Memphis Legal Blog

On June 1, Tennessee became the nineteenth state to enact a hands-free driving law—and for good reason. A recent study revealed that Tennessee is the deadliest state in the nation for distracted driving, with five times the national average rate of fatalities.

What the law prohibits

We all know that alcohol impairs a person's judgement, making it dangerous to drive while under the influence. However, those who have drank too much to drive in the past know that the morning after isn't always much clearer.

Is that monster hangover during the morning after similarly hazardous to a driver's ability to navigate the roads safely?

You were out doing your normal thing. Maybe you were driving to work, school, taxiing children around or just running errands when it happened -- someone hit your car. At first, you were stunned, but the overall damage seemed minor, so insurance information was exchanged and you went on your way. A few hours, days or even weeks later, you started experiencing pain or other symptoms that something may be wrong, but how can that be when the crash seemed so insignificant? The truth is that plenty of Tennessee residents have experience injuries in relatively minor motor vehicle accidents.

Pain is one way the body tells you that something is not right. If that pain comes on the heels of a car accident, popping pain medication and hoping it will go away may not be the wisest decision -- though that is what many Tennessee residents may opt to do. The best decision would be to get to a doctor as soon as possible. The pain may not come from anything serious, but then again, it may. It is better to be safe than sorry.

We’re all familiar with the Click-it or Ticket campaign that encourages Tennessee residents to buckle up while in a moving vehicle. But, does it apply to everyone in the car?

Here’s what you need to know about who needs to be belted.