As more drivers get on the road for the summer, it is good to know the common causes of Memphis car accidents so drivers can stay alert. Car accidents in Memphis are caused by distracted driving, speeding, severe weather, and ignoring traffic laws. Safe driving practices can help drivers stay cautious and keep others on the road safe.
Distracted Driving
Drivers of all ages fall victim to distracted driving habits. This would consist of texting while driving, eating, drinking, listening to music too loudly, and having too many passengers. Being on your cell phone causes your eyes to be pulled from the road. Those few seconds of having no road awareness can cause you to be involved in a car accident. Our Memphis car accident lawyers recommend putting your phone away in a safe, out-of-reach spot so you can focus on the road.
Teen drivers, more often than not, are reported to be more likely to listen to loud music and have too many passengers in their vehicles. To avoid any auto accidents, parents should remind their new drivers about safe driving habits so they can keep themselves and their passengers safe. Some safe driving habits include:
- Make sure the cell phone is out of reach or only used as a GPS.
- Reminder to always wear a seat belt.
- Checking their mirrors and tires before driving.
- Limiting passengers in the car and making sure they wear their seat belts.
- Reminder to not speed.
- Always double-check blindspots before switching lanes.
- Obey all traffic rules.
Speeding and Ignoring Traffic Laws
Speeding and ignoring traffic laws go hand in hand, unfortunately. While drivers speed excessively, they are more likely to run stop signs and red lights which are both common causes of car accidents. Just in Shelby County, there were over 38,000 car accidents in 2021 and at least 7,000 of those accidents were caused by speeding and ignoring traffic laws. Drunk driving habits can be seen ignoring traffic laws, speeding, and swerving between lanes! It is good to recognize the warning signs and report them to the highway patrol.
If you are injured by a negligent driver who was speeding and ignored traffic laws, you deserve to be compensated for your damages! These types of auto accidents tend to lead to more substantial injuries, property damage and even result in wrongful death. It is important to contact the police, as they will create a police report which will come in handy when filing a claim. If your accident takes place in an intersection with traffic lights, look to see if there are any red-light cameras. The footage from those cameras can assist your attorney in proving that the other driver was at fault for the accident.
Severe Weather Conditions & Memphis Car Accidents
In Memphis, Tennessee, drivers will come across weather conditions like rain, wind, and fog throughout the year. In the spring and summer months, Memphis sees a lot more rain which means an increase in rain-related vehicle accidents. Heavy rainfall affects the visibility drivers have to view what is in front of them. During this time, Memphis drivers should slow down and be more careful, especially when changing lanes.
Speeding in severe rainfall is a recipe for disaster as hydroplaning can occur. When it is raining for a long time, flooding can occur. Drivers speeding through flooded roadways can fall victim to hydroplaning and losing control of their vehicles. The average rainfall during the year for Memphis, TN is about 54.1 inches while the U.S. average is only about 38.1 inches. Memphis should take extra precautions when driving during rainstorms.
About the Author
Michael Feiner
Michael A. Feiner is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Steinger, Greene & Feiner. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001, Michael has devoted his practice to representing plaintiffs throughout Florida in various tort and strict liability cases and has successfully litigated cases against national insurance companies, large public companies, and governmental agencies, resulting in tens of millions of dollars for his clients.
He has handled all types of personal injury and wrongful death cases on behalf of plaintiffs, including automobile negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice, product liability, dog bites, and sexual harassment. Michael’s product liability case against Microsoft, as well as his representation of victims of sexual harassment and abuse by physicians, has garnered him important media attention at both the local and national levels.
Michael is an experienced trial lawyer and successfully argued an appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. In the reported decision Ortlieb v. Butts, 849 So.2d 1165 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), Michael persuaded the Fourth District Court of Appeal that a directed verdict on liability was appropriate where the defendant did not rebut the presumption of negligence of a rear driver in a rear-end collision.
Michael Feiner
Michael A. Feiner is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Steinger, Greene & Feiner. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001, Michael has devoted his practice to representing plaintiffs throughout Florida in various tort and strict liability cases and has successfully litigated cases against national insurance companies, large public companies, and governmental agencies, resulting in tens of millions of dollars for his clients. He has handled all types of personal injury and wrongful death cases on behalf of plaintiffs, including automobile negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice, product liability, dog bites, and sexual harassment. Michael’s product liability case against Microsoft, as well as his representation of victims of sexual harassment and abuse by physicians, has garnered him important media attention at both the local and national levels. Michael is an experienced trial lawyer and successfully argued an appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. In the reported decision Ortlieb v. Butts, 849 So.2d 1165 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), Michael persuaded the Fourth District Court of Appeal that a directed verdict on liability was appropriate where the defendant did not rebut the presumption of negligence of a rear driver in a rear-end collision.