Author: Anthony Proffitt

On Aug. 31, a motorcycle rider was killed in Shelbyville after being hit by an SUV. Witnesses say that the 41-year old Bedford County resident was riding his motorcycle down Union Street when he was struck by the black and gold SUV; the driver of the SUV failed to stop at the scene of the accident.

The SUV that was allegedly involved in the accident was later found on Player Drive by a Rutherford County Sheriff’s Deputy. The 1999 Chevrolet Suburban and the Harley Davidson motorcycle were both transported to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Lab in Nashville.

The driver of the SUV has yet to be found. Once located, the driver may be taken into custody and charged in criminal court for failing to stop at the scene of an accident. Under Tennessee law, failing to stop at the scene of an accident that resulted in death is a Class E felony punishable by at least one year and up to six years in prison. A driver who negligently causes a car accident may also be sued in civil court by the victim of an accident or the family of the victim killed in an accident. Depending on whether the victim survived the accident, the lawsuit would either be for personal injury damages or for wrongful death.

If a lawyer is representing a client in a wrongful death matter, evidence of the defendant’s conduct may be used in arguing for a larger award in favor of the client. In a hit-and-run case, a lawyer might want to ask a jury to grant a larger amount of compensation against the defendant who failed to stop at the scene of the accident.

Source: Tennessee Code Annotated, “Motor Vehicles, Traffic and Parking.”

Source: WGNS, “Fatal Hit and Run Motorcycle Accident in Shelbyville Tied to Murfreesboro“, September 06, 2013

Court proceedings have begun in the case of a Tennessee hit-and-run accident. The accused driver on trial is being charged for the collision 18 months after the accident originally occurred in Memphis. The car accident resulted in the death of a local motorcyclist.

The accused driver was brought to court on Sept. 9. Reports claim that the man was operating a business truck without a driver’s license when he struck and killed the passing motorcyclist on Third Street in Memphis in 2012. The motorcyclist was a mechanic and was reportedly en route to work on another vehicle when he was fatally injured in the accident.

The court proceedings came as a surprise to the motorcyclist’s widow as she allegedly learned of the trial 18 months after the incident occurred. She has apparently spoken to news outlets about her forgiveness of the accused driver who fatally injured her husband. The accused is being charged with not having a driver’s license and leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.

While the case remains open as of mid-September, it is unknown of the outcome. For those who are injured or who have lost loved ones in a hit-and-run accident in Tennessee, a lengthy court trial can prolong their pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney may be capable of working with those involved in the accident to compile adequate evidence from the scene. The attorney could be able to work with the plaintiff’s insurance company to ensure that vehicle damages and medical expenses are sufficiently covered, and the attorney may be capable of recreating the accident with an investigator and bringing his or her findings to court.

Source: WMCTV, “Hit and run suspect heads to court“, September 09, 2013

Police in Tennessee said that a woman stole a patrol car and crashed it into a string of other vehicles, killing one person and injuring four more. The fatal automobile accident reportedly occurred as the women hijacked the police car while in the process of being taken into custody. She was charged with vehicular homicide, theft, felony fleeing and violation of probation. Her bond was set at $402,500. Police did not yet know if she was on drugs or drunk at the time of the incident.

The 49-year-old woman was reportedly being arrested in the parking lot of a Dollar General store when she fled in the police car. Authorities said that she then crashed the patrol cruiser into another car, killing a 55-year-old man and injuring four others. The victim was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck, but police said that it wouldn’t have made a difference, considering the force of the crash’s impact.

According to family members, the woman was taken to a local hospital with burns and a broken leg, but her injuries were not life-threatening. They described her as a habitual offender who had done time for theft as well as drug and alcohol charges. Upon the woman’s release, she was arrested and taken to jail, where she would recuperate from her injuries.

Tennessee families dealing with a death or severe injuries as a result of a car accident often find the experience overwhelming. An attorney who is experienced in litigation following a fatal car crash may be able to help those affected find closure and begin the road to healing. Such a lawyer may be able to arrange financial compensation for damages such as funeral expenses, medical costs, and pain and suffering.

Source: WHNT, “Woman charged following incident involving stolen police car in Fayetteville“, Matt Kroschel, Carri Walters, and Laura Christmas, September 04, 2013

A Tennessee man died as a result of his injuries after being hit by a car. According to the report, the fatal car crash occurred after a vehicle allegedly hit the man and sped off. The vehicle was described as a white Lincoln with a red top, which was seen by witnesses leaving the scene of the accident.

Police officers found a woman who was allegedly involved with the accident approximately two miles from the scene of the accident; however, the vehicle in question was not recovered. As of this report, she had not yet received charges in connection to the crime. The victim, who was identified by a family member, was said to be a father and a good man who worked every day.

When a car accident involving a pedestrian occurs, the pedestrian will most likely sustain severe injuries, including neck and back injuries, broken bones and fractures, abrasions and traumatic head injuries. In some cases, the pedestrian may even die as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident. If the pedestrian was following the rules of the road at the time of the accident, the surviving family members may be entitled to compensation from the responsible driver and the driver’s insurance company.

In some cases, however, the insurance company may attempt to award the family with less than what the family needs to cover all medical expenses, funeral costs and pain and suffering. An experienced Tennessee attorney may be able to help the family by negotiating directly with the insurance company. Using any evidence available from the case, including police reports, witness testimony and accident reconstruction methods, the attorney may be able to show the full extent of the damages that were caused as a result of the accident.

Source: Your East Memphis, “Man dies as result of injuries sustained in hit and run“, Justin Hanson, August 20, 2013