Category: Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

A mechanical failure may be to blame for the loss of the life of an elderly woman in Tennessee on Monday morning, Sept. 23. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, the driveshaft fell off of a pickup truck and crashed through the windshield of the vehicle the woman was riding in. Authorities are calling this a freak automobile accident. A police representative says that criminal charges have not been filed in the case.

No one other than the 77-year-old woman who was killed was injured in the crash. The accident occurred on Interstate 24 in La Vergne, just south of Nashville. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 2008 Dodge Ram lost its driveshaft at approximately 10:30 a.m. It bounced off a car not identified by news sources and crashed through the window of the Chevrolet Equinox driven by the dead woman’s husband. The woman was riding in the passenger seat of the car, according to reports.

The woman was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Neither drugs nor alcohol appear to have been factors in the incident; according to police, the accident was not intentional and not malicious. They did cite the driver of the Dodge as causing the fatal accident.

In a case where mechanical failure may be a factor in a fatal crash, an experienced attorney may be able to assess the evidence and identify all parties who could be held responsible for the loss suffered by the decedent’s surviving family. An attorney could also negotiate with insurance companies, their claims adjusters and the lawyers representing the insurers for a fair settlement for clients who have suffered the loss.

Source: Cherokee Tribune, “Canton woman, 77, dies in automobile crash in Tennessee“, Joshua Sharpe, September 25, 2013

A Tennessee man was killed in a hit-and-run accident while traveling on foot at 5:00 a.m. After the car accident, police located the vehicle involved and began an investigation to find the person responsible. The deceased leaves behind three children under the age of six. Before his death, the victim was walking a friend from his home back to the friend’s hotel room.

On the morning of Sept. 14, the deceased was walking with his friend near Ellington Parkway in Madison. While taking a short cut along the highway, the victim was struck by a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. According to the friend, the impact of the collision sent the victim flying into the air. The friend also reported seeing the car swerve before the fatal collision. Although the driver never stopped, police located the vehicle parked at a house on Ames Drive.

While grieving the loss, the victim’s family offered statements to a local reporter. According to the sister, the family is very interested in finding the driver and cannot understand why he or she kept driving. She also remarked that the deceased was very loved and that she wants his children to know that his death was not in vain.

Although the suspect will most likely receive a heavy sentence for the crime, justice in itself will not heal the family’s pain. To give themselves time to grieve before returning to work, the victim’s family members may wish to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. With the help of an experienced lawyer, the family may be able to do this by filing a wrongful death claim against the driver, if he or she is found.

Source: WSMV, “Police recover vehicle from hit-and-run; search for suspect“, Calie Snee and Forrest Sanders, September 15, 2013

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

A driver has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after a car accident in Tennessee that led to the death of a woman, a man and an unborn child. The woman killed in this accident was pregnant at the time and had reportedly stopped by the side of the road because she had run out of gas. A male neighbor had stopped to help her. After the neighbor gave the woman gas, a driver on the road reportedly struck them with his vehicle.

Both the man and woman died in the car accident and the child that the woman was pregnant with was also killed. The driver was reportedly intoxicated during the event. The state asked for the maximum sentence regarding the crime. The Assistant District Attorney stated that the man had a previous DUI charge and had not stopped drinking while driving. She further stated that the man had not shown remorse for his actions.

She used the fact that the driver did not turn himself in regarding the crime as evidence of this fact. The 30 year sentence contained 11 years for each count of murder, which included the murder of the unborn child, six years for tampering with the evidence, two years for leaving the scene of the hit-and-run and one year for reckless endangerment. Some of these charges were to be served concurrently.

The family of the woman and unborn child killed during this accident can pursue two wrongful death claims against the driver of the hit-and-run. The family of the man who was killed can file another wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim allows the families to gain monetary compensation regarding the loss of their family members, including any burial expenses and associated costs that might have transpired.

Source: WATE 6 News, “Curtis Harper sentenced to 30 years in prison for hit-and-run accident“, June 26, 2013

An assistant woman’s soccer coach has been reportedly killed in a crash on Interstate 24 that involved three vehicles. The 28-year-old man worked for a Tennessee university prior to his death but was in Nashville at the time of the accident.

The police stated that the Cumberland University coach was on the interstate heading west when he collided with the back of a pickup truck from behind. His car was turned sideways during the automobile accident and stopped inside of a lane of traffic. After the coach’s vehicle stopped, a tractor trailer struck it on the driver’s side. The 20-year-old driver of the pickup truck sustained only minor injuries. The tractor trailer was being driven by a 58-year-old man who also did not sustain any injuries during the accident.

According to the reports, the assistant soccer coach died at the scene of the crash. The police stated that there was a disabled vehicle on the roadway at the time of the accident. The police believe that the disabled vehicle may have contributed to the accident.

The family of the soccer coach could potentially file charges against the person responsible for the disabled vehicle. This could be done with the aid of a motor vehicle accident attorney. However, the police have not yet determined whether the disabled vehicle actually contributed to the crash or not. The investigation will determine the cause of the accident and whether negligence or recklessness may have played any part. Depending on who is found to be at fault for the accident, compensation may be a plausible outcome for the victim or victims’ families.

Source: Wate.com 6 abc, “Cumberland University soccer coach killed in accident“, June 17, 2013

A woman has been charged in a collision that killed a 21-year-old man. The 28-year-old woman was allegedly driving under the influence and in the incorrect lane when the car accident occurred. The man was able to pull himself from his vehicle and check on his wife and child, who were passengers. He later died at the scene.

The accused woman’s two children were not properly restrained in her vehicle and also suffered injuries. Her five-year-old suffered a fractured skull, a broken back, and was placed on life support after being transported to the hospital. Her seven-year-old child also suffered facial and head injuries. The woman was also seriously injured.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol waited until the woman was released from the hospital and subsequently filed charges. She will face one count of vehicular homicide, one count of DUI, two vehicular assault charges, as well as aggravated child abuse and child abuse. The woman also received citations for failing to properly restrain her children, not wearing a seat belt, failing to exercise due care, not having insurance, and for having a mixed drink and margarita mix in her vehicle. The woman’s husband told police that she had consumed Jagermeister and Red Bull before leaving home to go to work.

Although the victim died at the scene of the accident, his wife and family may pursue wrongful death charges in civil court. Proving the other driver’s reckless behavior will possibly be easier in this case as there are police records that indicate that woman drank alcohol before driving and even had an alcoholic beverage in her car. The woman’s failure to properly restrain her children further points to her arguably reckless mindset at the time of the accident. Accident victims and families may find that having the assistance of a personal injury lawyer can possibly help them prove their case in civil court.

Source: Wate.com, “Woman charged in wrong-way wreck that killed man“, May 24, 2013

The Tennessee Highway Patrol has stated that a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 took the life of a pedestrian, although authorities have not released the victim’s identity or any information related to the cause of the crash. The car accident occurred when a vehicle ran off the road into the median, striking a pedestrian and shutting down all eastbound lanes for approximately one hour. No other injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

Many pedestrian crashes on interstate highways involve pedestrians who have exited their vehicles due to another car accident or a breakdown. In some cases, these pedestrians are standing or walking near their own vehicles when another car hits them. However, it is unclear if this was the case in this incident. Police often tell motorists to remain in their cars if they have a breakdown as this may offer more safety on a busy interstate.

Authorities continue to investigate the crash and may release more information as it becomes available. Currently, authorities are withholding the identities of the victim and driver, as well as any information on what led the driver to leave the interstate and swerve into the median.

A personal injury attorney may represent the family of a pedestrian victim who has been killed in a collision with a car. A wrongful death suit on behalf of the victim may be filed by the surviving family members and may include pleas for various types of damages. These damages may include compensation for loss of love and affection of the victim, as well as lost future income the victim might have earned. Furthermore, families may decide to seek payment of medical bills, funeral expenses and other costs directly associated with the accident.

Source: WBBJ Eyewitness News, “Pedestrian Killed in Late Night Crash“, May 18, 2013