Avoid Distractions

Although this report is not about a Tennessee Teenage driver fatality I thought it important to being this situation to your attention. An 18-year-old Alabama woman attending Freshman orientation at LSU with her mother died in an automobile accident when the car she was driving pulled into traffic from a private driveway and was hit by a pickup driven by a 22-year-old man from Baton Rouge. The young woman’s mother was injured but is expected to recover. My prayers go out to her family and friends.

What could have distracted her from looking out for traffic before she pulled out into the path of the truck? When you are pulling out from a private driveway you must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. Under Tennessee law intersections are places where traffic merges or crosses. They include:

• Cross streets,

• Side streets,

• Private Driveways,

• Shopping center and parking lot entrances.

More crashes happen at intersections than at any other place. Intersections constitute a very small part of rural and urban street/highway systems, yet they are implicated in 31.9 percent of all motor vehicle crashes and 15.5 percent of all fatal crashes (2004 NHTSA data). Be very careful when approaching any intersection or driveway. Never assume another driver will yield the right-of-way to you. Wait until the coast is clear and always be prepared to stop.

“Traffic checks” is the process of looking frequently and carefully for vehicle traffic approaching from each direction. “Traffic checks” is especially important when merging or changing lanes AND when approaching and crossing intersections. Look first to the left to make sure cross traffic is yielding the right-of-way. Then look for traffic from the right. If stopped, look both left and right just before you start moving. Look across the intersection before you start to move to make sure the path is clear through the intersection. Above all avoid distractions, if you have to use your cell phone wait until you are finished with your call and then focus on what you are about to do.

The lesson for Tennessee teens here is perfectly clear. Keep your mind and you eyes on the road and avoid doing things that distract you from focusing on this task.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee auto accident caused by a distracted teen driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation.

Tennessee Intersection Rules

At first glance, as an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney, a lawsuit filed in Williamson County, just south of Nashville, caught my attention and brings into focus the duty of Tennessee drivers to yield to emergency vehicles. It also points out a similar duty for emergency responders to use caution and their emergency flashers and sirens when they are going to respond to an emergency call.

The lawsuit by a motorcycle rider against Williamson County and a police officer claims that the rider was passing through an intersection and was struck by a police vehicle that ran the red light. The Police claim that the motorcycle rider failed to yield to the police cruiser that had it’s emergency lights and siren engaged.

More crashes happen at intersections than at any other place. Intersections constitute a very small part of rural and urban street/highway systems, yet they are implicated in 31.9 percent of all motor vehicle crashes and 15.5 percent of all fatal crashes. Be very careful when approaching any intersection or driveway. Never assume another driver will yield the right-of-way to you. Always be prepared to stop.

Tennessee law requires that when an emergency vehicle is approaching, all traffic meeting or being overtaken must yield the right-of-way and immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to the right hand edge or curb of the roadway stop. You must remain in that stopped position until the emergency vehicle has passed or until you are directed to move by a police officer. You must still proceed with caution; there may be other emergency vehicles coming.

There are a few other important details about sharing the road with emergency vehicles. If you are in an intersection, drive on through the intersection before pulling over, or you may block the emergency vehicle’s path through the intersection. Do not pull over to the right if it will block a side road or driveway. The emergency vehicle may need to turn into that road or driveway to get to the incident scene.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident like this one the ability to successfully press a claim for damages is based on the facts of each case. To be successful you need to consult with an experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyer who has the knowledge of the law and the staff to do an in-depth investigation, securing witness statements, scene photographs, tire marks and other important tasks. At Phillip Miller & Associates we fit the bill. Our  lawyers and staff have years of experience and can help you to a successful result.

Intersections Are Dangerous

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney I have learned that although intersections constitute a very small part of the highway and street network, still nearly half of the motor vehicle crashes occur there. Driving near and through intersections is one of the most complex conditions that drivers will encounter. Previous studies have indicated that a significant percentage of crashes involving elderly drivers seem to occur at intersections.

A recent article in the Daily Post-Athenian reported a two-vehicle accident that sent three people to the hospital. The collision occurred at an intersection just outside the Athens, Tennessee city limits. According to police a car with two occupants was struck by a tractor-trailer in the signaled intersection. My first thought is that one of the drivers had run a red light leading to the collision.

One of the primary causes of crashes at signalized intersections involves a vehicle entering an intersection when the red light signal is displayed. This type of collision occurs frequently. Clearly, red-light running, which is reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be on the rise as with other aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, tailgating and not stopping or even slowing at stop-controlled intersections, has become a national safety problem.

Red-light running is also a complex problem. There is no simple or single reason to explain why drivers run red lights. My experience here in Nashville is that red light runners are more likely to be younger than 30-years old, have a record of moving violations, are driving without a valid license and/or have consumed alcohol.

If you are the victim of a Nashville or Tennessee automobile accident we urge you to contact our Tennessee 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.