Posted in Car Accident,Distracted Driving,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on September 24, 2015
Distracted Driving Leads to Rollover Accident in Belle Meade Neighborhood
A rollover accident caused by distracted driving resulted in a woman being taken to a local hospital for treatment early Thursday morning.
A report by wkrn.com says the accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of Harding Pike and Clarendon Avenue. The driver of the vehicle told police that she looked at her phone before losing control and crashing into a retaining wall near the roadway. The impact of that collision caused her vehicle to roll onto its side.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, the woman treated for minor injuries and transported to Saint Thomas Hospital for further treatment. According to police, she was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
After the accident occurred, the woman was initially unable to get out of her vehicle and had to be helped by a witness before police and rescue crews arrived at the accident scene.
What Makes Distracted Driving So Dangerous?
As people become more and more connected with electronic devices, the incidence of distracted driving accidents continues to rise. Whether they’re talking on a cell phone, texting, checking email, or playing games, many drivers put themselves and others at serious risk by dividing their attention between the roadway and the devices they hold in their hands while they’re behind the wheel.
Distracted driving is an epidemic in Tennessee and poses a significant risk to every driver and passenger on roadways throughout the state because of a few key factors, including:
Whether you’re driving at 30 miles per hour or 70 miles per hour, staying in control of your vehicle requires uninterrupted concentration and attention to the road and the vehicles ahead of you. Taking your eyes or your mind off the road for even one second is all it takes for your vehicle to move out of its current lane and into the path of oncoming traffic or vehicles in adjacent lanes. Drivers often overcorrect upon noticing this, causing them to lose control and even flip their vehicles onto their sides.
Every time you use a roadway in Tennessee, you will inevitably end up behind a vehicle that’s directly in front of you. Safe driving when following behind another vehicle not only requires backing up and giving the other drive plenty of room, but also paying close attention to their speed and when they apply their brakes. Being distracted momentarily when the driver ahead of you applies his or her brakes is all it takes to cause a serious high-speed rear-end accident.
Although many people think of distracted driving as taking your eyes off the roadway and your surroundings, it can be more subtle than that. Things like listening to loud music, engaging in conversations with your passengers, changing the radio station, or even zoning out briefly can all take your mind off the road—even if your eyes continue facing forward.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Belle Meade car accident attorneys have handled countless auto accident claims over the years, and we know that distracted driving is playing a role in more and more accidents every year. In fact, many studies show that distracted driving can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. That’s why we strongly urge all drivers to avoid using their cell phones and other electronic devices while behind the wheel and to minimize distractions as much as possible.
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be eligible to receive compensation for their negligent behavior. At our law firm, we believe that innocent victims should never have to pay for their own medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair expenses when the accident was someone else’s fault. Get in touch with us today—just dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online form.
