on crash caused by a woman who stopped paying attention to the road she was driving on, crossed the center line of the highway and crashed into the young man’s car killing him. Shouldn’t there be more said? Shouldn’t the writer have mentioned that there is an epidemic of roadway departure crashes that are killing and maiming Tennesseans at an alarming rate?

Didn’t this young man leave behind parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents and friends? Did he have plans for his life? Was he going to college or maybe some job training? It just doesn’t feel right to just say that he was driving along a highway minding his own business and he was killed.

Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.  Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, and drowsiness. The Tennessee Trooper investigating the case says that upon completion of the investigation, charges may be brought.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a serious Tennessee car accident due to somebody else’s negligence, then you may be feeling angry, frightened, or even alone in your suffering.

There is no reason for you to bear your burden alone.  The experience of a Tennessee auto accident is traumatic enough and your recovery will bring its own challenges.  You don’t need the added stress of worrying about who will pay for the medical care you need, how your car will be repaired, and if the individuals responsible for your suffering will be brought to justice.  This is the time to call Phillip Miller & Associates, the law firm of local Tennessee attorneys and staff who for the past 25 years have dedicated their lives to protecting the rights of injured men, women, and children in Tennessee.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rear-end, lane change and roadway departure crashes account for approximately 3.6 million police-reported crashes each year on United States roadways. These three crash types result in about 27,500 of the Nation’s 42,000 annual traffic fatalities and contribute to a considerable economic loss due to injuries, property damage and decreased productivity.

If you read my blog you will know that I have been directing attention to what I have called an epidemic of roadway departure crashes. I have called for education and public service announcements by the Tennessee Department of Safety and the Department of Transportation. I recently became aware of some new technology that is aimed at this problem.

Iteris, Inc. of Santa Ana California offers a comprehensive suite of active safety driver assistance features that help to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes and the severity of crash-related injuries.

* Iteris’ market-leading vision-based Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems alert motorists if they are inadvertently drifting out of their lane.

* AutoVue Forward Collision Warning systems, manufactured by Delphi, helps drivers maintain a safe following distance – assisting drivers in avoiding rear-end crashes with other vehicles.

* AutoVue® Blind Spot Warning system, also manufactured by Delphi, alert drivers of possible unsafe maneuvers based on vehicles or objects in adjacent lanes.

* Iteris’ SafetyDirect™ system analyzes real-time driver performance data captured by Iteris’ LDW system and can relay this information directly to fleet operators through integration with the truck’s existing fleet communications system.

The technology is now available, now it’s a waiting game until the technology becomes deployed in vehicles across the board. Until that happens people will continue to die .

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a distracted driver who crosses the centerline or runs off the road contact the experienced Nashville auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates

A Solution To Roadway Departure Crashes?

and find out about your rights and remedies

SUV Rollover

The roadway departure crash (RDC) epidemic continues with a fatal crash on I-840 in Wilson County, Tennessee. I-840 is a limited access four lane with wide shoulders that runs through rural Tennessee. The driver was a woman in her 30s, she was accompanied by a seven-year-old child and several unidentified pets. The woman and one pet died, the child was injured.

The official version is that she lost control of her vehicle, struck the right median which caused her SUV to flip over several times, and ended up at the bottom of a steep embankment. What causes a driver to lose control of their vehicle? The two main culprits are speed and distractions. In many cases RDC crashes are caused by a toxic mix of both.

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. In 2008, there were 19,794 fatal roadway departure crashes resulting in 22,080 fatalities, which was 53 percent of the fatal crashes in the United States.

Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes. Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.  Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, and drowsiness. Investigators will most probably review her cell phone records and find that she was engaged in a conversation with someone.

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.

Roadway Departure Crash

It’s becoming increasingly obvious that Tennessee drivers just don’t seem to be getting it. The stories are more or less identical, a couple of lines summarize the life of a human being. The story goes like this; a driver is killed when his car left the roadway, he hit a tree, he didn’t have his seat belt on and he died.

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. In 2008, there were 19,794 fatal roadway departure crashes resulting in 22,080 fatalities, which was 53 percent of the fatal crashes in the United States.

According to local media reports, a Gatlinburg man was killed when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree along U.S. Highway 321 in Sevier County on Sunday. What made him leave the roadway is a question that may never be answered, the usual suspects are that he was under the influence, fell asleep, or he was distracted by a cell phone or other electronic device. The lesson here is that when you are behind the wheel you have to be alert at all times making a particular effort to avoid distractions.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car crash by a distracted driver or a case like the present one that will require an experienced Tennessee automobile accident lawyer contact the lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates for a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.