Archive for the ‘Bicycle Accidents’ Category

New Tennessee Law Toughens Up Against Drivers Who Strike Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Tennessee drivers who crash into pedestrians and bicyclists will face stiffer penalties after a new law goes into effect on Friday July 1, 2011.  Currently, drivers who strike a bicyclist or pedestrian face a Class C misdemeanor that carries up to a $50 fine and 30 days in jail.  Under the new law, drivers who cause crashes resulting in serious injuries could face up to six months in jail, revocation of their driver’s licenses for up to six months, and a $250 fine. Bike Walk Tennessee, a statewide advocacy group upset with drivers facing “paltry charges” after killing bicyclists and pedestrians in crashes, began drafting the law in February 2011.

As the weather warms up, more Memphis and Tennessee residents begin to walk outside and ride their bicycles.  Memphians may ride bicycles to travel to and from work, run errands, or exercise.  Many streets have special lanes to give bicycle riders, walkers, and joggers room to ride, walk, or jog safely on the street.  Therefore, it is important for vehicle drivers to be mindful of bicyclists and pedestrians and exercise caution when driving alongside them.  Unfortunately, however, many drivers do not exercise necessary caution.

At the Nahon Firm, PLC, we will fight to help you win. Our Nashville personal injury attorneys will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect.  You can count on compassion, dedication, and determination towards your case.  Call us today and speak with a Nashville accident lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Call (615) 324-2000.

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Nashville Tennessee Resident Edwin Gardner Cleared in Bicycle-SUV Collision

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

The late Edwin Gardner, formerly of Nashville, has been cleared of blame in the collision in which he was bicycling and was struck last month by an SUV in Charleston, S.C., police say. Gardner, a long-time bicycler and bicycling advocate, had been listed as the cause of the July 21 collision in the original Charleston Police Department report.

An outcry from the bicycling community had brought additional scrutiny after the wreck that resulted in his death. Police say the first report had been made with limited information and that the department’s Fatal Collision Team has now examined the scene, the vehicle and the bicycle.

Charlotte White, 21, of Sumter, S.C., the driver of the Jeep Cherokee, was re-interviewed along with an original witness. Several other witnesses were also located and talked with.

“After careful consideration of the additional evidence obtained, the facts now reveal that Mr. Gardner was in fact not a contributor to this collision,” a press release from the Charleston Police Department says.

White will be charged with “following too closely,” it says. Bicyclists in South Carolina and elsewhere have advocated for years for officials not to determine fault before interviewing the bicycler or carefully evaluating a scene in terms of a bicycler’s rights to the road.

The situation involving Gardner focused new attention on the topic.

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