Murfreesboro Auto Accident Blog

Is your teenager prone to more driving risks because of age?

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Saturday, January 12, 2019.

Allowing your teenager to have the freedom to drive him or herself to designated destinations around your Tennessee community can be a bit overwhelming at times. While you acknowledge that you cannot control every single decision they make, you are concerned about allowing such young drivers to have a complete reign of a vehicle. Understanding the risk factors that they face, and significantly more than other drivers because of their age, may allow you to make wiser decisions as a parent in the way you discipline and educate your young teenage drivers.

For one, many teenagers are excited to test their boundaries and proud to show off their skills to their friends. Your children are probably no exception. It is critical that you educate your children about the dangers of distracted driving and remind them of what an important responsibility they have to keep themselves, their passengers and other motorists safe by driving responsibly.

Hands-free devices and cognitive distraction

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Monday, January 7, 2019.

Although many studies have proved that using a cellphone while driving causes major accidents, injuries and death, people continue to engage in this deadly practice. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 481,000 drivers use their cellphones during daylight hours. In 2016, 3,450 people were killed in distracted driving accidents. Many states have banned the use of hand-held cellphones as a way to decrease the number of tragic accidents that occur each year. However, studies show that hands-free cellphones may not be a safe option for drivers.

In a study conducted by AAA, researchers asked participants to engage in several distractive activities while operating a simulator vehicle, as well as an actual car equipped with monitors. Researchers measures the participants brain activity, eye movement, heart rate and response time while they completed the following tasks:

Talking on a hand-held cellphone
Talking on a hands-free cellphone
Composed an email using voice activated technology
Maintained a conversation with a passenger in the car
Listened to an audio book
Listened to the radio

Tennessee drivers: Beware of distracted driving behaviors

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law on Friday, January 4, 2019.

Tennessee roadways can be pretty scary places. Heavy traffic may be something you are used to, along with fast speeds and having to quickly react to any number of situations between your starting point and final destination. Then again, does anyone ever really fully adjust to stressful driving experiences? Like most good drivers, you can do your part to stay alert and adhere to all safety regulations and traffic laws, but there's not much you can do about another driver's behavior.

If another driver is distracted at the wheel, you're the one who might suffer if that distraction causes a collision that results in your injury. In a perfect world, every driver would remain cautious, alert and diligent to keep himself or herself and all others nearby as safe as possible. We all know, however, that the world is not perfect, and many people make irresponsible choices while driving that cause others serious losses, some that are irreplaceable.

Alcohol consumption: Social event or addiction?

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law on Friday, January 4, 2019.

When is the last time you had a drink containing alcohol? Perhaps you're a social drinker who is careful to completely abstain from alcohol whenever you know you'll be driving a car. Maybe you drink on a more regular basis but still feel like it doesn't adversely affect your life in any way. Then again, you might be one of many Tennessee residents who are currently battling addiction.

If so, you hopefully have built a strong support system to help you overcome your problem. There are many reasons people drink alcohol, and it is quite possible to do so in a responsible manner that puts no one at risk for harm. When things get out of hand, alcohol consumption can have serious negative consequences. In fact, some people have faced serious legal problems even after only a drink or two.

Parents may worry about college students facing charges

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law on Friday, December 28, 2018.

Over the years, you have watched your child grow in many ways. You knew the teen years would be difficult, and you likely knew that he or she would one day go off to college. However, you may not have anticipated this time being as difficult as it has proven to be.

Unfortunately, some teens can get off track in their behaviors, and some parents may not know how to effectively handle that derailment. Some parents may try to be more friendly than parental, but that approach may not allow children to understand the importance of discipline. Even despite some parents' best efforts, their children may participate in delinquent behaviors.

How can I share the road safely with commercial vehicles?

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Commercial Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

As a motorist in Tennessee, you must take every precaution to maintain the safety of yourself and other drivers. This is especially important when sharing the road with large commercial vehicles, such as trucks or buses. The Federal Motor Carrier Association offers the following tips in this case, which can keep you and other drivers safe and secure.

All vehicles have blind spots. With large trucks, all four sides of the vehicle have areas that cannot be seen from the driver’s rear-view mirrors alone. That means if you stray into one of the areas you run the risk of an accident, which can be deadly. You can determine whether you’re driving in a blind spot by looking at the truck’s side-view mirror. If you can’t see him, he can’t see you.

How can I find treatment for drug issues?

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Drug Crimes on Monday, December 10, 2018.

Being charged with a drug crime in Tennessee is no laughing matter. In addition to the legal woes that you are facing, you may also have concerns about seeking drug treatment if addiction issues are contributing to your problems. Having the right information is a huge aspect of securing effective treatment, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse offers the following information to help people get the help they need.

In order for treatment to be successful, it must contain certain elements. For instance, drug treatment should address numerous issues, including those relating to a person’s mental and emotional health. For this reason, many types of treatment involve behavioral counseling, which addresses underlying issues that could be contributing to drug use.

Don’t let deal hunting lead to unsafe driving

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

During Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other big holiday shopping days, many people here in Tennessee will be hunting for the best deals. These days, it is common for big holiday deals to be very time-sensitive. So, when it comes to days like Black Friday, a person may be tempted to be constantly glued to his or her phone to find the best prices for his or her holiday shopping.

However, there is a time it is critical for holiday shoppers to avoid this temptation. This is when they are behind the wheel.

Should you take a field sobriety test or not?

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Drunk Driving on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Spending a portion of your day on the side of a Tennessee roadway, looking into the eyes of a police officer who has pulled you over in traffic, is probably not your idea of fun. Perhaps you're among many motorists in this state or others who have incurred a speeding ticket a time or two in the past. While it's not a good thing to get points against your license, facing a fine for traveling a few miles over a posted speed limit is not likely to ruin your life. Facing criminal charges for drunk driving might, however.

Depending on the circumstances of the traffic stop and also whether or not you have a criminal record that includes past DUI convictions, a single traffic stop that leads to a suspected drunk driving arrest can have serious and far-reaching consequences. That's why it's so important to understand field sobriety tests and to know where to seek support if a problem arises.

Motorcyclist killed when car pulls out into path

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

The most common cause of serious motorcycle collisions is when a driver pulls out into the motorcyclist's path. Motorcyclists are not always easy to see, so drivers may think they're able to pull out while the reality is that they're cutting off another person's route.

That happened once again in Knoxville. A 24-year-old woman was attempting to make a left-hand turn from Cross Creek Apartments onto Western Avenue when she entered the roadway and blocked the path of a 25-year-old motorcyclist.

Waldron Fann & Parsley Attorneys at Law