Today is the first day of school for Williamson County. Our daughter Kate is entering 5th grade this year at Scales Elementary. Although she was embarrassed, she did relent and allow this picture upon arrival at school. And while it seems like just yesterday that we were going to the Boo Hoo breakfast for kindergarten parents not that much has changed. She still worries about liking her teachers, the dynamics of friendships and how much homework will be assigned. And, of course, as her parents, we still worry about everything, which brings me to some very important safety reminders for us all. Continue reading
Articles Posted in Injury Cases
Driving Under the Influence of Electronics
Sit at an intersection and watch the cars go by and notice how many drivers have a phone in their hand. Or, if you are a passenger in a car, watch the drivers of oncoming cars to see how many drivers are using their phones. Perhaps most frightening is to be a pedestrian and see just how many cars that are passing you are being operated by drivers using their phones. If you do any of these, the numbers below probably will not surprise you.
Roughly 3500 people are killed and nearly 400,000 are injured in car accidents involving distracted driving. 11 teens die every day because of distracted driving. A driver distracted by their cellphone is more dangerous than a driver with a BAC of .08. An accident is 23 times more likely to occur when the driver is distracted. From 2014 to 2015, there was a 32 percent increase in deaths attributed to distracted driving. And despite these statistics, drivers continue to text, take photos, surf social media and the internet and more while driving. Now, one State has decided to do something about it. Continue reading
Four Take-Aways from the Natchez Trace Bike Accident
By now you have probably seen the video of the driver of a Volvo (Mr. Neely) hitting a bicyclist (Tyler Noe) on the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you have not, just Google “bicycle accident and Natchez trace” and you will find lots of sites with video of the accident. In short, Mr. Noe was hit by a black Volvo hits that simply keeps going after the very scary impact. Mr. Neely, the driver of the black Volvo, has since been charged with felony reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to immediately notify of an accident and failure to render aid. As a firm that has handled a lot of accidents involving bicyclists, cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc., this case helps demonstrate 4 important points about injury accidents. Continue reading
Hit and Run Accidents: Do You Know What To Do?
According to a recent report in The Tennessean, Franklin police need help locating a driver who caused a deadly motorcycle accident last week on McEwen drive. According to witnesses, an unidentified Nolensville woman, age 50, changed lanes and knocked the motorcycle into a curb. The motorcyclist, who was thrown from his bike, was severely injured and later died at the scene. If you or a family member was involved in an accident with an unidentified driver who does not stop, you can still recover money for your losses if you have the right insurance and know what to do. Continue reading
Beware of the “Lawyers”
Recently, I have seen two instances of people posing as lawyers and engaging in unscrupulous behavior. Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery is now involved in one of the cases, and criminal charges are pending against the other. So what exactly are these posers alleged to have done and what can you do to protect yourself? Continue reading
Electrical Shock Drowning and How to Prevent It
It is that time again. The boat and jet skis are in the water. Spring rains are bringing the lake level up to summer pool. With the warmer temperatures, the water in the lake will soon be ready for swimming. Our family will head down to Tim’s Ford Lake every chance we get. For our family and probably most others, the first ones in the water are the kids. To keep them and everyone else safe this summer from electrical shock drowning, refresh yourself on these life-saving safety tips and teach your children the ones appropriate for them: Continue reading
DUIs Are Up Across the Country. What Is Your Risk in Tennessee?
In 2015, more than 10,000 people lost their lives and another 200,000 were injured in drunk driving related car accidents and another 200,000 were injured. In Tennessee, despite law enforcement making over 23,000 DUI arrests, drunk driving car accidents claimed 252 lives. How does Tennessee compare to other states? Continue reading
Nursing Home Abuse
Regrettably, you are wrong if you think there is no way a 28 year-old male nursing home aide would rape an 83 year old grandmother suffering from dementia. Rape is about control, and it is a crime of opportunity and while some states and the federal government do not separately track allegations of sexual abuse, CNN has reported that since 2000 there have been more than 16,000 complaints of sexual abuse in assisted living and nursing home facilities. Even more alarming is that 226 long-term care facilities have been cited for failing to protect the residents for which it was being paid to provide care and roughly 100 facilities have been cited multiple times. How does this happen and what can you do?
ATVs and Young Drivers: A Dangerous Combination
Jamie Lynn Spears’ daughter’s accident reminds us that all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) can be very dangerous for children. Spears’ 8-year old daughter’s ATV accidentally went into a pond on the property and the girl was trapped underwater for several minutes. Thankfully, the child appears to have escaped the incident without any neurological injuries.
Unfortunately, Spears’ accident is not uncommon. In 2015 alone, 58 children were killed and nearly 27,000 were injured in ATV accidents. So what age is the appropriate age for ATVS and what steps can be taken to prevent an ATV accident? Continue reading
A Safer Super Bowl Sunday
This Sunday is Super Bowl LI or 51 for those of you, who like me, only do Roman Numerals to a point. This year’s match-up pits the New England Patriots against the Atlanta Falcons in a showdown in Houston. Whether you are hosting a Super Bowl party or attending one, here are some tips for staying safe this Super Bowl Sunday: Continue reading