Posted in Drunk Driving,Personal Injury on July 25, 2014
Earlier this month, Tennessee Highway Patrol set up a sobriety check point with the assistance from other organizations, as well as from help with the family of an accident victim who lost her life in a fatal drunk-driving accident last year. According to a report by WBIR, the mother of the family was killed when a drunk driver slammed into her car last July.
In an effort to heighten the awareness around drunk driving, the woman’s family worked with THP to set up a sobriety check point on the one-year anniversary of her death. A spokesperson for THP admired the family’s willingness to look past their own personal tragedy and focus on preventing others from suffering the same fate as their loved one.
Tennessee Highway Patrol told reporters that this is just one sobriety check point that is part of an overall increase statewide. Evidently, the check points are going to be randomly distributed throughout the week at various times of the day.
Drunk Driving in Tennessee
Anyone operating a vehicle with a blood- or breath-alcohol content of .08 or more is deemed to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Tennessee has very strict first-offense laws for those convicted of driving while intoxicated. For instance, no matter what the facts, are anyone found to be driving while intoxicated is subject to a mandatory 48 hour jail sentence. In addition, there are fines, court costs, towing fees, etc. that the person is responsible for.
In addition to the costs incurred in relation to the offense itself, a drunk driver may also be liable to his or her victim, if their decision to drive drunk resulted in any injuries.
When a drunk driver causes an accident, the accident victim is permitted to file a claim against the drunk driver in a Tennessee court seeking compensation for their injuries. In many cases, a successful accident victim can recover for their medical bills, future medical expenses, and lost wages, as well as past and future pain and suffering.
In some instances when a drunk driver is especially reckless, the accident victim may also be eligible for punitive damages. Punitive damages are above and beyond the economic damages suffered by the plaintiff, and are a method of deterring particularly dangerous or condemnable behavior on the part of defendants.
Have You Been Involved in a Tennessee Drunk Driving Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Tennessee drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages based on the drunk driver’s decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. A skilled Tennessee personal injury attorney can help develop your case against the drunk driver, helping you increase the chance of being successful at trial. In many cases, the law makes it easier to recover in drunk driving accidents, due to the fact that there is a specific law prohibiting the conduct. To learn more about the laws in Tennessee that allow the victims of drunk driving accidents to recover for their injuries, contact Matt Hardin Law by clicking here, or call 615-200-1111 to schedule your free initial consultation with a dedicated Tennessee personal injury attorney.
See Related Blog Posts:
Chain Reaction Accident in Knoxville Claims Two Lives, Nashville Injury Lawyer’s Blog, published June 30, 2014.
The Tort of Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress in Tennessee, Nashville Injury Lawyer’s Blog, published June 3, 2014.
