Photo courtesy of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh and Sheriff’s Cpl. Michael Rodgers of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office presented Dispatcher Ashley Arrington with the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s “Saved by the Belt” Award Tuesday after she survived a potentially fatal car crash. Understanding the rules of the road is important for any driver, even if the accident wasn’t your fault. With this being said, if you have recently been involved in an accident and are looking to find out how to win a left turn accident lawsuit, doing some research before getting in touch with a professional lawyer could help you get the right legal advice and find a way to move forward with this part of your life.
Arrington, a dispatcher at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, was involved in a vehicle crash on June 16 on Interstate 24 near La Vergne. At the time, Arrington was returning to work after visiting her boyfriend, Murfreesboro Police Officer Devin Sorensen.
In a Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office press release, Arrington stated that she noticed an allegedly speeding driver in her rear-view mirror and then “very clearly” saw the driver strike three people who were standing in the median due to having a flat tire. The driver also forced Arrington’s car into a semi-truck, but her seat belt prevented her from being seriously hurt. Arrington told Sidelines that the experience made her more aware of the importance of buckling up while driving. Although her injuries were minimal, she may still seek assistance from a Fresno Law Firm to get compensation from the speeding driver as it’s his fault she has a damaged car and has spent a considerable amount of time reporting and recovering from the accident.
“Every time I get on an interstate now, it’s something that I’m constantly reminded of,” Arrington said.
After the crash, Arrington hopped out of her car to check on the three people who were struck by the driver’s vehicle. All three victims survived the incident. Luckily nothing serious happened, and they were able to walk away from the incident unscathed. However, this could have been a lot worse. If it had been worse, then people might have had to try and get compensation by using a law firm like Hasbrook & Hasbrook, particularly when they don’t know who’s fault it really was. But luckily this wasn’t the case, as they have all survived, and so far have no serious injuries.
“It was just instinct,” Arrington said. “My first instinct is to try to help in any way I can.”
Along with THP representatives, Rodgers responded to the crash and learned that Arrington was wearing her seat belt at the time of the incident.
“If she wasn’t wearing her seat belt, she may not have survived,” Rodgers said in the press release.
According to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, there were 1,040 fatal traffic crashes in 2017, which is an increase from 1,037 in 2016 and 962 in 2015. The office also reported in 2016 that 50 percent of people killed in crashes in Tennessee were not wearing seat belts. Your safety and others around you is extremely important while on the road. But there are times where no consideration has been taken in and some people even look to getting some assistance from an auto accident lawyer following a crash. No one should have to go through this, but the more people concentrate on the road, the less accidents are likely to happen.
The award presented to Arrington congratulated her on a “lifesaving choice and for the strong example you provide to others on the importance of wearing safety belts.”
“I think (people) should definitely look at situations like this and see that a seat belt literally saved my life, and maybe they would think twice before they get in the car and not buckle up,” Arrington said.
To contact news Editor Caleb Revill, email newseditor@mtsusidelines.com.
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