Articles Posted in Drunk Driving

Published on: March 15, 2011

St. Patrick’s Day Increases Risk for Knoxville Car Accidents

Police will be out in full force this St. Patrick’s Day weekend to crack down on drunk driving in an effort to reduce the risk of Knoxville car accidents.

A Pub Crawl is planned in the Old City for Wednesday night. As Channel 6 News reports, local merchants have organized a seven-bar pub crawl for $7. Seven bars means a long and exciting celebration for locals and visitors.

Knoxville personal injury lawyers encourage you to put safety first this holiday weekend. These pub crawls heighten the risk for drunk driving and Knoxville police will be on the lookout. “By doing bar checks and intensive patrols, or what we call saturation patrols in the areas with a lot of bars, a lot of extra officers on duty,” says Lt. Greg Hoskins.

According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 35 people die every day in the United States as a result of drunk driving accidents. This means a person will die every 40 – 45 minutes in an accident with a drunk driver.

The “Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest.” campaign offers free, printable posters, templates, and banners to help keep you and your friends and businesses safe this St. Patrick’s Day.

“The best advice is, always a designated driver. It’s as simple as that. One person, nothing to drink. That was if you are stopped by police you should be fine,” says Lt. Hoskins.

DUI Checkpoint & Crime on the Road offers these tips to help keep Tennesseans safe this St. Patrick’s Day:

-Before you go out, designate a sober driver.

-If you’re impaired call a friend or family member, use public transportation or get a taxi.

-Use the local Sober Ride program.

-Call the police department if you seen an impaired driver on the road.
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Published on: March 12, 2011

Drunk Driving a Leading Cause of Car Accidents in Knoxville, Maryville

By Mark Hartsoe

Our Knoxville accident lawyers know that in 2009, alcohol was involved in more than one-third of all fatal Tennessee car accidents.

Knox News reported on a recent early morning crash that sent 3 people to the hospital.

The accident happened in front of Rocky Hill Elementary School, located in the 1200 block of Morrell Road. A Honda traveling southbound slammed into a Toyota traveling northbound around 1:40 a.m. The driver of the southbound vehicle was cited for driving on a suspended license. Law enforcement suspect alcohol may have been involved.

All injuries sustained in the crash appeared non-life threatening.

Brittany Thomas, 21, and her 10-month old son Aiden were not so fortunate. It was a little over a year ago, when they were killed on Alcoa Highway by an accused drunk driver whose car drove across the median, flew into the air, and hit Brittany’s car.

WBIR-TV 10 reports that to honor these two victims law enforcement officials set up sobriety checkpoints along Alcoa Highway. Several agencies sponsored two billboards featuring Brittany and Aiden, and warning drivers on the tragic consequences of drinking and driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported nearly 11,000 people lost their lives in drunk driving accidents in 2009. This is at the alarming rate of about 1 every 45 minutes. In Tennessee 345 of 989 fatal crashes were alcohol related.

Other 2009 NHTSA facts about alcohol impaired driving:

-32% of total traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.

-14% of children (age 14 and under) died in alcohol-related crashes.

-37% of alcohol-related fatal crashes happen at night versus 9% during the day.

-16% of alcohol-related fatal crashes happen during the week versus 31% during the weekend.

-35% of the drivers in fatal alcohol crashes were 21 to 24 years old.

Always remember these safety tips:

-Before the celebrating begins designate a sober driver.

-Never serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.

-If you are hosting the event, provide non-alcoholic drinks as an option and stop serving at least an hour before the event ends.

-Don’t let anyone leave that has had too much.
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Published on: March 10, 2011

Fewer Tennessee Trucking Accidents if Positive Drug Tests Followed Truckers from Job to Job

By Mark Hartsoe

Road Safe America joins the American Trucking Association and other safety minded organizations in advocating for a central clearinghouse to monitor heavy commercial vehicle drivers who test positive for drugs and alcohol.

Historically, drivers that test positive for drugs and alcohol hop from state to state and job to job to avoid detection. Our Knoxville personal injury lawyers know these kind of drivers should not be behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound truck. As long as such job-hopping is permitted to continue, motorists will be at high risk for Tennessee trucking accidents involving drunk drivers.

The Safe Roads Act, S. 1113, was introduced by Senators Pryor, Snowe, Nelson and Wicker in May 2009. It would establish an all-inclusive national clearinghouse for positive alcohol and drug test results. The passage of this bill would undoubtedly make our roadways safer by reducing the risk of drunk drivers operating heavy commercial vehicles.

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 1,041 large truck crashes each day. Nearly 12 people every day die in large truck accidents and an additional 246 are injured. In 2008, approximately 7% of all fatal crashes involved a large truck on Tennessee roads. It was reported that 2% of large truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.

Alcohol and drug testing is a fact of life in the trucking industry today. All truckers that have a commercial driver license (CDL) — whether owner-operators with a CDL or drivers employed by motor carriers — are subjected to drug and alcohol testing.

A study done by the Insurance Institute for Traffic Safety, as reported by Drug Library, found that 15% of all truckers had marijuana, 12% had non-prescription stimulants, 5% had prescription stimulants, and 2% had cocaine in their systems. Some truckers believe that marijuana use is safer than drinking, but studies show that effects on reaction time after smoking can last up to 24 hours.

A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) study of crashes involving large trucks found that prescription drug use was a contributing factor in 28.7% of all crashes sampled and over-the-counter drugs were a contributing factor in 19.4% of crashes. Side effects from drugs can include: dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision and confusion of which any could cause an accident.
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Published on: February 5, 2011

Weather, Super Bowl Weekend, Increase risk for Car Accidents in Knoxville, Maryville

By Mark Hartsoe

For Super Bowl XLV, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in conjunction with the NFL, Mothers Against Drunk Driving , and the HERO Campaign are sponsoring the Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign.

Our Knoxville personal injury attorneys are football fans like anyone else, but also know Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most dangerous days of the year when it comes to the risk for Tennessee drunk driving accidents.

Hosting or attending a Super Bowl party can be the highlight of the NFL season, as long as you drink and drive responsibly.

“Football is one of America’s favorite pastimes, but fans can put themselves in serious danger if they don’t plan ahead,” NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said. “Whether you’re at the game or watching from a sports bar or a friend’s house, designate a sober driver before the game. And remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.”

Drivers are considered over the legal limit when their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 or higher. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a total of 10,839 fatalities in alcohol-related crashes in 2009.

This equated to 32% of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States. During this time, 67% of fatalities in alcohol-related crashes were drivers with BAC of .08 or higher. There were a total of 989 traffic fatalities in the state of Tennessee in 2009; 35% of these fatalities occurred when at least one driver tested positive with a BAC of .01 or higher.

There were 198 fatalities in Tennessee when the BAC was tested at .15 or higher.

Nationally, alcohol-impaired fatal crashes were four-times higher at night than during the day in 2009.

Playing host to a Super Bowl Party can play a key role in getting drivers home safely after the game.

-Serve plenty of food and snacks throughout the game.

-Have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks like soda, juice, or water available.

-Have extra beds ready in case anyone needs to sleepover after drinking too much.

-Pick a point in the game in which you will stop providing alcohol to your guests and start offering coffee and dessert.

-Designate to drive so you and you friends can enjoy the game.
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Published on: January 28, 2011

New Technology could prevent Drunk Driving Car Accidents in Tennessee

By Mark Hartsoe

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration debuted new in-car technology this week that aims to prevent drunk drivers from operating a vehicle while under the influence.

Personal injury lawyers in Knoxville and Maryville are frequently called to assist victims and families in the aftermath of a Tennessee drunk driving accident. Each year, the federal government reports more than 11,000 people are killed in drunk driving accidents — or about 1 every 45 minutes. Alcohol was involved in more than one-third of fatal car accidents in Tennessee in 2009, accounting for 345 of 989 fatal crashes.

The DADSS technology was introduced on Friday at the Massachusetts lab where it is under development. The systems, which could be installed in new cars, test blood-alcohol level through touch or breath.

“Drunk driving continues to be a national tragedy that needlessly claims the lives of thousands of people on our highways each year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We need to put an end to it.”

Laura Dean-Mooney, the national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, was also on hand for the demonstration.

“Auto makers have stepped up to help turn cars into the cure,” she said. “This project has made substantial progress and this technology could one day be an important step in our efforts to eliminate drunk driving.”

The $10 million effort is a cooperative between the NHTSA and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS).

“What we’re doing is developing technology that won’t interfere with sober drivers, will require virtually no maintenance or upkeep and will have such precision that it only stops a driver when their blood alcohol content is .08 BAC or higher, which is the illegal limit for drunk driving in every state,” said ACTS Vice President Shane Karr. “Now that we have actual prototypes, a tremendous feat in itself, we’ll be working to identify the gaps in performance between these prototypes and the precise standards we’ve identified as true technology requirements. This will point the way forward for the next phase of research.”

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland called it the “new frontier in the fight against drunk driving” and said the next stage of testing could begin later this year.
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Published on: December 15, 2010

“Lights on for Life” aims to Reduce Risk of Car Accidents in Tennessee Involving Drunk Drivers

By Mark Hartsoe

The Tennessee Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies throughout the state will participate in “Lights on for Life” this Friday, as a reminder of the dangers of drunk driving as we head into the busy holiday travel season.

Our Knoxville accident attorneys and staff wish each of you a safe and enjoyable holiday with friends and family. Please do your part to celebrate responsibly and help reduce the risks of Tennessee drunk driving accidents

Last year, 303 people were killed in Tennessee car accidents involving alcohol. So far this year, 994 motorists have died on Tennessee roadways, 48 more than during the same period a year ago. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports one-third of the nation’s traffic fatalities are the result of drunk driving, leading to the deaths of 11,000 motorists a year.

Somewhere in America, a motorist is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes.

“Traditionally, the time period between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a time of increased travel and alcohol consumption,” said THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “We hope to spread awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving by participating in both the Lights on for Life and National Holiday Lifesaver weekend enforcement activities with increased visibility throughout the state.”

Lights on for Life Day kicks off the “National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend,” a three-day DUI enforcement campaign that runs Dec. 17 to 19. The program, sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriff’s Association, has run each year since 1991 and is conducted on the weekend prior to Christmas.

“I am proud that our State Troopers are participating in such an important and unified effort to ensure a safe holiday season,” said Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Tennesseans are encouraged to join in this movement and stand against impaired driving by turning their car headlights on throughout the day Friday.”

Sobriety checkpoints and driver license checkpoints will be conducted across the state this weekend. Tennessee law provides for a fine of up to $1,500 and a maximum penalty of up to 12 months in jail for first-time DUI offenders.
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Published on: October 28, 2010

Knoxville, Tennessee Bus Accident Blamed on Drunk Driving

By Mark Hartsoe

The arrest of a Knox County school bus driver on a drunk driving charge is a stark reminder of the obligation of our school systems to ensure the safety and welfare of students who rely on buses for transportation to and from school.

Knoxville accident lawyers know that the start of the school year is a particularly dangerous time for school bus accidents, as parents, teachers and drivers become accustomed to bus routes and bus safety. But there is no excuse for permitting an intoxicated driver to operate a school bus. Both the school district and the contracted busing company should be asked some tough questions in the wake of this incident.

Traditionally, school buses are a relatively safe mode of transportation, with an average of just 19 fatalities reported nationwide each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. About half of those cases involve pedestrian accidents as a child is boarding or deboarding a school bus.

However, drunk driving is the leading cause of death on the nation’s roads, accounting for about one-third of all fatal auto accidents. In 2008, a total of 11,773 motorists were killed in alcohol-related crashes, of the 37,423 fatal accidents reported on the nation’s roads.

Additionally, Tennessee car accidents involving school buses can cause serious or fatal injuries to motorists, similar to those caused by tractor-trailer accidents or crashes with other large commercial vehicles.

Volunteer TV reports that the 63-year-old driver was driving the bus to pick up her first child, at about 6:30 a.m., when she rear-ended a truck at a red light on the I-40 East Bound exit ramp on Cedar Bluff Road. She was driving for Hensley Bus Lines; the bus was used for Cedar Bluff Elementary School and special education students at Hardin Valley Academy.

Police say she had a mix of alcohol and drugs in her system and was transported to the hospital so that a blood sample could be taken. She reportedly came close to striking another vehicle at least twice and ran up over a curb before rear-ending the box truck.
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Published on: September 5, 2010

Drunk Tennessee Truck Driver Hits 17 Cars and Gets Only 48 Hours of Community Service

By Mark Hartsoe

In July, a Tennessee truck driver plowed through a Colorado neighborhood, damaging 17 cars in the process. Fortunately, no one was injured and only property damage claims were involved. Truck driver David Kent refused to submit to blood alcohol testing after police officers smelled alcohol on him. The police was able to find the truck driver because there were trees dangling from the drunken truckers rig.

Because Mr. Kent was a National Guardsman between deployments, the Court went easy on him and sentenced him to only 48 hours of community service. Kent’s insurance company will have a thick file of claims to sort through, including damage to 17 cars, destroyed signs, damaged yards, downed trees, uprooted sprinkler systems and other damage.

Knoxville injury attorney Mark Hartsoe has handled numerous cases against drunk drivers and impaired truckers. When outrageous conduct of this nature injures innocent members of society a message needs to be sent that this conduct will be penalized so that it does take children getting run over in a crosswalk for drunken trucking to be punished.

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