Posted in Car Accident,Drunk Driving,Negligence,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on July 17, 2015
Cookeville Crash Leads to Injuries, Alcohol-Related Arrests
A car collided with a disabled vehicle as it was being pulled out a ditch late last Saturday night, causing serious damage to both vehicles and injuries to the driver and passenger.
According to a report by the Herald Citizen, the accident occurred on Cookeville, Tennessee, around 11:30 p.m. Saturday on Shipley Road. The driver of the disabled car had accidentally run off the road and ended up in a ditch. The driver and a friend were in the process of pulling the vehicle out of the ditch when it was struck on the driver’s side by an Infiniti driven by a 32-year-man from Cookeville.
After the collision, Cookeville police were alerted and arrived at the scene to find both driver and passenger in the Infiniti had suffered injuries. After speaking with both, police also noticed that the driver of the Infiniti smelled of alcohol.
Police then requested that the driver undergo a field sobriety, which he failed. He was then placed under arrest for driving under the influence.
The passenger in the vehicle was also charged with DUI by allowance for allowing the man to drive her vehicle when she knew he was intoxicated.
Important Facts about DUI Arrests
At Matt Hardin Law, our Cookeville car accident attorneys know that too many accidents in Putnam County and throughout Middle Tennessee are caused due to the consumption of alcohol. Because alcohol impairs judgment and slows reaction times, it can cause drivers to make poor decisions behind the wheel and take unnecessary risks.
Our legal team also knows that many people are unfamiliar with certain aspects of the law when it comes to driving under the influence. Some facts that drivers may not be aware of include:
Some drivers may attempt to avoid getting a DUI by allowing other people to drive their cars, but if the person who gets behind the wheel is also intoxicated, both parties may be charged with DUI if pulled over by police.
DUIs are expensive. In addition to facing heavy fines for the offense, drivers convicted of DUI also have to pay expensive attorney’s fees, increased insurance premiums, car impound fees, towing fees, mandatory alcohol education class fees, and lost wages due to jail time.
In Tennessee, drivers who are found guilty of driving under the influence may be ordered by a judge to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles. These devices prevent vehicles from working if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath and can cost up to $60 per month.
Driving under the influence is extremely dangerous—and when a serious accident that causes injuries occurs, the intoxicated driver can face serious consequences. Drivers convicted of DUI who caused accidents that injured their passengers or other motorists can face charges of vehicular assault and face between two and four years of incarceration and loss of license for up to five years.
Matt Hardin Law’s team of Cookeville auto accident lawyers knows that drunk or impaired driving puts everyone on Tennessee’s roadways at significant risk of being involved in life-changing and even life-threatening accidents. That’s why we fully support the efforts of police in Middle Tennessee and throughout the state to get intoxicated drivers off the road.
If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk driver, we want to help you get full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs. Get in touch with our legal team today. You can reach us at (931) 754-1188 or by filling out a free online consultation form. It’s our goal to help you get the money you deserve.
