We are a mobile people; we are constantly on the go. Therefore, we rely on our cars to take us places and to see faces. But we cannot always rely on the roads we drive on, and some roads are safer than others. The federal government has compiled a list of the top ten states whose roads are the most dangerous nationwide. Our great state of Tennessee ranks number ten on this list. Ranking number ten [...]
It’s a nightmare scenario: you’re driving along when all of a sudden your vehicle is hit by another car, or a car stops short in front of you, or you swerve to avoid a deer and you hit a tree. Your car is a wreck, you’re completely shaken up, and you’ve no idea what to do next. At Banks & Jones, we’ve heard stories like these (and so many more) time and time again from drivers [...]
Motorcycles and motorbikes are fun to ride. They are easy to maneuver in heavy traffic. They up your “cool” status. But they also are dangerous, especially when you are out on a busy road with other drivers who may or may not be paying attention to you or to the road. Therefore, Tennessee and other states have laws requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets. The law states that both motorcycle drivers and passengers, regardless of age, [...]
But the most important question might be, “Where’s the evidence?” If you live in Knoxville (or indeed, anywhere in this country), you’ve heard about the Zaevion Dobson case. President Obama himself pointed out the heroics of the young man, who was killed during his attempts to shield three young women from gunfire. Today’s preliminary hearing shows us once again that there is no concrete evidence that links the accused to the death of Zaevion Dobson. The [...]
Mountain Dew is a popular soft drink, especially with teenagers. The company’s website sports a very cool looking advertisement for its “backwoods original” recipe – which calls for real sugar, as opposed to artificial sweeteners, and offers a not-so-subtle comparison to moonshine. In Tennessee, though, “dewshine” has a much more deadly connotation. In late January of 2016, the tragic deaths of two teenagers was linked to a mix of the soda with methanol-based racing fuel. In [...]
When you get into an accident with another car, you could be seriously injured, or you could walk away with no long-term effects. When you are involved in a truck crash with an 18 wheeler, however, your chances of sustaining a life-altering injury are far higher. The sheer size of big-rigs means there could be literally tons of force bearing down on you in a crash. You might not even realize until much later – after [...]
Whether you live or work in Tennessee, or are just passing through on your way to somewhere else, you’d better buckle up. As of January 1, 2016, anyone caught not wearing a seatbelt is in for a new fine. WBBJ Eyewitness News reported that first-time offenders caught without safety restraints are now posed to get hit with a $25 fine. Repeat offenders will see double that amount, as the new fines for them are $50. The [...]
2015 was a pretty terrible year when it came to auto recalls. We saw some truly mind-blowing accounts of defects in hardware and software that car and truck manufacturers pushed forward in the name of the almighty dollar. The silver lining, of course is that the US auto-safety advocates and regulatory committees finally said “Enough is enough!” You might say that 2015 was the year that we all struck back in the name of accountability. Now, [...]
It is no secret that insurance companies prioritize their bottom line over the health and safety of their patients. What many non-medical personnel don’t realize, however, is that they do it to doctors, too. One of the more popular ways to accomplish this involves the delicate, complex and often-overwhelming world of CPT codes and billing. Because of changes in Obamacare and TennCare, specifically, more and more doctors are being accused of billing for unnecessary services in [...]
In September of 2015, Volkswagen admitted to circumventing emissions tests on up to 11 million vehicles across the globe, spurring one of the largest – and most costly – recalls in history. This latest recall, however, involves a far more frightening part of the car: the braking system. According to Automotive News, the German auto manufacturer will recall 91,867 vehicles because “’The camshaft lobe has the potential unexpectedly shear off from the camshaft,’ leading to a [...]
