Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury on April 26, 2017
One person was killed and two others seriously injured following a crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 65 in Davidson County on Saturday morning.
Per a report by WKRN.com, the accident occurred near the Old Hickory Boulevard exit when the vehicle that a 79-year-old woman, her 54-year-old daughter, and her 24-year-old granddaughter were traveling in left the roadway and struck a rock wall.
The granddaughter was driving at the time of the crash, while her mother was sitting in the front passenger seat. Both suffered injuries, and the mother was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to receive treatment for her injuries. The granddaughter suffered minor injuries.
However, the grandmother was critically injured in the accident and pronounced dead at Vanderbilt shortly after arriving. The accident is still under investigation, but law enforcement officers say that there’s no evidence that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
What Are the Common Causes of Fatal Single-Vehicle Accidents?
When many people think of fatal car accidents, they envision two or more vehicles colliding. However, single-vehicle accidents can be just as dangerous and even deadly for drivers and passengers. In fact, around 55 percent of all motor vehicle accident deaths in 2015 occurred during single-vehicle accidents, with 517 of those crashes occurring in Tennessee.
There are a handful of common causes of fatal single-vehicle crashes, including:
Driving at night, during heavy rainfall, in thick fog, and when there’s snow and ice on the road are all factors that can contribute to fatal single-vehicle accidents. Always take the proper precautions when driving during inclement weather or when visibility is reduced. Use your wipers, turn on your headlights, clear your windshield of ice and snow, and reduce your speed. If conditions become too treacherous, pull over and wait for them to improve.
Safely maneuvering a motor vehicle requires coordination and good decision making. Drugs and alcohol impair both, making drivers who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs and prescription medications significantly more likely to be involved in accidents—including single-vehicle crashes. Call a cab, appoint a designated driver, or use a ridesharing service if you’ve consumed alcohol, and never get behind the wheel after taking medications that can interfere with driving.
A recent and growing epidemic, drivers who take their eyes, ears, and minds off the roadway pose significant risks to themselves and their passengers. One of the most common causes of distracted driving is the usage of cell phones and smartphones. It’s illegal to text and drive in Tennessee, and law enforcement officers are cracking down on people who engage in this risky behavior. If you need to send a text, always pull over to safe a location before looking at your phone.
A driver who is free from impairments and distractions and traveling on a bright sunny day can still have a significantly elevated risk of being in a crash simply by exceeding the speed limit. Statistics show that speeding triples the chances that a driver will be involved in a crash, and it also increases the risk that all occupants in the vehicle will suffer severe and even life-threatening injuries. Follow the speed limit, and make sure that you regularly check speed limit signs to slow down if it changes.
While it’s important to be aware of the positions of other vehicles and the behaviors of other drivers near you, it’s even more important to make sure that you can remain in control of your vehicle while it’s in motion. Being prepared to adapt to potentially dangerous circumstances, while also avoiding behaviors that impair your ability to drive safely, are the best ways to avoid serious accidents.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys know that drivers can reduce their risks by being conscientious and always following traffic laws, but the actions of other motorists can still result in serious accidents. If you or someone you know was hurt in a crash that was caused by a negligent driver, our legal team may be able to help you pursue a claim for compensation. Get in touch with us today by dialing (615) 200-1111 or completing a free online consultation form.
