What Is Tennessee Doing to Combat Increasing Rates of Distracted Driving Crashes and Fatalities?
Cell phone use, including texting and driving, caused 18,122 traffic crashes in Tennessee in 2017. Even though texting while driving is against the law in Tennessee, cellphone-related traffic crashes continue to increase year after year. The law banning texting and driving, TN Code section 55-8-199, has been on the books since 2009, but the law…
Read MoreTwo New Tennessee Laws for Drivers in 2018
The New Year has brought in a series of new laws to the state of Tennessee. Some of them have the potential to affect your life and even your daily routine. In fact, some 16 new laws have entered the books this year. Let’s review a couple of new laws in particular that could impact…
Read MoreIIHS Raises the Bar for Vehicle Safety in 2018
Vehicle safety standards have continually increased over recent decades, as the government and automakers cooperate on making the cars we love to drive safer for both drivers and passengers. Car manufacturers understand that safety is also a big selling point with customers. This is particularly true when a manufacturer can point to one or more…
Read MoreDo Not Resuscitate Order – an Ethical and Legal Dilemma
When emergency medical personnel encounter an individual with life threatening circumstances that involve loss of pulse or loss of breathing, these individuals must know whether or not the patient has authorized a “do not resuscitate order,” or DNR order. This is a medical order that requires the signature of a doctor. It states that the…
Read MoreNew Harsher Penalties for Persistent Repeat DUI Offenders in Tennessee
Drivers in Tennessee who have repeatedly engaged in the activity of drinking and driving now face harsher penalties than ever. New laws put in place in 2016 focus special attention on individuals who have received a DUI conviction more than four times. The penalties for DUI convictions for first through fourth time offenders are already…
Read MoreThe Admissibility of Tattoos in a Criminal Trial
A recent Pew Research Center study said that 38 percent of young people from 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo. That’s a lot of people with a lot of tattoos. When someone is arrested, often the arresting agency will obtain information about the tattoos. These descriptions may not be the something an accused…
Read MoreWhen the Cold Weather Comes, It Matters Where You Keep the Dog
Tennessee just had its first snowfall of the year – and if looks like we might see a lot more of it in the coming months. That means we need to put in our storm windows, make sure our pipes are in good condition, and keep some extra blankets and firewood out in order to…
Read MoreI’ve Been Injured in a Motorcycle Crash. What Do I Do Now?
There is nothing quite like the feel of riding a motorcycle. Tennessee has some of the prettiest roadways in the country, and taking off on the bike for a drive can be exhilarating. The problem is that most drivers don’t know how to act around motorcycles, and that can lead to some pretty nasty collisions.…
Read MoreAvoiding a DUI This Holiday Season
The holiday season is here, and the end of the year is approaching fast. Many people will celebrate with their friends and loved ones between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve – and those celebrations may include drinking wine, eggnog, or other alcoholic beverages. Some of them will then get behind the wheel, thinking they can…
Read MoreTennessee State Supreme Court Issues Important Ruling on Behalf of Injury Victims
The laws surrounding personal injury cases in Tennessee are complicated, but a recent Tennessee State Supreme Court decision struck a decisive blow on behalf of personal injury victims. The decision was rendered in the case Jean Dedmon v. Debbie Steelman, et al., and allows plaintiffs to submit the full cost of their medical bills, as…
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