Drunk Truck Driver

A drunk tractor-trailer driver rolling down an interstate highway pulling 80,000 lbs of load is potentially one of the most danger things a driver can experience. A  55-year-old trucker out of  Knoxville, was taken into custody on charges of reckless endangerment, DUI, consumption of alcohol in a commercial vehicle and possession of alcohol in a commercial vehicle, among other charges, following a wreck, which occurred the other evening in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 near Lebanon.

Fortunately, no one was killed or seriously injured. For many though, the crash blocked the interstate and stopped traffic for more than 12 hours. Many involved questioned why it took the TDOT so long to clear the highway. In fact, TDOT Commissioner John Schroer and Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Department Commissioner Larry Godwin said the state should have handled the situation differently.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident caused by a driver who is distracted or following too close, you owe it to yourself to immediately contact the experienced tractor-trailer attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates.

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these kind of  cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

Livestock Killed

Tennessee law states: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.”

When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react. Give yourself this time by keeping a “space cushion” around your vehicle. This space cushion will give you room to brake and avoid hazards when needed. Good drivers keep this safe following distance or space cushion to have a better view of the road. The more space you allow between your car and the car ahead, the more time you will have to see and react to traffic hazards or crashes down the road.

An accident can happen in a second and following too close can lead to a pileup of epic proportions. Reference a recent West Tennessee interstate accident involving three tractor-trailers. A Shelbyville trucker hauling a load of cattle swerved to avoid another vehicle that changed lanes. The truck went into the median, rolled on it’s side on the roadway.

Another tractor-trailer hauling mail was unable to stop in time and slammed into the overturn truck. Another trucker the3n hit the overturned truck. Had these other drivers been following the law and keeping a safe distance between them they might well have been able to stop without hitting the wrecked truck. None of the drivers were seriously injured but about 30 cows were killed.

Fortunately, no passenger vehicles were involved, but when a car and a tractor trailer tangle on an interstate highway, it usually doesn’t come out in favor of the car.

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these kind of  cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

One Has To Stay Alert

As an experienced Nashville tractor-trailer lawyer, I doubt that the fact that the driver didn’t have his seat belt secured would have made a life or death difference in a fatal roadway departure crash late Sunday night. The truck was traveling east on I-40 when the truck ran into the median between I-40 and I-81 and struck the end of a guardrail.  The truck continued on and then struck a bridge pillar. My prayers go out to the family and friends of this unfortunate man.

Local media reports say that the police investigating the crash don’t believe that drugs or alcohol was a factor in the death of the 60-year-old Ohio driver. Three possible causes that come to mind, either the driver fell asleep at the wheel, had a medical emergency, or was distracted by an electronic device like a cell phone, CB radio or was eating.

Multi-tasking is a fact of life, we all face constant demands for our time, and we all have to juggle more than ever before. Being distracted behind the wheel for even just a few seconds greatly increases your chance of a crash. Distracted driving contributes to up to 8,000 crashes every single day, the facts speak for themselves.

When you are driving at less than full attention you are putting your life, those of your passengers and other drivers and pedestrians at risk. If you or a loved one are injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a distracted driver contact the experienced Nashville car accident lawyers at Phillip Miler & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Give Commercial Truckers Plenty of Room

In a freak tractor-trailer accident in Montgomery County, Tennessee, left a teen driver critically injured when an overturned tractor-trailer landed on top of her car. The teen driver was sitting at a stop sign and the tractor-trailer was making a turn and tipped over.

Thousands of drivers every year are injured and killed because of commercial truck accidents. One of the main causes of these accidents is driver fatigue. Commercial trucking is a vital component to our economy and every year it seems to this experienced Nashville tractor-trailer lawyer that this commercial pressure causes more and more commercial drivers to violate the law by driving longer and further to make an extra buck.

For a trucking company whose vehicles travel millions of miles per year, accidents are an everyday occurrence. Trucking companies have gotten this process down to a science and in many cases have specialized accident investigators at the scene of an accident interviewing the truck driver even before he she talks to the police investigation.

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these kind of  cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

Commercial Truck Accident

As an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer, I still find it hard to believe it when a tractor-trailer driver, after slamming into stopped traffic on Interstate 81, tells police he “didn’t notice traffic on the Interstate had stopped.” Fortunately no one died. The next question the investigators are going ask is, “what were you doing that prevented you from paying attention to the traffic in front of you on the interstate highway?”

The first step in the investigation is to confiscate the drivers cell phone and log book. Under Federal law it is a violation if a commercial truck driver uses a cell phone while driving. The logbook will reveal whether the driver has violated the law on how many hours he/she may drive.

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.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a serious Tennessee tractor-trailer 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 tractor-trailer 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.

Act Fast Following Truck Accident

A tractor trailer accident can leave a victim and their family facing experienced legal teams from a large trucking company working hard against them in order to pay out as little as possible. A trucking company has a lot of financial resources at stake, due to the fact that injuries that result in an accident involving a large commercial truck are often serious or even fatal.

Immediately following a wreck, the truck company most likely will send out a team of investigators to the accident scene as often payouts for a tractor trailer accident can run into the millions. They will work to gather key evidence that supports their employer and may mitigate critical evidence that would work against the trucking company in a trial.

It is important, even critical, for a victim and their family to contact experienced Nashville truck accident lawyers who will carefully explain all legal options, answer questions and chart a course for pursuing monetary compensation for your injuries, damages and pain and suffering.  There are several acts of negligence that can contribute to or cause a tractor trailer accident.

In regards to driver negligence, the driver may be operating the large piece of machinery while overly fatigued. In fact many drivers will cheat on their driving logs in order to make more money per day. They drive more than the federal law legally allows. Also, they may make improper lane changes, drive too fast for current conditions, tailgate, drive while distracted and more. Sometimes is actually trucking company negligence that contributes to the wreck. This may be in the form of improper maintenance of the truck, trailer, cables, and any other equipment that might affect the operation of the truck. They may utilize negligent hiring practices or fail to properly train the operators of their commercial trucks.

Quite obviously the driver of a car and their passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists are at a huge disadvantage when they are in an accident with a big rig, semi-truck, 18-wheeler, delivery truck or any commercial truck for that matter. A tractor trailer can weigh up to 40 tons, literally crushing a smaller vehicle in its path.  Injuries sustained can include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, crushing injuries, broken bones, chest and abdominal trauma, paralysis, coma, severe burns and wrongful death. Nashville truck accident lawyers can help the victims of a tractor trailer accident and their families recover financial compensation for the injuries or wrongful death of their family member. They have helped others in a similar situation and they can help you. Call our Nashville truck accident lawyers for a free case

Be Alert - Yield To Emergency Vehicles

Drivers nearing a stopped emergency vehicle that has lights activated (unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer) must: Vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, if the highway has two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle; or slow to a speed not more than 20 mph less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or more; or slow to a speed not more than 5 mph when the posted speed limit is less than 25 mph.

Unfortunately for two Millersville, Tennessee firefighters and a paramedic were not afforded this courtesy as they were rendering aid to an injured motorist on I-65 the other night. A tractor-trailer failed to respond to their emergency lights and crashed into the accident scene. Fortunately for the emergency responders they received only minor injuries. Charges are pending for the truck driver.

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 the rear, 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 tractor-trailer 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.

Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation for Highway Safety

Watch Your Spacing

As an experienced Nashville tractor-trailer accident attorney I often advise my clients and readers that when traveling along an interstate highway give the big trucks plenty of space and whatever happens never run in a pack of trucks. The aerodynamics of the truck car relationship at higher speed is totally different and the car is at a disadvantage.

Reference a recent three truck fatal tractor-trailer wreck on I-81 in Virginia just across the Tennessee line. Truck one carrying livestock left the highway into the median and when the driver tried to correct, his rig flipped over. Moments later truck two which was following too closely rammed into the overturned truck, killing that driver. When truck three tried to stop to avoid colliding with truck two his rig flipped over.

Fortunately, there were no cars in close proximity. Had a car driver been running with these trucks the result would not have been good. It can be fatal to make assumptions that other drivers are as competent as you are. It can also be fatal to assume that you are as competent as you think you are.

The lesson here for Nashville drivers is that you must keep all of your attention on the acting of driving and avoid dangerous situations. 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.

If you are the victim of a Nashville or Tennessee tractor-trailer accident we urge you to contact our experienced Tennessee 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.

Interstate Driving Is Different

One of the things I have learned about teen drivers is that their lack of hands on experience with interstate driving can and often does turn fatal. One of the most important rules of interstate driving is that a driver must be aware of all vehicles near them. This requires a driver to constantly be using your mirrors and judging speeds and distance of these other vehicles.

This past week, a teen driver was piloting a Dodge Durango on I-24 at Exit 31, just north of Nashville. At the last second the teen driver swerved to avoid a piece of blown-out tire and hit a tractor-trailer loaded with ethanol. The collision caused both vehicles to go out of control and leave the roadway to the right.

The tractor-trailer rolled over and spilled the content of it’s cargo onto the roadway and into a stream. It is truly a miracle that neither the truck driver, the Durango driver or his passenger were seriously injured.

Interstate driving is different and if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Nashville interstate accident you ought to consider contacting the experienced Tennessee auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates to learn about your rights and remedies.

Medical Emergency

It appears that an I-75 tractor-trailer accident that took the life of a 52-year-old man was caused by a medical emergency that incapacitated him and caused him to lose control of his truck. He was driving south bound on I-75 when his truck entered the median, traveled across the northbound lanes and crashed on the shoulder.

Incidences of drivers who had crashes precipitated by their 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 seizures, heart 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.