Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury on September 8, 2016
2 Children Injured in Accident on Highway 41 in Robertson County
Two children under the age of 10 suffered serious injuries that required hospitalization after an accident on Highway 41 in Greenbrier, Tennessee, Monday night.
According to a report by Smokey Barn News, the accident occurred around 10 p.m. when the vehicle the children were riding in crossed the center lane of the highway and left the roadway. The vehicle then traveled in a ditch for around 100 yards before it crashed into a utility pole.
The driver of the vehicle—a 35-year-old woman from Nashville—was charged with driving under the influence and two counts of vehicular assault.
Neither the driver nor an adult passenger required medical attention after the crash. The children who were riding in the vehicle at the time of the accident were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville to receive treatment, and they’re currently listed in stable condition, according to police.
What Are Common Causes of Single-Vehicle Accidents?
Accidents that involve only one vehicle sustaining damage are common on roadways throughout Tennessee. These types of accidents can range from fender benders in parking lots to serious roll-over crashes that result in life-threatening injuries. Although many drivers are often most concerned about crashing into other cars, trucks, and SUVs when they’re on the roadway, single-vehicle crashes can be just as dangerous as multi-vehicle accidents.
Some of the most common causes of single-vehicle accidents include the following:
Speed limits are individually determined and set for each road, street, highway, and interstate in accordance to things like lane size, curves in the roadway, and visibility. When drivers exceed posted speed limits, they put themselves at risk of losing control of their vehicles and leaving the roadway or crashing into nearby objects, such as utility poles, guard rails, and trees.
In order to avoid accidents, drivers should always give their full attention to the task at hand. Texting, talking on the phone, looking back and forth at a GPS, and doing anything else that takes attention away from the roadway is considered distracted driving, and studies show that distracted driving is often just as dangerous as driving while impaired or intoxicated.
Although the risk of distraction can increase when drivers have passengers in their vehicles, driving alone can increase the risk of becoming fatigued or sleepy—especially late at night or early in the morning. Experiencing drowsiness behind the wheel can be extremely dangerous, as it significantly impairs reaction times. In some cases, drivers may even briefly fall asleep, creating an extreme risk of a serious accident, as even a momentary lapse in alertness is all it takes for a vehicle to drift off the roadway.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol is one of the single-biggest risk factors for all types of accidents, including single-vehicle crashes. Drivers who are intoxicated or impaired experience reduced reaction times, poor judgment, and drowsiness—all of which can increase the risk of crashes.
Weather has a major effect on the safety of roadways. Fog and heavy rain can make it difficult for drivers to see curves or debris in the road, while water, ice, and snow can reduce tire traction on pavement, increasing the risk of drivers losing control.
In addition to these common factors, some single-vehicle accidents are caused by other drivers. Whether it’s a driver cutting off another vehicle, running a vehicle off the road, or causing a driver to swerve to avoid a collision, it’s not uncommon for single-vehicle accidents to be caused by the negligent driving behaviors of other motorists.
At Matt Hardin Law, we know that single-vehicle accidents aren’t always the fault of the person behind the wheel. If you or someone you know was injured in a single-vehicle accident that was caused by another party’s carelessness, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. Get in touch with our Nashville auto accident attorneys today by dialing (615) 200-1111 or completing a free online consultation form.
