Knoxville Personal Injury Attorney Deno Cole wants pedestrians to avoid personal injuries

Knoxville Personal Injury Attorney Deno Cole looks out for your safety.

With school about to start, Knoxville Personal Injury Attorney Deno Cole knows that means an increase in pedestrian activity in the community. This also means an increase in the risk of pedestrian injuries due to motorists’ inattention to foot traffic in the area, pedestrians failing to use caution, or both.

Pedestrian Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration notes pedestrian fatalities comprise approximately 12 percent of all traffic fatalities in the country every year.  In addition, another 59,000 pedestrians are injured in roadway accidents.  In Tennessee, 46 pedestrians have been killed on state roadways in just the first few months of 2013.  That’s 11 more than in the same amount of time in 2012.

Who is most at risk?  

1. Children - In 2010, nearly one in every five children between the ages of 5 and 9 who were killed in traffic crashes was a pedestrian. 
2. Drivers and pedestrians who are alcohol-impaired - Alcohol-impairment—either for the driver or for the pedestrian—was reported in 47% of the traffic crashes that resulted in pedestrian death. 
3. Older adults - Pedestrians ages 65 and older accounted for 19% of all pedestrian deaths and an estimated 11% of all pedestrians injured in 2010.

Who has the right of way?

In Tennessee, pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections and driveways. Pedestrians do, however, have to act responsibly, making sure to use pedestrian signals and sidewalks where available. When crossing at any point other than a marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, pedestrians must yield the right of way to all motor vehicles on the roadway.

Pedestrians should always use caution when walking in areas with high motor vehicle traffic. The Tennessee Department of Transportation recommends pedestrians

• Look both ways before attempting to cross a highway
• Keep a timely lookout for approaching motor vehicle traffic
• Walk facing traffic on roadways where there is no sidewalk and walk as far from the roadway as possible 

Safe Routes to School

Keeping our kids safe as they head back to school is a community priority and a statewide initiative. Safe Routes to School, a federally-funded program, provides funds to state, local, regional, and nonprofit agencies to create programs with a focus on the benefits of children walking and biking to school.

Despite every effort to keep pedestrians safe, accidents do happen and people do suffer injuries as the result of a careless motorist or a malfunctioning traffic light or some other cause. If you or your loved one is injured while walking, don’t assume it was your fault or that you have no recourse.

Deno Cole and his skilled team of professionals at the McGehee and Cole Law Firm have the knowledge and expertise to assist you with your personal injury. Dedicated to achieving the best outcome for his clients, with Deno Cole on your side, you will come out on top.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my personal injury practice in Knoxville, Tennessee. Remember, I am here for you to bring peace of mind and protect your best interest.
Deno Cole
Personal Injury Attorney in Knoxville
www.denocole.com

Deno Cole knows tips for auto safety on Tennessee roads

Deno Cole knows safety comes first on Tennessee roads

Personal Injury Attorney Deno Cole knows auto accidents in Tennessee often involve serious injuries and many times can be fatal. The McGehee and Cole Law Firm encourages drivers to take precautions when taking to the roadways in Tennessee.

There were more than 158,000 motor vehicle accidents in Tennessee last year. If you encounter trouble or are involved in an auto accident, follow these tips to help you get to safety and resolve the situation:

• Call 911 or *847: If you are involved in an accident, call 911. In addition, you can call *847, which will connect you to the nearest Tennessee Highway Patrol who may be able to respond more quickly to your location.
• Move your vehicle off the road: If you are involved in an accident with no serious injuries, steer your vehicle as far away from the flow of traffic as possible. Tennessee law protects a driver who moves the vehicle out of the main flow of traffic from being considered liable or at fault because of such action.  (T.C.A 55-10-117)
• Wait in a safe area: Once you have dialed 911 or *847, determine the safest place to wait for assistance. In many cases, it may be best to stay in your vehicle. Sometimes it is better to wait outside of your vehicle. Remember to get out of your vehicle on the side that is farthest from traffic and do not stand next to, behind, or in front of your vehicle. If possible, turn on your emergency flashers and/or raise the hood of your vehicle.
• Leaving your vehicle: If you have an emergency situation that requires you to leave your vehicle, try to move it as far off the road as possible so as not to impede traffic. Keep in mind, in Tennessee you have 48 hours to remove your vehicle before it is towed.
• Keep a first-aid kit in your vehicle: Inside your kit, pack basic medical necessities such as bandages of various sizes, adhesive tape, antibiotic ointment, gauze pads, hand sanitizer, saline solution, cotton balls, safety pins, scissors, tweezers, a disposable cell phone, and a first-aid manual. In addition, you may want your first-aid kit to include basic emergency items for babies and pets.

Auto accidents happen. Knowing what to do if and when you are in this situation could potentially save your life and the lives of those with you.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my personal injury practice in Knoxville, Tennessee. Remember, I am here for you to bring peace of mind and protect your best interest.
Deno Cole
Personal Injury Attorney in Knoxville

How to spot a qualified personal injury lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyer Deno Cole is on your side

A qualified personal injury lawyer is going to work for you to provide the best outcome for you and your personal injury claim. Knoxville Personal Injury Attorney Deno Cole knows how difficult it can be to not only deal with the after-effects of an injury but also to find a skilled attorney to handle your case.

After an accident, do you even need to hire a personal injury lawyer? If this is the first time you have been involved in an accident due to another person’s negligence, you may wonder what role a personal injury lawyer plays in helping to resolve your claim.

A Qualified Personal Injury Lawyer will ask questions

In the initial stages, a good personal injury lawyer will ask you several questions, such as:

• What injuries did you suffer?
• What other damages, such as property, did you incur?
• What were you doing the moment the accident happened?

Answers to these and other questions will help the lawyer determine what, if any, fault you have in the accident, if the claim will stand up in court, and an idea of the compensation you can expect to receive.

In addition, once the lawyer has a good grasp of the circumstances surrounding your claim, he or she can determine whether or not it is in your best interest to pursue it. The lawyer will advise you of the various options for legal action and allow you to decide how you want to proceed with the claim.

If you decide to pursue the claim, the lawyer will then proceed to prepare and pursue your claim. This involves extensive work for the lawyer, including:

• Filing the claim against the defendant – One of the greatest benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer is that he or show will know the statute of limitations for filing claims as well as the requirements that must be met in order to file.
• Representing you in court – A skilled personal injury lawyer will know exactly how to defend your case against the defendant, the defendant’s lawyer, and the insurance companies. Negotiations with the defendant and their agents can be complicated, and an experienced personal injury attorney will do everything they can to make sure the process goes smoothly and is fair to the victim.
• Justice for you – Once your case has been settled, the personal injury lawyer will do the leg-work to receive the settlement, make necessary payments, retain their fee, and then pay you. Personal injury claims handled by a personal injury lawyer are more likely to receive a larger settlement than one handled personally by the victim.

Suffering a personal injury due to another person’s negligence can be one of the most physically and mentally life-altering events you will ever experience. You certainly do not need the added stress of insurance companies hounding you to quickly settle your claim or even trying to get you to take responsibility for the accident.

Hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to alleviate the stress of dealing with your claim. Comprising a team of dedicated and skilled Knoxville personal injury lawyers, The Law Office of Deno Cole has earned a reputation as one of the premier Tennessee law firms. With Deno Cole on your side, you will come out on top.


Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my personal injury practice in Knoxville, Tennessee. Remember, I am here for you to bring peace of mind and protect your best interest.
Deno Cole
Personal Injury Attorney in Knoxville

When injury attorney is needed

Knoxville Personal Injury Attorney Deno Cole has experience with slip and fall claims.

More than 20,000 Tennessee residents are injured in slip and fall accidents every year. You may not think you need a personal injury lawyer, but do you know how hard it can be to prove your case in Tennessee?