Tennessee Drunk Driving Accidents Remain a Serious Threat

Drunk driving accidents are a leading cause of vehicle fatalities and serious injuries in Tennessee and across the nation. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show that, on average, 343 people die due to drunk driving crashes on Tennessee roads each year.

Drunk driving is extremely dangerous because the driver has no control over his/her vehicle. Drunk drivers often speed, cross lanes improperly, run through traffic signals, merge incorrectly, and violate the state’s traffic laws. Drunk drivers are even likely to drive the wrong way down a one-way street. Worse, it is almost impossible for a cautious, defensive driver to know how to react, since there is simply no logical way to anticipate which way the drunk driver is going to go.

Drunk driving laws in Tennessee

Tennessee, like all states, has laws that regulate drunk driving. Any adult driver who has a blood alcohol content of .08 or more is guilty of driving while intoxicated. Drivers of commercial trucks have to meet a .04 standard. There is zero tolerance for drivers under 21 to have any alcohol in their system. Our lawyers work with local law enforcement to prove that a driver was intoxicated at the time of the auto crash. When necessary, we also conduct our own investigation.

Drunk driving liability

Drunk drivers are liable for the accidents they cause. We demand they pay for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering they cause. When a beloved family member tragically dies, we file wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of the families of the deceased.

In addition, we often demand that the drunk driver pay punitive damages. There is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel of a car when a driver is intoxicated. If a vehicle owner let another driver use the vehicle knowing that person was intoxicated—or having reason to believe he/she was drunk—the owner (if different from the driver) can also be found liable for any fatalities or injuries.

Tavern liability

Any vendor that sells liquor to a minor—someone under age 21—or to a person who is visibly intoxicated can be held responsible for injuries or deaths caused to anyone other than the drinker. Unlike other states, which only require that there be a preponderance of the evidence that the tavern or vendor reasonably knew the drunk driver had too much to drink already – Tennessee requires that the vendor should have known of the driver’s intoxication beyond a reasonable doubt.

 Source: rockylawfirm.com