Posted in Bus Accident,Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on April 28, 2015
UCHRA Bus Driver Involved in Cookeville Accident Cited for Negligence
Cookeville police charged the driver of a van used by the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency that was involved in a serious accident that injured multiple people last week with failure to exercise due care.
According to a report by the Herald-Citizen, Cookeville police decided to file charges against the driver after investigating the accident and determining that the driver entered the flow of traffic without seeing a Dodge minivan heading towards his vehicle in the southbound lanes of traffic on South Willow Avenue.
After the bus entered the southbound lanes, it was struck by the minivan, causing its 56-year-old male driver and a 22-year-old male passenger to suffer injuries, while two passengers on the UCHRA bus, aged 39 and 60 years old, also suffered injuries.
The driver of the bus, a 27-year-old woman, was cited with failure to exercise due care as a result of the injuries her passengers suffered in the accident.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Cookeville car accident attorneys are glad no one was severely injured in this accident and we hope the local police continue investigating accidents caused by negligent or careless behavior.
What Constitutes Negligent Behavior Behind the Wheel?
When auto accident victims file claims for compensation, one of the most important factors that they or their attorneys have to prove is whether the driver who caused the accident was negligent—or careless—in their behavior or driving habits. Some of the most common accident-causing behaviors that can be considered negligence include:
Although driving is something many people do on a daily basis, it’s still something that requires the utmost concentration, attention, and focus. Many drivers become too comfortable in their daily routines and driving routes and use their phones, change radio stations, reach for items in the floorboard or passenger seats, and do other activities that take their eyes and minds off the road for extended periods of time. Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents and is considered negligent behavior.
Safe driving requires clear judgment, good vision, and quick reaction times. Consuming certain drugs, prescription medications, and alcohol before getting behind the wheel can impair all of these requirements for drivers, putting them, their passengers, and other drivers on the road at high risk of being involved in serious car accidents. Driving while under in the influence of alcohol and drugs shows a lack of regard for safety and can often be used to prove negligence in auto accident claims.
Traffic laws exist to help reduce the likelihood of serious accidents and improve road safety. When drivers violate traffic laws by speeding, running red lights and stop signs, following too closely, and passing on roads where it’s prohibited, they dramatically increase their chances of causing accidents. Proving that a driver violated traffic laws before causing an accident can be considered strong evidence for car accident compensation claims.
The Cookeville car accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law know that proving another driver’s negligence is one of the most importance aspects of getting successful outcomes for our auto accident clients. When we take on a new case, we leave no stone unturned as we look at the accident from every angle to find out how the other driver’s careless behavior led to the accident.
If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you deserve to have an experienced and accomplished legal team on your side. Get in touch with our staff today by dialing (931) 754-1188 or filling out a free online form. It’s our goal to get you full and just compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
