Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on August 5, 2016
Maury County Law Enforcement Works to Decrease Traffic Fatalities
Officers with the Maury County Sheriff’s Department have teamed up with the Columbia Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies to help reduce the number of traffic fatalities in the area.
According to a report by WKRN.com, a total of 13 fatal injuries have been reported after car accidents in 2016 in the county, which is four times more than the number reported in all of 2015.
A captain with the CPD asks for all drivers to always wear their seat belts and to make sure their passengers are always buckled up as well.
In addition, he stated that drivers should always avoid distractions, as a brief lapse in concentration or judgment is all it takes to be involved in a serious crash.
The safety initiative also aims to reduce the total number of accidents in the area. Since January, around 1,500 traffic accidents have been reported in Maury County.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Fatal Traffic Accidents?
Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death for people of all ages in the United States, including Middle Tennessee. Law enforcement agencies nationwide and throughout the state make it a top priority to reduce the number of fatal traffic accidents on streets, highways, and interstates, but it can be difficult to do so if drivers aren’t aware of the top causes of accidents that have the potential to seriously injure and kill.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers know that some of the most common factors involved in fatal accidents include:
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 10,000 people were killed as a result of crashes involving alcohol in 2014. That number means alcohol-related accidents account for one-third of all fatal crashes in the United States. Alcohol significantly impairs a driver’s ability to think quickly and make sound judgments—both of which are essential for safe driving.
The number of distractions that drivers have access to while behind the wheel is higher than ever. That includes things like smartphones, stereo systems, GPS devices, handheld video games, and even routine tasks like eating and applying makeup. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 total accidents occurred in 2014 due to distracted driving.
Every road, street, highway, and interstate in the United States has a speed limit. Driving faster than these limits is grounds for police officers to pull over and ticket drivers, but getting a ticket is a small price to pay for potentially avoiding one of the most common causes of auto accident-related deaths. Vehicles that are driven faster than the speed limit are more difficult to maneuver, navigate through tight turns, slow down, or stop, and drivers who speed will have less time to react to the movements of other vehicles in front of them.
In addition to these factors, other common causes of fatal accidents include things like inclement weather, vehicle defects and malfunctions, failure to maintain a lane, and running red lights or stop signs. At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville car accident attorneys know that many fatal car accidents can be prevented or reduced in severity if all drivers make a concentrated effort to focus on driving as safely as possible at all times, and that means never driving while drunk, distracted, impaired, or exceeding the speed limit.
If you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. To find out how our legal team can assist you and build a case on your behalf, dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form. We’re ready to begin fighting for your rights today.
