Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on August 19, 2016
Fatal Injuries Reported after La Vergne Car Accident
A 36-year-old La Vergne woman suffered fatal injuries during a car accident Saturday night in Rutherford County.
According to a report by the Daily News Journal, the accident occurred when the woman was traveling in her 2011 Ford Fusion on Stones River Road and it collided with a 1999 Chevy Silverado.
A report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol indicated that the woman’s vehicle was traveling south when it crossed the center line and into the path of oncoming traffic while navigating a curve in the road.
The driver of the SUV wasn’t injured during the crash, but a 7-year-old passenger was hurt and transported to StoneCrest to receive treatment.
The driver of the Fusion was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. The THP closed the roadway for several hours as they worked to investigate the crash. A spokesperson with the THP says that the driver of the Fusion wasn’t wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
In addition, the THP’s initial investigation also indicates that alcohol may have played a role in the crash.
4 Reasons to Always Wear Your Seat Belt
Seat belts are the most important safety features in vehicles. Although things like airbags, electronic stability control, and collision warning systems can help reduce the risks of accidents and injuries, nothing protects drivers and passengers as effectively as seat belts. Recent studies show that seat belt use in the United States has increased significantly, as only 14 percent of people used them in 1983 compared to 87 percent who use them in 2013.
Four of the top reasons that you should always wear your seat belt, whether you’re a driver or a passenger, include:
Simply put, seat belts make you safer during car crashes. A person wearing a seat belt halves their risk of suffering serious crash-related injuries, according to data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of people who die in auto accidents were unrestrained at the time of the crashes.
Drivers and passengers who are ejected during accidents are at an extremely high risk of suffering disabling and fatal injuries. Ejections are more common during high-speed head-on collision and rollover accidents, but wearing a seat belt can significantly reduce the likelihood that an occupant will be ejected from his or her vehicle.
Every year in the United States, more than 13,000 people are involved in serious car accidents that would have proved fatal if they weren’t buckled up. Wearing a seat belt is your best defense against your biggest risk factors on the roadway, including drivers who are impaired, intoxicated, distracted, reckless, or aggressive.
No one wants to get pulled over by police or receive an expensive ticket. Tennessee is a primary enforcement state, which means police officers can pull over and ticket drivers and front-seat passengers who are seen on roadways without their seat belts fastened. Wearing a seat belt at all times not only reduces your risk of being seriously injured, it also keeps you out of trouble.
The best thing you can do to protect yourself when you’re inside a moving vehicle is to wear your seat belt and keep it on at all times. In addition to always wearing it, you should also make sure you’re wearing it correctly. Seat belts should fit snugly across the waist and chest in order to maximize their effectiveness. If your seat belt doesn’t fit, adjust it until you feel securely restrained.
At Matt Hardin Law, our La Vergne auto accident attorneys have helped many car crash victims during the past two decades, and we know how important seat belts are to their safety and well-being. However, we also know that wearing a seat belt doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility of injuries—especially when other drivers are negligent.
If you or someone you love was injured in a crash caused by a careless driver, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. To speak with our legal team, dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form today.
