Murfreesboro Auto Accident Blog

Safety technology could be a distraction to drivers

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

While car safety features are, on the whole, a great way to reduce injuries and to prevent accidents from happening in the first place, they aren't always what they seem. There are some who believe that car safety features can be dangerous, even though these features are designed to keep passengers and drivers safe on the roads.

As safety technology advances and is placed in vehicles, it's been found that too many signals could be just as distracting as driving while on the phone or texting. Adding safety features is a great idea so long as it doesn't take a person's mind or eyes off the road.

Tennessee's DUI laws are harsh on first-time offenders

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Drunk Driving on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Tennessee has many DUI laws that could affect your case if you're caught driving drunk, drinking in a parked vehicle or even driving with an open container in your vehicle. Tennessee's laws are harsh, because the state does not want to see drivers intoxicated on its roadways.

Tennessee, much like other states, does have a per se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit. In Tennessee, you're considered to be legally drunk when your BAC reaches .08 percent. Having a BAC of .20 percent or higher could lead to enhanced penalties like additional fines or longer jail sentences.

Types of traumatic brain injuires suffered in car accidents

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

Your brain is essentially what you makes you a human being, as it is responsible for your emotions, sensation, movement, intelligence and consciousness. This is why injury to the brain can be so life-altering.

Sometimes traumatic brain injuries happen in Tennessee due to another person's carelessness. For instance, maybe another driver struck your car and caused you to suffer a brain injury as a result. In this situation, you have the right to seek to hold the party accountable for your injuries.

Are those under 19 really at risk for fatal crash injuries?

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

You love your children, and you never want to see them get into a collision. They're growing up, and that means that driving is on the radar. You want to keep them safe, but what do you really need to know about crashes involving young children or teens?

Motor vehicle crashes result in approximately 68 children between the ages of 15 and 19 dying each year in Tennessee. It's a fact that these crashes are the leading cause of death for Tennessee's teens along with those between the ages of 1 and 14.

Tennessee DUIs: A risk for all ages

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Drunk Driving on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

Tennessee has strict DUI laws that may vary from laws in other states. Drinking and driving is known as driving under the influence in Tennessee. This is illegal if you are caught with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or higher. The .08 percent limit is known as the per se limit, which means that it doesn't matter if you appear intoxicated or not; you'll still face a DUI.

Although the state does have a zero-tolerance law, the limit is actually .02 percent. That means that any person under 21 who has a BAC of .02 or higher faces a DUI. However, there are exceptions to the rule, such as if the individual has partaken in a religious service. If someone under the age of 20 is caught drinking and driving, he or she will lose his or her license for a year. Additionally, a person could be fined $250 and have to participate in community service.

How do drugs affect Tennessee?

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Drug Crimes on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

Drugs are a significant problem in Tennessee. Most of the crimes that take place in the state do have some kind of link to drugs, which is why drug crimes are taken so seriously. It's believed that up to 800 methamphetamine labs are within the state's borders and causing a rapid growth in the number of people addicted to the life-changing drug.

That's not the only drug that causes issues in Tennessee, though. Heroin has also become prominent throughout the state. Combined with fentanyl and other drugs, it has a potential to lead to overdoses, even on the first use. Opioid abuse has become so common that the United States is in an opioid crisis.

A rear-end collision can cause serious injury

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

You came to a stop at an intersection, or perhaps you slowed down because traffic in front of you was stopping for construction or an accident. Whatever your reason for stopping, without warning, the car behind you did not slow down in time and slammed into the back of your vehicle. Your car lurched forward and perhaps even struck the vehicle in front of you.

The damage may have been minimal, and a medical team checked you out. You had no broken bones, and aside from some bruises, you may have seemed fine. A day or so later, you began to feel pain, and you knew something wasn't right. What you experienced is a type of soft tissue injury known as a cervical sprain, which is a common injury in rear-end collisions.

Avoiding no-zones helps you stay safer on the roads

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Commercial Vehicle Accidents on Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

Driving on the highway next to semitrucks and 18-wheelers may make you feel unsafe. You're not alone in that feeling, and many people wish they could drive without these large, hazardous vehicles around them.

Unfortunately, large trucks are here to stay, but you can take steps to avoid getting into a crash with one. The most important thing you can do is to stay out of the driver's "no-zone."

Is eating behind the wheel really dangerous?

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, March 8, 2018.

You likely know that drinking and driving is a hazard. You also know that texting behind the wheel or looking away from the road puts you in harm's way. Did you know that eating behind the wheel could cause a serious collision, too?

Eating while driving may cause up to 80 percent of all crashes, according to one study. Approximately 65 percent of cases involving near misses were also attributed to distracted drivers who were eating behind the wheel.

Rollover crashes: Speed and attention matter

On behalf of Waldron, Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law posted in Commercial Vehicle Accidents on Friday, March 2, 2018.

Driving on the highway next to semitrucks and trailers is always slightly frightening. The drivers are just human, and the size of the vehicle could lead to problems they can't stop. One of those issues is a cargo tank rollover accident.

The majority of rollover crashes are a result of driver error. They happen because drivers fail to control their loads in straight areas and on turns. They may not recognize high-risk areas of roadways or fail to retain the speed cushions used to prevent crashes. Drivers who don't pay attention or who are driving while drowsy also have a higher risk of causing a rollover accident.