Driving any sort of vehicle poses some sort of risk, simply because of the nature of the activity. Controlling a giant metal deathtrap on wheels will, inevitably, trap some death. That’s why laws, regulations, safety features, and overall standards of care are always changing and improving wherever and whenever possible. Ideally, there would be no risk! After all, many of us have no choice but to drive every day. Wouldn’t it be nice if you were [...]

No matter how long you’ve been driving, the chances are good you’ve seen more than one intersection accident, usually around a shopping plaza or on a rural road. Intersection collisions happen pretty often, and the force of the impact can easily lead to the death of a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcycle rider. Knoxville drivers know all about dangerous intersections. According to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study, “eastbound Western Avenue (SR 62) at [...]

A new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that women are at a greater risk of suffering serious injury compared to men in motor vehicle crashes. The study has found that the increased risk is due to the types of vehicles women drive and the circumstances surrounding the accidents and not the physical differences between women and men. The study from the IIHS, along with supporting data, shows that men are [...]

So you've been hit by a car; you weren't in a designated crosswalk. A lot of times that's referred to as “jaywalking” in our common parlance. That doesn't mean that you're always responsible. There are a number of factors that play into that: Were you wearing bright clothes? Was it the middle of the day? Was it night? Was the driver speeding? Understand that drivers are tasked with the responsibility of seeing what is there to [...]

Car accidents cause many different types of injuries including shoulder injuries. Damage to the shoulder normally occurs when an occupant collides with another passenger, the dashboard, the door, or with other parts of the vehicle such as a steering column. Shoulder injuries can also occur if an occupant is thrown from the car onto the ground, from the tightening of a seatbelt, or even when the airbag operates. Accident victims who suffer a shoulder injury normally [...]

In many car accident cases, a driver’s negligence is clear. The driver sped, talked on his smartphone while driving, or ran through a red light. But what happens when the driver has a heart attack or a medical emergency that causes him/her to black out and lose control of their vehicle. Is it fair to hold drivers who have heart failure or other medical emergencies liable if events beyond their control cause the car crash? The [...]

 Should you try to work your case out yourself? We get asked that question a lot. And the reality of it is, if you're a mechanic, I would suggest that you work on your own car. But if you're trying to handle something that you're unfamiliar with, the likelihood of success is just simply not there. Understand that the folks on the other side, the folks from the insurance company, they are trained to elicit [...]

Getting into a wreck can be stressful, and you may not be thinking clearly right away. Today, T. Scott Jones and Chris Beavers discuss what you should do after you’ve been in a car accident in Knoxville. Who should I contact first after a car accident?  Who should you contact first after a car accident? Well surprisingly, I'm not gonna tell you that the answer is me, though I am on the list. After a [...]

Distracted driving can lead to serious injuries. Today, T. Scott Jones talks about distracted driving, and what you need to know. What is included in Tennessee’s distracted driving laws?  Distracted driving law in Tennessee is something that has recently come about, particularly through legislative action in order to deter folks from using electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. It's extraordinarily important that you pay attention to the road and your surroundings, because you're operating [...]

 Texting or distracted driving can lead to accidents. It can also to lead to liability, in particular if you're using any type of a mobile device  – you can call it texting, you can call it Facebook, you can call it Snapchat, Instagram – however you use that device, if it distracts your ability to maintain a lookout in the direction in which you are driving then you're likely going to have a problem. Also [...]

We have no control over the actions of other drivers, passengers, traffic or road conditions. As a result, auto accidents unfortunately can and do happen, leading to a wide variety of minor and major injuries. One such trauma which often results from auto accidents is whiplash. Although whiplash isn’t a visible physical injury, it can cause a patient long-term pain and discomfort. What is whiplash? Also known as neck strain or neck sprain, whiplash is a [...]

If you are hurt in a car crash, seeing a doctor is one of the first things you should do. However, you might not know which doctors you should visit when you have sustained certain injuries. There are several doctors that may be worth visiting, but it all depends on the specific injuries you have sustained. Primary care physician Before seeing anyone else, consider visiting with your primary care physician. During your visit with the physician, [...]

 Where should you get medical care after you've been involved in an accident? Obviously, it's important to get medical care to treat your injuries following an accident, but a common question we receive is, how do you go about doing that or deciding where to go treat? I want you to remember two things when looking into somebody to treat with following an accident. First, your treatment has to make sense. So, you can't treat [...]

 Do you need to see a doctor if you don't feel any pain after a crash? Sometimes the answer is yes. If you're involved in a serious accident with a serious impact, then you probably want to go and get checked out, even if you don't feel any pain immediately after a crash. If you don't feel any pain immediately, that doesn't mean you're not going to feel pain at some time in the future. [...]

If you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you may need to rely on your own policy for help. Today, T. Scott Jones answers some common questions about uninsured motorist coverage. Do I Need to Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage?  Why you need to have uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is like any other insurance coverage: it's there to protect you, particularly in the event that you're involved in an accident with injuries or [...]

The state of Tennessee was recently branded with an unfortunate mark. Among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, it is the worst state for distracted driving deaths involving cell phone use. The study, released by Value Penguin, looked at the statistics on deaths in the state connected to cell phone use and driving from 2015 to 2017. Tennessee fared miserably when compared to all other states. During this time period, more than 1,400 deaths [...]

When serious accidents happen, drivers have a duty to contact the police. A serious accident usually means that a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or bicyclist was injured. If a car isn’t drivable after a crash, that also suggests the accident was serious. A question that often arises after an accident is, What must drivers do if the car accident doesn’t cause any injuries or massive property damage? And where does Tennessee draw the line between minor accidents [...]

 An interesting question is whether or not you can recover for an injury when you're involved in a hit and run accident. There are a couple of factors that come into play and need to be considered. One is, whether or not there was an impact with your vehicle. If there was an actual physical impact, then yes, you can recover. In the event there wasn't an impact – say someone cut you off and [...]

Being hit and injured by drivers who are high on prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and/or illegal drugs always has been a problem. However, the number of auto accidents related to people who are high on opioids, marijuana, and other drugs has been increasing recently, in part because some states have legalized the use of marijuana – and opioids seem to be everywhere. If you are injured in a crash with a drugged driver, you have the [...]

You can face devastating consequences after experiencing a spinal cord injury in Knoxville or anywhere throughout the State of Tennessee. These consequences can include long-term injury, the inability to work or engage in everyday activities, the inability to care for yourself or your family members, severe disability, and even paralysis. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), car accidents are the number one cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the U.S. They [...]

Court documents recently made public reveal the Goodyear G159 RV tire to be “the worst tire made in history.” This is not hyperbole, as a shocking article from Jalopnik disclosed that the tire was linked to hundreds of vehicle crashes and several fatalities. New evidence disclosed in an Arizona court on April 4, 2018 revealed that the product is tied to more than 700 complaints. The issue at a glance Jalopnik's investigation of the court documents [...]

An auto recall is when automakers or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified a safety defect in one or more vehicle models. As a result, the vehicle with the defect violates the safety standards established by the federal government, and a defect can concern either the entire vehicle or a part thereof, such as the design. Therefore, a recall can involve: Broken steering parts Broken or stuck accelerator controls Fractured wheels Malfunctioning windshield [...]

Distracted driving includes texting while driving, talking on your smartphone while operating a vehicle, eating, playing with the radio, looking at a GPS system, or any activity that takes your hands off the steering wheel and your eyes off the road. Distracted driving also includes driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving while drowsy. The statistics are overwhelming. Distracted driving is a leading cause of death, catastrophic injury, and permanent harm to vehicle drivers, [...]

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirm that 40% of car accidents in the United States occur at intersections. Intersection accidents are common because there at least two crossing roads. Roads typically have at least two lanes of travel, which means most intersection traffic involves four lanes of travel. Cars at intersections can either turn left, right, or travel straight through the intersection. Drivers need to look out for all three types of traffic [...]