Posted in Car Accident,Drunk Driving,Negligence,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 2, 2015
New Year’s Early Morning Crash Kills One, Injures Two in Knoxville
A two-vehicle accident that occurred in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day killed one Knoxville man and sent two other people to the hospital with serious injuries.
According to a report by wate.com and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the accident happened around 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day near the 3300 block of Schaad Road in Knox County.
The driver of one of the cars was a 22-year-old male who was traveling eastbound on Schaad Road when troopers say he suddenly veered off into the westbound lanes of traffic and collided with another vehicle.
The impact of the collision killed the 22-year-old driver of the vehicle and caused his passenger, an 18-year-old woman, to suffer serious injuries in the accident. According to the THP, neither of the people in the vehicle were wearing seat belts and both were ejected due to the impact of the collision.
The driver of the other car involved in the accident, a 35-year-old man, also suffered injuries. The THP also stated that an investigation is underway and that alcohol may have been a factor in causing the accident.
Staying Safe While Driving During Early Morning Hours
Whether you’re driving home after a night of celebration or driving to work early in the morning, it’s important to understand that although there are often much fewer drivers on the road at this time, these hours are also dangerous due to the likelihood of encountering people who are intoxicated or drowsy.
To stay safe during the early morning hours when you get behind the wheel, do your best to follow these tips from the Nashville car accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law:
Most people are naturally more active and alert during the day and tend to get sleepy at night. If you feel yourself nodding off while behind the wheel during the early morning hours, don’t rely on coffee and energy drinks to stay awake, as they may not be effective. Instead, consider pulling over to a well-lit rest stop or parking lot and taking a short nap. Even 15-20 minutes of shut-eye can help you recharge enough to get to your destination safely.
Stop lights rarely have much traffic during the early morning hours, but they’re also prime locations for drunk, drowsy, or intoxicated drivers to cause accidents because they’re not paying attention and run yellow and red lights. Instead of immediately accelerating and crossing an intersection when you get a green light, count to five before moving your vehicle. This gives you time to cross safely and avoid anyone who tries to beat the light.
In the dark, your headlights, blinkers, and brake lights may be the only things other drivers can see—especially if you drive a dark vehicle. Make sure all of these critical components of your vehicle are in good working order any time you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, but especially before you drive at night or during the early morning hours. It’s also important to make your bright lights work in case you need to drive down an unfamiliar road or one that isn’t lit with street lights.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers know that certain times of day are more dangerous than others to be on the road—and the early morning hours are one of the deadliest for many reasons.
That’s why it’s our goal to not only help those who were injured in accidents that weren’t their fault, but to also prevent them occurring in the first place. But if you or someone you love were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we’ll do our best to help you get compensation for your accident-related expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs.
Dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free form to speak with our legal professionals today.
