Tennessee Injury Lawyer Blog

According to a press release, the Hartford Financial Services Group announced the release of a new iPhone app that will provide individuals that are involved in auto accidents with a myriad of different services. Per the press release, the app will allow its users to:

-- Access an auto accident checklist. -- Collect and exchange driver and accident information, including accident photos. -- Reference helpful roadside guides, including an interactive Emergency Kit Checklist. -- Locate an auto repair facility from The Hartford's national network of approved shops. -- Save and review accident history. -- Find a replacement vehicle -- new or used. -- Access to national glass repair service. -- Quickly access RESCUE 1-800 roadside services. -- Store vehicle and insurance information for quick and easy access. -- Access additional special features for customers of The Hartford, such as express connect to The Hartford's Claims services and automatically submitting accident photos and notes directly from the iPhone.

Several of the above-listed features could prove important should a personal injury lawsuit arise from the auto accident in which a user of the app is involved. One of the primary issues in many auto accidents is how exactly the accident occurred (more importantly, who caused the accident) and this app will allow an individual to store the exact details of the accident using the app instead of having to try to remember them at some distant point in the future when the lawsuit actually makes it to trial. Also, if any injuries occur as a result of the wreck, the emergency kit checklist and roadside rescue access may help any victims of such accidents seek treatment, which from a legal perspective may assist the defendant in such a suit in mitigating his damages. Finally, the feature allowing a user take photographs and notes of the scene and submit them directly to the insurance company may be crucial in a lawsuit, because so much information pertaining to the suit itself and the injuries suffered by any parties can be deduced from looking at photos of the scene. Expect apps like this to become increasingly popular and eventually play a substantial role in personal injury lawsuits.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-hartford-launches-iphone-app-for-auto-claims-2010-05-04-113410?reflink=MW_news_stmp

While this blog often discusses accidents that happen in heavy-traffic areas, interstate highways, or other dangerous locations, it is worth noting that auto accidents do occur, and can be just as deadly, in parking lots, garages, and other places not generally thought of as overly dangerous. The unfortunate truth is that negligent driving in places like garages and parking lots can often lead to auto accident-related deaths, especially where pedestrians are involved. A good example of this comes from Dickinson, North Dakota this week, where an elderly man was killed when a nineteen year-old driver backed into him while he was backing out of a stall at an auto garage. The driver was reportedly backing very slowly when he hit the man, and the man was rushed to a local hospital, but he was unable to survive.

This illustrates how one moment of negligent driving in a seemingly safe location can lead to disastrous consequences. While it is not certain that the driver of the vehicle was negligent in this situation, Tennessee law imposes a duty on drivers to keep a proper lookout at all times when they are driving. Certainly, a driver should be aware of what is behind him when backing out, and giving the age of the victim it is unlikely that the victim rapidly appeared behind the car out of nowhere. Failure to keep a proper lookout for even a moment can result in a driver being responsible for the death of another person which can give rise to criminal charges and a personal injury suit in which persons related to the victim may seek to sue the driver for the wrongful death of the victim.

This situation is very unfortunate and proves that even the slightest incident of negligence can be fatal. Drivers who have made such mistakes and victims of such incidents both need to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer who can assist them in dealing with the civil and criminal law consequences that emerge from the accident.

Source: http://www.kxnet.com/custom404.asp?404;http://www.kxnet.com/news/565346.asp