Month: July 2017
Staying safe as a pedestrian
Injuries in pedestrian accident cases can be particularly severe. The reason for this is straightforward: pedestrians don’t have the benefit of airbags, steel frames, seat cushions, helmets, protective gear, and other safety devices like vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, or even bicyclists do. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that about 80 pedestrians die in
DUI charges and types of vehicles
When most of us hear about a DUI arrest, we assume the vehicle in question was a car, truck or motorcycle. We may have a mental picture of someone pulled over at the side of the road, perhaps being subjected to field sobriety tests or a breathalyzer. But for purposes of DUI law in Tennessee,
Protection Against Asbestos Exposure: 5 FAQs for Homeowners and Renovators
If you’re the owner of an older home, or you work on managing, demolishing, or renovating old buildings, you naturally want to protect yourself and your family against the risk of potentially harmful asbestos exposure. Here are five questions to ask as you do this. Why should homeowners and contractors be concerned about possible asbestos
Asbestos prompts popular teen retailer to pull makeup from shelves
Justice, a well-known chain of retail stores aimed at teen and preteen girls, found itself in the news recently. The reports weren’t because of a new product rollout or a nationwide sale: the store made news because tests revealed some of its makeup products contained asbestos and traces of heavy metals. One product in particular,
Beware the potential risks of Chantix
Drug manufacturer Pfizer boasts that the controversial prescription medication Chantix has helped tens of thousands of people quit smoking, often after other methods have failed. Myriad commercials and advertisements for the drug feature grateful users who were able to finally kick their cigarette habit with the medicine and supplemental support. But the true story is
Getting a restricted license in Tennessee: 5 things to know
If you get a DUI conviction in Tennessee, your driver’s license will be revoked or suspended for a specific period of time. The revocation period is one year for a first offense and two years for a second offense. Under the implied consent law, your license can even be revoked if you refused to submit
Refusing a blood alcohol test: Tennessee amends its law following U.S. Supreme Court decision
A year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court held that someone suspected of impaired driving has the right to refuse a warrantless blood test, but not a warrantless breath test. The decision went against 13 states, including Tennessee, with so-called implied consent laws that imposed penalties on any type of test refusal. Tennessee’s amended law In
5 FAQs on the Takata bankruptcy and holding companies accountable
The recent bankruptcy filing by the airbag supplier Takata was hardly a surprise. For more than two years, the company has faced an array of huge problems stemming from defective airbags that have caused 16 deaths and more than 180 injuries. A key question now, however, is how the bankruptcy will be handled. Will the
Boating accidents: safety tips to help prevent injuries and fatalities
The summer boating season is well underway. We hope you enjoy getting out on the water, whether it’s Chickamauga Lake, Nickajack Lake, the Tennessee River, or elsewhere, With nearly two months of summer left, it’s a good time to take note of some boating safety tips, especially considering the recent increase in fatal accidents, both
Highway sobriety roadblocks: When are they allowed?
In some parts of Tennessee, authorities used so-called sobriety checkpoints over the holiday weekend preceding the Fourth of July. “Sobriety checkpoint” is another way of saying mandatory roadblock. It’s a tactic whereby police stop multiple cars going through certain intersections, based on a sequence such as stopping every other car. Police do this even if