Category: Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car accidents in Tennessee often cause many families to have to reevaluate their lives and adjust to new injuries or loss of income. For those who have lost a loved one, the healing process can be a very difficult and lengthy one, as these kinds of accidents are oftentimes so senseless and awful. Sometimes, however, there are circumstances where there might have been a way to help a victim of a crash and those are perhaps the hardest to move forward from.

Just over two and a half years ago a mother lost her son due to a car crash in Tennessee, but she proceeded to move forward in a legal matter regarding his death, and not exactly because of the accident. The location of this fatal motor vehicle accident happened to be on a span of road between counties, giving the Metro dispatcher a decision to make about whose emergency medical team to call and request aid from. The team that arrived was allegedly “10 to 15 minutes away,” while two other teams were a reported “two or three minutes away.”

According to one source, the ambulances which were closer required a formal request before they could be sent out to help the victims of the crash. This kind of rule is what has likely caused much strife and distress for this young man’s mother. The territorial regulations reportedly have a “mutual aid” policy. This policy is for the instances when a situation such as this one is close enough to another county, a call for help could be made to the neighboring county.

Tennessee’s appellate court ruled against the mother’s case that the county had a duty to request the closer of the ambulances. For Tennessee residents who are dealing with a difficult situation similar to this one, working with an attorney cold help them should they wish to proceed with their case. While it cannot return a loved one, it may be able to begin the healing and help with the added financial burdens from the loss.

Source: The Tennessean, “Metro had no duty to summon closer ambulance for man after wreck,” Brian Haas, Nov. 24, 2012

A tragic loss of one teenager occured last week after being in serious condition from a car accident in Jefferson County late September. A 16-year-old was riding along in a truck when the vehicle he was in and another collided, resulting in multiple people sustaining injuries and, ultimately, this young man’s death. Police reported than many of those involved were not wearing seatbelts, including the young man.

The crash occurred near Interstate 40 and Interstate 81 and involved two trucks; one was a 1996 Chevrolet S10 and another Chevrolet pickup (2002). The 2002 Chevrolet reportedly had been attempting to change lanes when they struck the Chevrolet S10 and flipped from the impact. Both drivers involved were injured along with five of the passengers riding in the trucks.

Police reportedly said that wearing his seatbelt may have saved the young man’s life. In these kinds of crashes, it’s difficult to not wish for what could have been while grieving. The parents of this young man could look into seeking damages from the woman who was driving the 2002 Chevrolet. As this is National Teen Driver Safety Week, it’s important to remember the ways in which we can help the youth in our lives to know how to be safe drivers, but also to reflect on them ourselves and talk about how we can be more aware of drivers around us.

Tennessee families who are going through the loss of a parent or child due to a tragic car accident could look into the laws surrounding personal injury and driving to better understand what their options may be. The young man’s family in this case could potentially seek out legal counsel and go over the ways in which they may be able to receive compensation for the death of their child.

Source: knoxnews.com, “Teen dies after Jefferson County crash,” News Sentinal, Oct. 12, 2012

Motor vehicle accidents involving more people than just the two drivers can be very overwhelming and confusing to deal with, and can become especially emotional when there are fatalities. Around 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, a Tennessee church van was on its way home from a weekend away when another car veered over the center line of Chapman Highway and collided with the van head-on. Twelve passengers were injured and two have been pronounced dead. The other driver was transported to a medical center and was listed in critical condition Sunday night. It is being investigated whether or not he was in possession of illegal substances at the time of the accident.

In an instance like this, it is very common that close family and friends of the victims of the accident are going to want an investigation and will need to understand the results. It is understandable that they are extremely upset. Questions of liability, wrongful death, distracted driving, and possible driving under the influence come up and answers are demanded. When reports indicate that an accident is the result of another person’s negligence, families of the victims might be wise to understand their legal rights.

Should you find yourself in a situation involving a motor vehicle crash, it is important to know what you are eligible for in terms of damages and compensation. Families that may have been directly or indirectly involved in a car accident might have to wait for the results of an investigation, but in the meantime they can contact an attorney familiar with car accidents to help them understand their rights and seek compensation if necessary..

It is also important to be mindful of what your county and the state of Tennessee have to say about these kinds of accidents and investigations. Making sure you know the ways that you’ll be able to take care of yourself and family after an accident such as this can help with the extra costs and coping when dealing with one such a traumatic and tragic event.

Source: knoxnews.com, “‘Powdery substance’ found in SUV in fatal church van crash,” Sept. 17, 2012

There is little that can be done to ease the pain after a car crash takes the life of a family member, particularly when that member is a young adult. Investigations of wrongful death and liability often follow a fatal Tennessee car accident where the other driver was believed to be at fault. Many people might wonder what can be done when both parties are killed in an accident. Last week in Maryville, a 16-year-old girl was running an errand after school when a man driving a reported 73mph in a 55mph zone on Highway 411 crashed into her car, head-on. Both drivers died in the crash.

Wrongful death means that there was life lost from negligence on someone else’s part, sometimes unnecessary. In this case, the family of the teen driver is mourning her death and regarding this loss as something that could have been avoided if the other driver hadn’t been speeding. It can be difficult to know where to turn after an accident such as this.

Being aware of the facts from the scene and what was found through any investigation can help a family find closure. An investigation can also help seek damages and compensation. Although no amount of compensation can undo an accident, it can help a family properly honor their loved one.

The investigation is still ongoing for this particular accident, but it is reported that the teen driver was wearing her seatbelt and believed to be going the speed limit. If a family finds itself in a similar situation, they might be wise to speak with an experienced attorney. An attorney can help a family understand what legal options they might have after a fatal Tennessee car accident. Knowing where to turn after this kind of tragedy could provide some financial support and maybe even a small bit of closure.

Source: wate.com, “Family mourns Maryville teen killed in head-on crash,” Mike Krafcik, Aug. 15, 2012

When traveling on a busy highway, turning at an intersection can be tricky. Drivers need to be aware how much time they have to turn before they might encounter other vehicles. Yielding the right-of-way is extremely important, as is allowing enough time to complete a turn safely. Unfortunately, sometimes turns, especially left turns, can result in serious or even deadly car accidents.

One such accident happened last week in Sevierville. A 52-year-old woman was reportedly driving her 2011 Kia on U.S. 411 near Hattie Branch Road. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the woman was driving south on the road when she encountered another vehicle that was turning.

That vehicle was a 2000 Silverado pickup truck driven by a 70-year-old woman from Sevierville. She apparently attempted to turn from 411 onto Hattie Branch Road when the truck collided with the Kia head-on. Both vehicles came to rest in the middle of the roadway.

Each driver had a passenger in the vehicles with them, and all of them were wearing seat belts. Even so, an 84-year-old passenger in the Kia, also from Sevierville, died from the injuries she sustained in the crash.

According to media reports, it’s possible that criminal charges will be filed, in addition to citations, relating to the accident, which occurred at about 8:30 in the evening on Friday. Both drivers were injured, as was the 69-year-old passenger who was riding along in the pickup truck.

Source: The Mountain Press, “One dead, three injured after Friday wreck,” Rachel Osborn, Aug. 26, 2012

When teens get their driver’s licenses, they should expect that others they share the road with will be as diligent as they strive to be. That’s not always the case, however. A heartbreaking accident in Maryville recently took the life of a teenage driver and a man driving a separate vehicle.

The 16-year-old girl, who had recently gotten her license, was on her way to practice with the school dance team. As she drove on Highway 411, she unfortunately encountered a Chrysler Sebring that was driven by a 44-year-old man from Maryville.

That driver had apparently been clocked at high speeds above the 55 mph limit by a nearby trooper. However, before the officer could turn his car around to pursue the driver, that man crossed the center of a turn lane and crashed head-on with the teen’s vehicle. She was killed in the accident. The other driver later died at a hospital as well.

The trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol says that he didn’t even get a chance to pursue the driver. By the time he reached the top of a hill on the dry stretch of road, he came upon the crash wreckage.

According to media reports, at this point the authorities don’t know what happened to cause the crash.

Meanwhile, the teen’s dance team, for which she was the “spirit leader,” is in mourning. Counselors are apparently there to assist the girl’s team members, who are said to be “devastated.”

The teen’s mother described her daughter as “cheerful, bubbly, goofy.”

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, “Blount teen, 16, killed in wreck remembered for positive attitude, cheerfulness,” Robert Wilson, Aug. 16, 2012

•· Our firm handles similar situations to the one discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Knoxville car accident page.

We recently reported that fatal car accidents are increasing in Tennessee and across the country recently. Not surprisingly, fatal pedestrian accidents are on the rise, too.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the U.S. on average a pedestrian was killed every two hours, and one was injured every eight minutes in 2010. That year, fatal pedestrian accidents were up 4 percent from a year before.

Overall, the NHTSA says, there were 4,280 pedestrian fatalities in 2010, as well as 70,000 pedestrian-related injuries. Despite the year-to-year increase, the number of fatalities was still down by 13 percent from 2001.

Interestingly, the majority of the fatal crashes – about 80 percent – happened when pedestrians were crossing streets at non-intersections. About half of the fatalities occurred on weekends, and nearly half involved alcohol, either by the driver or the pedestrian.

Other statistics: Over two-thirds of the fatal crashes happened at night, and about 90 percent of them happened during clear weather. More than two-thirds of the victims were males. Also, pedestrian deaths made up 13 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2010.

Although some drivers involved were drunk or distracted, the same can be said of pedestrians. Anyone who is driving or walking near traffic should be vigilant about not getting distracted by cellphones or other digital devices. Keeping a proper lookout is not only the responsible thing to do, but it can be life-saving as well.

Source: CNN, “Pedestrian fatalities up 4 percent in 2010; non-intersection crossings most deadly,” Jim Barnett, Aug. 7, 2012

We’ve posted recently about the rise in Tennessee traffic deaths this year. It turns out that we are not alone: The overall death rate from traffic crashes in the U.S. rose 13.5 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same time last year.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 7,630 traffic deaths in the first quarter, compared to 6,720 during the same period in 2011.

The rise in fatal accidents is a bit puzzling since the numbers have been falling steadily over the last few years. As safety laws have been tweaked and robust technology has reduced car accident injuries, or prevented crashes outright, the number of deaths fell to a 60-year-low recently.

So, why the spike this year? Transportation officials say that it’s too early to point to a cause, but many people suspect the warmer than average winter might have something to do with it. It’s common knowledge that people travel on the roads more if the weather is nicer. Indeed, Americans reportedly drove 9.7 billion more miles in the first part of 2012 than last year, a 1.4 percent increase.

Hopefully the trend will reverse and we’ll see fewer deaths in the second half of the year. While the uptick in deaths is alarming to say the least, the total is far less than in some years past, particularly in the 1970s. In 1972, for example, there were 54,589 people killed in traffic crashes nationwide, the deadliest year on record.

Source: CNN, “U.S. traffic fatalities soar 13.5 percent in first quarter of 2012,” Jim Barnett, July 23, 2012

• Our firm handles similar situations to what was discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Knoxville car accident page.

In our post earlier this week, we told you how the number of Tennessee traffic deaths is on the rise. Compared to this time last year, there have been at least 30 more deaths in 2012. With a lot of people purchasing new bikes, the number of motorcycle accidents has risen significantly in the state, too.

Local officials intend to do something about the alarming numbers, and they are teaming up with Knoxville police officers to try to reduce the number of fatal car accidents. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security commissioner reportedly talked to Knoxville troopers recently about ways reduce deadly accidents.

The idea is to be even more proactive in enforcing rules and issuing citations. Troopers have apparently made 42 percent more DUI arrests compared to this time last year. In addition, citations for seat belt violations are up a whopping 52 percent from last year. The commissioner thinks that the work the troopers are doing will ultimately have an impact on saving lives.

One reason such citations are up is because drunk driving and failing to wear a seat belt are common elements in car accidents this year. About one in three Tennessee car accidents this year involved drunk drivers, and about half involved un-seat belted motorists.

Clearly, there are serious safety issues that need to be addressed, and hopefully Tennessee drivers will get the message that driving more safely and cautiously can save lives.

Source: WBIR, “Tenn. works to decrease number of deadly crashes,” July 18, 2012

The Tennessee Department of Transportation recently started posting fatality counts on message boards that sit over interstates. As motorists drive under them, it may make them think about how to avoid serious crashes, such as by slowing down and paying more attention. At least, that’s what transportation officials are hoping.

It’s the most recent tactic being used to decrease fatal accidents. Unfortunately, fatal car accidents are on the rise in the state. At this point last year, there had been 477 fatalities on Tennessee roads. So far this year there are already 508 and counting.

In one recent weekend alone, 15 people were killed in accidents. Transportation officials are definitely concerned in the recent rash of accidents, as well as the overall increase in fatalities this year.

As traffic deaths tend to decrease year-to-year in the U.S., it’s a bit puzzling why Tennessee isn’t following that trend. Part of the problem may be the spike in motorcycle accidents. The state recently logged the 75^th motorcyclist death this year.

It’s hoped that the signs and similar measures will help drivers slow down and take a look at what’s happening. Since the fatalities tallies have been implemented, the increase has, well, decreased. When the TDOT began posting the numbers in April, there had been a 13 percent year-to-year increase in accidents. That number has since fallen to just over 6 percent, so it’s possible that the signs are having the intended effect.

Source: The Tennessean, “Tennessee road deaths surpass 500,” Nicole Young, July 7, 2012