Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on March 28, 2016
2 Fatalities Reported after Sumner County Crash Last Friday
Two vehicles collided on Highway 31 East in Bethpage, Tennessee, Friday evening, causing two people to suffer fatal injuries.
According to a report by WKRN.com, the accident occurred in the eastbound lanes of the highway in Sumner County at around 8:45 p.m.
A 22-year-old woman was driving in the southbound lanes of Hwy 31E with her 55-year-old father when a Chevrolet pickup truck appeared in their path due to its driver attempting to pass a vehicle in the northbound lane. The woman swerved to avoid the pickup truck and ended up in the northbound lane herself, where her vehicle was struck by a 2001 Ford pickup truck driven by a 25-year-old man.
The impact of the collision caused the driver of the Ford pickup truck to suffer serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and he was transported to Sumner Regional Medical Center to receive treatment.
The woman and her father were both pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
A witness at the accident scene attempted to follow the Chevrolet pickup truck after the accident occurred, and he or she provided police with more information about the vehicle.
Sumner County police officers say that the information provided by the witness led to the identification of a possible suspect, and the crash is still under investigation.
5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Attempting to Pass Another Vehicle
Passing other vehicles always carries some element of risk. In general, it’s best to avoid passing on two-lane roads, but if you have to pass, ask yourself these questions before you switch lanes and increase your speed:
The first and simplest question to ask yourself is whether it’s legal to pass in the first place. Roads with solid yellow lines on your side of traffic mean that passing is illegal in that area. You should also never attempt to pass on single-lane roadways or in parking lot lanes.
Safely passing another vehicle requires an unobstructed view of the road ahead. If your view is compromised due to rain, fog, lack of light, hills, dips, or curves in the roadway, don’t pass—even if it’s legal in that area.
Large commercial vehicles may drive slower than other vehicles on two-lane roads, but passing them can be dangerous, especially when their size blocks your view. If you can’t clearly see the road ahead due to the size of the vehicle in front of you, don’t attempt to pass.
Being behind a vehicle for a long period of time on a roadway can make you feel like you’re traveling slower than you actually are. If your speed matches or is slightly under the speed limit for the roadway you’re on, you don’t need to pass, as attempting to do so will require you to accelerate to excessive speeds.
Passing a vehicle only to end up behind several other vehicles that are traveling at roughly the same speed won’t help you get to your destination any sooner. If you see that there are multiple vehicles in your lane, avoid passing, as doing so can increase your risk of being involved in an accident without reducing your travel time.
In some cases, such as when a vehicle in front of you is traveling at a speed that’s significantly below the speed limit, passing is permissible—but only in areas where it’s legally allowed. Otherwise, it’s safer to remain in your lane, particularly on two-lane roadways. The amount of time you save isn’t worth the increased risks you face when you attempt to pass other vehicles.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys know that drivers who attempt to pass other vehicles may do so during dangerous conditions, putting themselves and others at risk. When their negligent and careless driving behaviors cause accidents, they can be considered responsible for the accident-related expenses incurred by innocent victims.
If you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident that was caused by a careless driver, we want to help you recover the compensation you deserve. To find out how we can help, dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online form.
