Drive Drunk Lose Your Car

We often talk about modern technology and the good and bad things that come from them. It’s well known and a constant topic of my Blogs that cell phone and texting are the leading cause of distracted driving and highway fatalities. GPS and related programs can help drivers find their way but can also cause a driver to take his eyes off the road long enough to leave the road, hit something hard and die.

A new technology that will soon be employed, a database and let county clerks check it to see if drivers meet financial responsibility requirements (insurance) before registering or renewing their vehicle registrations, will now be available to police and highway patrol officers. In Tennessee there is a serious problem with drivers on the road who ignore the requirement that they must have a statutory minimum car insurance policy.

Drivers who fail to have insurance cause the policy costs of other drivers who do to cost much more then if all drivers were covered. The cost of uninsured motorist policies has skyrocketed in recent years.

What this means is that when a driver is stopped for an infraction, the officer would have access to the clerks records to determine on the spot whether there is insurance on the car. If not, the car would be impounded and the driver ticketed and required to walk home. This technology would help police and highway safety departments get these selfish drivers off the road and save lives and lower insurance rates.

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.

We Can Help

As experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorneys one of the first things the investigators at Phillip Miller & Associates have to do is make a concise investigation of the cause of the accident. This begins with securing all of the police reports and witness statements, and then we re-interview the witnesses and inspect the scene of the accident. We look for tire marks, roadway conditions, obstructions and any other item that might have lead to the crash.

After we have concluded those tasks we investigate the backgrounds of all of the people involved in the crash, driving records, reputations, medical condition and any other thing that might be relevant to their condition at the time of the wreck. After we conclude this phase of our investigation the attorneys then individually study all of the findings and then the whole team sits down to discuss the specific approach to seeking damages for our client.

This is the kind of process that assures that our clients receive the most effective legal representation during this traumatic time. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a serious Tennessee car accident due to another’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. Call 615-356-2000.

Man Dies In Hospital After Wreck

A Huntingdon, Tennessee man was died Saturday after he was injured in a two-vehicle accident earlier this month in Henry County, according to local media reports.

I wrote about this accident in an earlier weblog. The 66-year-old-man, was stopped for a flashing red light on Tenn. 140 at an intersection with Highway 54 about 6:19 p.m. Nov. 11. For some unknown reason he pulled out directly into the path of a pick up truck coming alone Highway 54, with the right-of-way.

The pickup driver tried to swerve to avoid the collision but he never had a chance. He struck the man on the left side of his vehicle at the drivers door and then lost control and slammed into a building. This driver was wearing his seatbelt, not so for the deceased man and his passenger who was also seriously injured.

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.

Drive To Road Conditions

It’s a no-brainer that we should drive at, or near, the speed limit, but when weather conditions dictate we should modify our driving to make for a safe driving event. For instance, when there is snow and ice on a roadway, we cannot expect to have the traction of a dry roadbed.

A safe Tennessee driver will also be aware of the condition of his/her brakes and tire condition when traveling in other than dry conditions. This past Monday a single car crash claimed the life of a 44-year-old Tennessee woman. According to local media reports, the woman lost control of her car going around a curve on Carroll Hollow Road, went down an embankment and hit a tree stump. The media reports say the road was wet and slick. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of this unfortunate woman.

If you or anyone you know has been injured or killed in a Tennessee car accident, please contact Nashville personal injury attorney Phillip Miller and the Nashville personal injury attorneys at Phillip Miller and Associates at (615) 356-2000.

Yield To Emergency Vehicles

For  local media report to be helpful to use as teaching aides for Tennessee drivers they have to contain all of the relevant facts. A good example is a report out of Memphis describing an intersection crash between a car and a police unit. According to the report the officer was proceeding through the intersection with his lights and siren on when a woman in a Honda SUV entered the intersection, hitting the police cruiser. Unfortunately we don’t know if the woman driver had the green light. Three people were transported but none were in serious condition.

As we go about our daily business, we are watched over by law enforcement, fire rescue and emergency medical teams. We need to be aware as drivers what to do when one of these emergency vehicles approaches. The Number One rule is, when you hear or see an emergency vehicle of any type approaching from any direction, pull as far to the right as possible and stop!

When you observe or hear an emergency vehicle approaching, what should you do? Upon the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle sounding a siren and flashing emergency lights, a driver must yield the right of way and immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the nearest edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection and remain there until the emergency vehicle has passed. Exercise extreme caution around an emergency situation and follow the directions given by a police officer.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car accident caused by a Nashville driver who fails to yield the right of way, time is of the essence. Contact the experienced Nashville auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates as soon as possible. Call 615-356-2000.

Don't Try To Outrun The Train

A recent Tennessee media article about a train/tractor-trailer collision leaves this Nashville personal injury attorney somewhat confused. The collision occurred in downtown Dayton, Tennessee when a tractor-trailer carrying a load of furniture, got stuck on the tracks. Herein lies my confusion, how in the world do you get a commercial truck get stuck on the tracks? Fortunately the driver escaped from the cab before the collision.

Did the driver not see the railroad crossing signs? Did he ignore them? I really wish the local media reporters would pay more attention to details so that those of us who try to inform Tennessee drivers about safety on the roadways.

As an experienced Tennessee auto accident attorney this situation seems hard to fathom. If police investigators rule out drugs or alcohol as factors, we are left to speculate whether he was distracted to such a degree that he was totally oblivious to the sight of the train and the bells and flashing lights. Investigators will surely look into his cell phone records to see if the distraction, like most distraction accidents, was caused by the device.

In the United States a round sign with an X shape and the initials R&R warn drivers that there is a railroad ahead. This circular sign always means that you are approaching a railroad grade crossing. You must slow down and be ready to stop. This sign tells you that it is up to you to stop if you see a train coming. NEVER TRY TO “BEAT” THE TRAIN. YOU WILL USUALLY MISJUDGE ITS SPEED. More than 200 traffic crashes occur each year at railroad crossings. Do not play with your life trying to “beat the train.”

A broad “X” shape warns motorists that the railroad is here. This is known as a crossbuck sign. It is placed at all railroad grade crossings and shows exactly where the tracks are located.  Some crossbucks like the one here  are equipped with two lights underneath the “X.” Flashing lights on a crossbuck mean that a train is coming. Always stop when the lights are flashing. Remain stopped until the train has passed. If there is more than one track, be sure all tracks are clear before crossing.

For these and other important highway safety tips visit the web page of the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates.

Beware of Tractor-Trialers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving “is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities.” But among all the major factors that cause or contribute to crashes, like speeding, alcohol use, and weather situations, drowsiness is the most difficult for police and other crash investigators to detect and quantify.

Sleepiness and driving is a dangerous combination. Most people are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving but don’t realize that drowsy driving can be just as fatal. Like alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your risk of crashing.

Reference a recent tractor-trailer crash on I-81 in Green County Tennessee. The driver of the semi admitted to the Tennessee Highway Patrol that he fell asleep behind the wheels. Even though a sharpened part of a steel guardrail pierced the Sleeper cabin, neither the driver nor his passenger was seriously injured.

Imagine, a tractor-trailer topping out over a hundred thousand pounds driving along an interstate highway at 60 plus MPH all by itself. We are so fortunate that no other people sharing the roadway were killed or injured.

It’s nearly impossible to determine with certainty the cause of a fatal crash where drowsy driving is suspected. However, there are a number of clues at a crash scene that tell investigators that the person fell asleep at the wheel. For example, drowsy driving accidents usually involve only one vehicle where the driver is alone and the injuries tend to be serious or fatal. Also, skid marks or evidence of other evasive maneuvers are usually absent from the drowsy driving crash scene.

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. Take a minute and call the experienced Nashville tractor-trailer accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights. For a number of reasons tractor-trailer accidents require the injured party to act swiftly. Call 615-356-2000.

Tennessee Troopers Cracking Down On DUI Drivers

For those of you who regularly read my Blog, you know that in and around Johnson City, Tennessee is well known for automobile accidents caused by impaired drivers. It appears that the local and state authorities have finally come to realize the nature of the problem and have instituted a program to address the problem.

It appears that the Tennessee Highway Patrol is stepping up its efforts to stop those drivers. According to a press release by the Department of Safety, “Our troopers received additional training this year, not just on alcohol but drug-impaired,” said Lt. Jarrett Ramsey.

Statistics show that Troopers have arrested more than 100 people for driving under the influence from January to August in Washington County alone. Statewide that number is in the area of 95 percent, with DUI arrests up 39 percent. This is great news but only a start, the next step is keeping the drunk drivers from becoming repeat offenders. This moves the ball into the Judiciary and the prosecuting attorneys court. Tennessee’s new Ignition Interlock law is a step in the right direction.

Judges can require anyone convicted of DUI to place an ignition interlock on their cars to prevent them from driving impaired in the future. The men and women of Phillip Miller & Associates send a shout out to the law enforcement officers who are on the ground directly attacking this problem.

If you are a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car accident caused by a drunk driver you owe it to yourself to contact an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer like those at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out about your rights and remedies.

Beware The Big Yellow Bus

Quite often during the school year the experienced Nashville personal injury lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates remind our readers and clients to pay particular attention to driving around or near a school bus. In the last several weeks there have been two fatal vehicle/school bus crashes.

In the latest accident, one person was killed and 10 others were injured when a SUV and a Rutherford School bus collided head-on this past Saturday morning. According to local media reports an on bus video camera clearly showed that an SUV driver veered over the center line and collided with the school bus. The school bus crushed the SUV.

The driver of the SUV, a 60-year-old Pleasant Shade man, was pronounced dead at the scene. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of this man.

Nine students were transported to a local hospital for treatment of “minor” injuries. One student remained hospitalized. The bus driver was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

According to the media report the man’s sister cited a history of medical issues that led her to opine that the deceased man suffered a heart attack or other medical event while he was driving. An autopsy will shed some light on this cause.

If you or anyone you know has been injured or killed in a Tennessee car accident, please contact Nashville injury attorney Phillip Miller and the Tennessee personal injury attorneys at Phillip Miller and Associates at (615) 356-2000, or contact our office online here.

One last thing: If you are hurt and have any questions at all, contact our office at (615) 356-2000. Don’t delay. Cases involving personal injury or death in Tennessee must be acted on quickly. Time is running. Call for an appointment, if it’s bad enough that you need to read this far into a website blog, it’s bad enough to get an attorney involved.

Don't Play Best The Train

Local media reports say that the Jackson, Tennessee driver simply pulled in front of a train pulling forty two box cars shortly afternoon this past week. Fortunately, the 50-year-old man received non-life threatening injuries. Accidents like this don’t need to happen if drivers just pay attention and take some simple precautions.

The best place to find out about the relevant Railroad crossing signs is the Tennessee Drivers Study Guide which you can get online or from the nearest Tennessee Department of Safety Driver’s License office. The railroad crossing sign is round and has a large X with the letters RR in the middle. This circular sign always means that you are approaching a railroad grade crossing. You must slow down and be ready to stop.

This sign tells you that it is up to you to stop if you see a train coming. More than 200 traffic crashes occur each year at railroad crossings. Do not play with your life trying to “beat the train.” After the warning sign you will see a sign known as a crossbuck sign. It is placed at all railroad grade crossings and shows exactly where the tracks are located.

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.