Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 7, 2015
Baxter Car Accident Leaves Man in Critical Condition
A 24-year-old man from Smithville, Tennessee, was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical condition after suffering serious injuries in an accident in Baxter Friday evening.
According to a report by the Herald-Citizen, the accident occurred when the man was driving home from work in his Nissan Maxima and was struck by a Nissan Altima while traveling westbound on Nashville Highway.
The driver of the Altima was attempting to make a left turn into a Pizza Hut parking lot when the driver of a blue pickup truck failed to yield, causing him to rear-end the Altima and then hit the Maxima head-on.
Putnam County EMS received a call about the accident around 8:39 p.m., and crews had to extricate the injured man from his vehicle. He was first transported to Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s emergency room around 9:43 p.m., and was later transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center around 11:28 p.m. for additional treatment.
The man driving the Nissan Altima also suffered injuries in the accident, but his were considered noncritical and he was treated and released from the hospital.
How Can You Avoid Rear-End Collisions?
The Cookeville car accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law have helped many victims of rear-end collisions, and we know that these types of accidents can cause serious injuries, including whiplash, fractured vertebrae, concussions, and more.
To help avoid causing or being a victim of a rear-end collision, try to follow these safety tips when you’re on the road:
If you’re behind another vehicle, always give it plenty of room ahead to make time for things like turning, braking, and slowing down. If you follow too closely, you may not have enough time to stop or slow down if the other driver makes any sudden movements.
In addition, if you notice a vehicle following behind you too closely, consider changing lanes or pulling to the side of the road and allowing the driver to pass you. All it takes is one urgent stop for you to suffer a rear-end collision because of a driver that’s following too closely.
Whether the roads are wet or icy, it’s important to reduce your speed in inclement weather. Not only does slowing down protect you from rear-ending other vehicles, but it also helps protect you from being rear-ended by another vehicle behind you. Traveling at slower speeds reduces the amount of time it takes to slow down or stop and gives other vehicles on the road more time to respond to any sudden movements.
While it’s important to drive slowly in bad conditions, it’s also important to drive at a reasonable speed and with the flow of traffic. Driving too slowly in congested traffic, especially after pulling out onto a roadway or switching lanes, puts you at risk of getting rear-ended by another vehicle. Driving too fast can also make you more likely to cause a rear-end collision, as other drivers may not be able to match your speed or acceleration.
Rear-end collisions are some of the most common car accidents on the road because they can be caused by a myriad of circumstances. As a driver, you’re not only responsible for driving slowly and cautiously to avoid hitting the vehicles in front of you, but you can also help reduce your likelihood of being a victim of a rear-end collision by simply being aware of your surroundings at all times.
However, the Cookeville car accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law know that accidents still happen despite drivers’ best intentions. If you or someone you love was injured in a rear-end collision caused by someone else’s negligence, we can fight to get you compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Get in touch with us by dialing (615) 200-1111 or fill out our free online form. We’re ready to put our years of experience to work for your family today.
