Anyone who lives in Tennessee or has traveled through the state likely has driven on one of the winding rural roads. While a drive along one of these roads can offer a scenic view of the mountains, the drive also carries risks. You may have had a few white-knuckle moments with a tailgater or someone driving recklessly.
The Tennessean recently cited the winding roads, along with a scarcity of trauma centers and a “love of vehicles not built for safety” as some of the reasons why the state has one of the highest fatality rates for teenage drivers (15 percent fatality rate for drivers age 16 to 17 who are involved in car accidents). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists Tennessee as having the 12th highest fatality rate in the nation for teenage drivers.
Young drivers lack experience behind the wheel, but there may be other reasons why teenagers are at risk of crashing their cars. As the Tennessean noted in its article, some of the high schools in the state do not offer any driver’s education courses, and many teenagers don’t follow age-specific rules that are in place to prevent car accidents.
As a personal injury lawyer in Tennessee, Turner Howard has represented people who were seriously injured in car accidents. He was severely injured in a car wreck himself, so he knows the struggles that accident victims face.
The lawyers and staff at the Law Offices of G. Turner Howard appreciate any efforts to reduce accidents. It’s heartening to learn about pilot programs such as the one started by the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt at two Middle Tennessee campuses, Station Camp High School in Gallatin and East Robertson High School in Cross Plains, according to the Tennessean. The goal of the program is to better engage teens about driving safely. The newspaper reports that the hospital wants to partner with other schools in Robertson, Dickson and Wilson counties, because data shows that’s where most of the crash victims are coming from.
To be fair, many teenagers are responsible drivers. Some of them need legal representation because they were injured through no fault of their own.
But car accidents remain the leading cause of death among U.S. teenagers. Distracted driving also is on the rise as more people use cell phones and other devices while driving. More than 5,400 people died in 2009 in accidents involving a distracted driver.
Car accidents in Tennessee can be devastating. Knowing what to do after a car wreck can be difficult. If you or a loved one was in an accident, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced accident attorney. Contact G. Turner Howard III, Attorney at Law at (844) G3-Help-Me or 865-558-8030. Your consultation is free and confidential. Choose an experienced attorney who fights hard to protect clients’ rights.
The Law Offices of G. Turner Howard III
5915 Casey Drive Northwest
Knoxville,TN37909
