Child Injuries and Death

October 7, 2019

Pedestrian Deaths on the Rise and New Technology Not Effective

Whether we walk to work or walk from our car into the grocery store, all of us are pedestrians at some point. And, pedestrian deaths are on the rise with last year reaching a 30-year high. More than 6,000 people are dying each year in pedestrian accidents and thousands more are seriously injured. Experts believe several factors are contributing to the increase in pedestrian deaths. And while new vehicle technology claims to help prevent pedestrian accidents, recent testing by AAA shows otherwise. Continue reading

September 20, 2019

Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Did you know that for children ages 5 and older car accidents are the number one cause of death? Every single hour of every day, 150 kids will be treated in an emergency room for serious injury due to a car or truck accident. I am proud to report Tennessee became the first state in the nation to enact a child restraint law. Since 1979, Tennessee law has required that children be properly restrained in a car, truck or SUV. Because next week is Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week, we thought it would be a good time to review the requirements of Tennessee’s child restraint laws and give you some tips on how to keep your child passengers safe. Continue reading

September 5, 2019

After an Accident, You May Not Want to Sue but You May Get Sued

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

The New York Times published an article this week detailing how many hospitals, one of which is in Tennessee (LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis), have started suing their patients by the thousands for unpaid medical bills. Many of the patients had insurance and the hospitals were suing for deductibles and co-pays. According to the article, more than half of the reports to credit bureaus were a result of unpaid medical bills. Of course, in addition to the cost of litigation and the underlying medical bill, this affects people’s credit rating and overall financial health. Consider this from a study by the Commonwealth Fund:

43 percent had used up all their savings to pay their (medical) bills, 43 percent had received a lower credit rating as a result of their debt, 32 percent racked up debt on their credit cards, 18 percent said they had delayed education or career plans. People with lower incomes were particularly affected: 37 percent said they were unable to pay for basic necessities like food, heat or rent as a result of their (medical) bills.

Clearly, medical bills can be devastating to many families – even those with medical insurance. So how does this relate to a car accident or other injury-producing accident? Continue reading

August 27, 2019

Dos and Don’ts of Labor Day

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day. No, you should not celebrate the holiday without knowing its origins. (Following the bloody Pullman strike and other labor strife, Labor Day was created by the federal government in 1894 as a recognition of the American worker’s contribution to this country’s prosperity). Yes, you should be especially careful while driving this weekend. Labor Day is the second most dangerous weekend to drive – only Memorial Day weekend is more dangerous. Read on for more safety dos and don’ts of Labor Day:

Yes, you can still drink rose and fruity beer. No, you absolutely should not drink and drive. Alcohol-related car accidents spike during the holiday weekend. Call a ride-sharing service or a taxi. Use a designated driver or stay overnight but do not place yourself or anyone else at risk of an accident. And if you see a vehicle being operated erratically, keep your distance if possible and contact police.
Yes, you can take a road trip to the mountains, river, lake or anywhere else but be sure to use your seatbelt as it could save your life. Each year, seatbelts save almost 15,000 lives and experts estimate another 2,500 or more could be saved if everyone wore one.

August 6, 2019

Back to School: Take Our Driving Quiz

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Davidson County, Rutherford County and other area schools are already back in session, Williamson County schools start this Friday and a number of private schools start next week. Hopefully, everyone has done their summer reading and is ready. Drivers also need to be ready especially since there have been some changes in Tennessee law. Take our true or false quiz below to find out if you are an A+ driver. Continue reading

June 6, 2019

Accountability v. Responsibility

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

In a recent blog post, Seth Godin wrote: “Accountability is done to you by the industrial system, by those that want to create blame. Responsibility is done by you. It’s voluntary. You can take as much of it as you want.” Seth Godin is a marketing guru and I enjoy his blog. As it relates to the legal field and the work of the lawyers at the Law Offices of John Day, I would change this post slightly: Accountability is done to you; when you do not take responsibility. Here is why I say that. Continue reading

May 30, 2019

100 Deadliest Days: 5 Important Tips for Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

We are now officially in the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers. Teen accidents spike during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day for a number of reasons. One reason is that teens are on the road more because school is not in session. Aside from sending kids to school all year long (an idea likely to cause a revolution), not much can be done about this factor. But, there are other things you can do to reduce the risk to your teen driver. Below are five critical steps parents can take to reduce the chances that your teen will be involved in an accident. Continue reading

January 19, 2019

Albert Einstein Warned Against Kissing and Driving; LOJD Warns Against Texting & Driving

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Albert Einstein remarked “Any man that can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.” Einstein was a wise man. Kissing is not the only thing you can’t safely do while driving. Anything that diverts your attention from the road increases your risk of being involved in an accident. Researchers have identified the maximum number of things even the most brilliant humans like Einstein can handle at one time. Do you know what that number is? Continue reading

January 10, 2019

Four Easy New Day’s Resolutions

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? A lot of us do. The most common New Year’s resolutions are: (1) exercise more; (2) eat healthier; (3) save money. We all have such good intentions and then life gets in the way. In fact, by February, 80% of New Year’s resolutions are out the window. So if you have already messed up on your New Year’s resolutions, you are definitely not alone, and The Law Offices of John Day has some good news. We have some quick and easy resolutions that can protect you and your family and help you feel better about yourself for having a cheeseburger, fries and milkshake for lunch. We are calling them New Day’s resolutions because all four can easily be accomplished in one day. Continue reading

December 14, 2018

Distracted Driving with Dogs

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Who doesn’t love seeing a dog with its face hanging out of the window of a moving car? With the wind in their face and a gazillion smells and aromas to inhale, the look of pure joy on their face is contagious. So we hate to be a fun killer, but here is the bad news: unrestrained dogs in moving cars can be extremely hazardous in a number of ways and a new trend could make it illegal.