She Was Not Wearing Her Seatbelt

Since the police don’t believe that alcohol or drugs were involved in a fatal two-car collision, investigators are going to have to filter through a whole lot of evidence to determine what caused the 20-year-old woman who was driving north suddenly crossed over into the south bound lanes and collided with a Durango driving by a 32-year-old Nashville man.

The young woman was not wearing her seat belt and was killed at the scene, while the male driver who was wearing his seatbelt was injured, treated and released from the hospital.

What causes someone to lose control? Was she distracted while using her phone, or other electronic device? Was she drowsy and fell asleep? Did she have some sort of medical emergency? It’s hard to know exactly, but we do know that distractions are the number one cause of highway traffic accidents. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of this young woman.

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.

Roadway Departure Crash

A 22-year-old Jackson, Tennessee woman died early Saturday, following a one-car accident. The accident took place at 3:15 a.m. on the U.S. 45 Bypass. According to local media reports witnesses told investigators that the young woman was driving her Nissan Maxima at high speed when she lost control, crossed the into the oncoming lanes, almost hit another car a a group of highway construction workers.

The woman was not wearing a seatbelt and police have not said whether they thought that alcohol or drugs were involved. Unfortunately the woman’s family and friends will never know what could have caused her to lose control of her vehicle. An autopsy will provide information on the alcohol and drug issue, and a review of her cell phone records will help determine whether she was distracted by texting or talking on her phone.

Statistics show that nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve 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.

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.

Missing Man Found

A twenty-five-year-old Tennessee father of a two-year-old son had been missing for five days when his vehicle was found about 100 feet from the roadway in a brushy area in Rossville, Tennessee. It appears that the car had flipped several times and threw the driver out of the car. The man was found dead at the scene. My prayers go out to the family and friends of this man.

The family and friends of this unfortunate man will probably never know why he lost control and left the road. There are many possible scenarios, including speed, distraction, drowsiness or medical emergency.

Another important fact that needs to be mentioned is the fact that the man wasn’t wearing his seatbelt. Restraint use is clearly designed to reduce injury severity and prevent occupants from being ejected from their vehicles. The lesson for Tennessee drivers is to stop before you turn the ignition key and make sure that you and your passengers are buckled up.

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 other lesson here for Tennessee drivers is that you must keep all of your attention on the acting of driving and avoid distractions. You never know when another driver is going to fall asleep, have a medical emergency or get distracted and leave their lane and initiate a deadly collision.

For this and other highway traffic safety information, or if you are involved in a serious Nashville auto accident visit our website and then 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.

Tennessee Teen Driver

A Jackson, Tennessee driver involved in a roadway departure crash in Willets, California is uninjured but his passengers were not so lucky. Of the five passengers a 21-year-old woman suffered major injuries and the other four were hospitalized.

According to local media reports the man was driving his 2006 Toyota along the roadway when, for some unknown reason, the car left the road and slammed into a tree. The driver was wearing his seat belt and the airbags deployed. According to the media report, the police ruled out alcohol and drugs as a cause.

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 or a loved one are involved in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a distracted driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Head-On Collision

In a largely rural state like Tennessee, a driver is likely to find themselves on 2-lane highways with narrow shoulders. The reason why I am constantly harping on avoiding distractions is directly related highways like this. These secondary roads are very unforgiving.

Unforgiving is right. If you are distracted or driving too fast, it takes only a second or two and you are face to face with a tree, a whole bunch of trees or a ditch, or in the case of a Lincoln County, Tennessee man, a tractor-trailer truck. Rural roads are hazardous, they are narrow, windy and for the most part, without a shoulder.

The accident took place this past Friday on Highway 110. According to local media reports, an SUV and a tractor-trailer collided head-on in a curve. The SUV driver was killed. The media reports didn’t say who was at fault but observing the speed limit, paying attention to the road conditions and signs and avoiding any kind of distraction is the key to arriving alive. My prayers go out to the family and friends of the victim of this tragic Tennessee head-on collision.

The lesson here is that no matter where you are, the interstate highway or the rural roads that wind through this beautiful state of ours, you have to be alert and mindful of your task. If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car crash, whether on a highway or a byway, contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and let us help you recover damages for your injuries and loss.

Head On Crash Takes Two Lives

A tragic late night roadway departure crash claims two lives in Scott County Tennessee this past weekend. Local media, citing a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report, says just before 10:30 on Sunday, a 27-year-old Huntsville man, was driving a Ford Fusion north on Highway 27 in Helenwood. The report goes on to say that the man crossed the center lane- smashing into a Mercury Cougar being driven by an 18-year-old driver who was heading south. Such a tragic loss of life.

Investigators and grieving family and friends will probably never know what so distracted the first driver and caused him to cross the centerline. Our prayers go out to all of the people involved in the lives of these two young men.

It seems to me, that distracted drivers cause most Tennessee car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes. Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.

In studies by the NHTSA the most common distraction for drivers is the use of cell phones.  However, the number of crashes and near-crashes attributable to dialing is nearly identical to the number associated with talking or listening.  Dialing is more dangerous but occurs less often than talking or listening.

Reaching for a moving object increased the risk of a crash or near-crash by 9 times; looking at an external object by 3.7 times; reading by 3 times; applying makeup by 3 times; dialing a hand-held device (typically a cell phone) by almost 3 times; and talking or listening on a hand-held device by 1.3 times. Drivers who engage frequently in distracting activities are more likely to be involved in an inattention-related crash or near crash.

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

Practice School Bus Safety

A 60-year-old Wilson County Tennessee died this week following a roadway departure crash in which he slammed head-on into a school bus carrying band members to a competition. According to local media reports quoting Tennessee Highway Patrol sources who had reviewed the video from the school bus, the deceased man crossed the centerline and slammed into the bus.

The bus driver suffered broken legs and a dozen or so students were taken to a local hospital, with only one being admitted. Investigators will now have to determine what happened to the deceased driver that caused him to crash. Was he distracted? Police will look to see if he was using a cell phone or other electronic device. Did he suffer a medical emergency?

An autopsy and his medical records will reveal whether the man suffered from some health problem or some medication issues that would have interfered with his ability to control his vehicle.

Incidences of drivers who had crashes precipitated by medical emergencies while driving are relatively rare and account for only 1.3 percent of all road fatalities. Older drivers have relatively higher incidences of crashes precipitated by drivers’ medical emergencies when compared to young and middle-age drivers. Drivers in crashes precipitated by medical emergencies were more likely than other drivers to be severely injured or to die as a result of the crash.

Patient education by health care providers on early warning signs of a health crisis, such as warning signs before seizure attacks, diabetic or hypoglycemic comas and potential side effects of medications are recommended as the most effective countermeasure.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile traffic accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.

Distracted Drivers Die

A 24-year-old Adamsville, Tennessee woman was killed in a roadway departure crash the other day, another in a growing epidemic. Her car went off of Michie Pebble Hill Road in Michie and collided with a tree, according to a report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol. My prayers go out to the family and friends of this young woman.

A local media report said the woman was headed south on Michie Pebble Hill Road when her car slid off the roadway while attempting to negotiate a curve. No one else was injured in the one-vehicle crash.

Traffic investigators will have a hard time trying to determine what caused the woman to lose control. Speed may be the culprit or it might have been that she was somehow distracted 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.

If you are involved in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a distracted driver you are going to need an experienced and sophisticated Nashville auto accident attorney like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates

Deputy Dies In Roadway Departure Crash

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident lawyer I regularly mention in my Blog my gratitude for the brave men and women who patrol our highways and byways. Last week I wrote about a serious crash involving a Union County, Tennessee deputy. I am very sorry to report to you that the deputy passed away over the weekend. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

Deputy Derrick Whittle was responding to a domestic call when his patrol car left the highway and slammed into a tree. Local media reports don’t mention the circumstances that led to the wreck. The lesson for all Tennessee drivers is that no matter who we are or what we are doing, we must remain alert, avoid distractions and more speed than the road can handle.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a Nashville motorcycle accident or auto accident as a result of distracted driving or other negligent driving?  If so, you should call the experienced Nashville personal injury lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates, a Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm will fight to help you win. We will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect. Call us today and speak with an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Call (615) 356-2000.

Roadway Departure Fatality

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney when I read about a fatal crash like one I read about this morning in Morgan County, Tennessee, a number of things come to mind. The local media report of the crash gives few details, but the accident occurred when a 49-year-old local man, traveling southbound on Highway 27 drifted across the centerline, the oncoming lane, the shoulder and left the road.

After leaving the road, the man hit one of those small electric trailer signs before continuing along until coming to a stop in a driveway far off the roadway. From the report, it appears that the man made no attempt to, or was unable to correct his trajectory.

Several things come to my mind in a case like this. Did the man have some sort of medical emergency? Did he fall asleep? Was he under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Investigators have their work cut out for them.

An autopsy will reveal the presence of drugs or alcohol, and if a medical condition caused him to lose consciousness. As for the sleep angle, they will have a more difficult time. Investigators will have to recreate the mans last twelve or so hours to determine whether he might have been sleep deprived.

My prayers go out to the family and friends of this man, and I hope the investigation into his death can bring them closure. The lesson here for Tennessee drivers is that when we get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and set out onto the highways and byways of Tennessee we have to be prepared, both physically and mentally for the task at hand.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a Nashville motorcycle accident or auto accident as a result of distracted driving or other negligent driving?  If so, you should call the experienced Nashville personal injury lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates, a Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm will fight to help you win. We will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect. Call us today and speak with an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Call (615) 356-2000.