Drivers who allow distractions or other events to take their attention from the road now face stricter penalties in Tennessee if their neglect causes another person’s injury or death, according to a recent article in The Herald-Citizen.
The new law, which went into effect on July 1, makes failing to use “due care” while driving a Class C misdemeanor. The law also applies to those who strike a pedestrian with their cars or who crash into a bicyclist due to failing to pass the bicyclist safely. These acts have been prohibited by Tennessee law for many years, but the new bill imposes stricter punishments for those who are convicted in a criminal case.
Drivers who are convicted of any of these offenses face stiff fines, the loss of their driver’s licenses, or even jail time. These penalties are in addition to any compensation a driver owes to an injured person or the person’s family as a result of being proven negligent in a civil case.
However, a driver who is held responsible in one type of case is not automatically held responsible in the other. That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced Tennessee accident attorney if you are considering legal action against a driver whose negligence may be responsible for your injuries. At Massey & Associates, P.C., we have the legal resources and courtroom experience to help you hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call Massey & Associates, P.C. today at (423) 396-0720.
Gary Massey, Jr., is a well-known courtroom advocate practicing law in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary is a native of Tennessee who began practicing law in 1998. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law where he was ranked in the top 3% of his class and was an editor of the Cumberland Law Review.
