Category: Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

If your loved one has been involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident, you may not know what to do next. It is a life-changing event that could shake the foundation of your life. Here at Pryor Priest & Harbor, we understand that this is a difficult time and wish to help you through it.

Though dealing with legal matters may be quite far from your mind at a time like this, it is important to understand that you might need the legal compensation in order to fortify your family structure at this crucial time. If the loved one that has passed contributed to the household income, you will need to fill the gap that they will leave. If the accident was caused by negligence, you will be able to legally pursue it as a wrongful death case. This means that another party can be held responsible for the death of your loved one.

Not only can this help you pay for any potential medical bills, insurance, or other lost expenses, but it may also give you peace of mind. In some cases, such as lethal accidents involving DUI charges, you may also be able to take a menace off of the roads. This could prevent further fatal accidents in the future, making the roads a safer place to be for everyone.

While it is difficult to move forward at this time, that is perhaps one of the most important things that you can do. For more information on dealing with the aftermath of a fatal vehicular accident, please visit our web page.

If you have lost a loved one in an unnecessary to the accident due to the negligence of someone else, you know pain and suffering that is unmeasurable. Too many Knoxville residents have had to experience such grief. An automobile accident is a common cause of these tragic situations and whether caused by a drunk driver, a fatigued truck driver or a driver otherwise unaware or reckless, the impact of the wrongful death lingers on.

A look at statistics collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives an overview of how extensive the problem of fatal accidents really is in Tennessee. In 2013, 995 people died in a fatal car crash of some sort statewide. Of those, 60 died in Knox County. Further data suggests that every person in Tennessee can face the risk of these acccidents as follows:

• Motorcyclists represented 137 of the state’s deaths and five of the county’s deaths.
• Pedestrians represented 80 of the state’s deaths and four of the county’s deaths.
• Bicyclists represented eight of the state’s deaths and one of the county’s deaths.
• Large trucks were involved in 126 state fatalities and six county fatalities.

Alcohol and speeding were noted as factors in several of the crashes. Statewide, 277 lives were lost at the hands of drunk drivers and 236 deaths were impacted by speeding. In Knox County, drunk drivers claimed 16 lives and speeders another nine.

Knoxville residents interested in learning more about wrongful death cases can visit our website. Nothing can bring back a deceased family member but understanding options for compensation may be one way of processing such a loss.

As school starts up again this fall in Knoxville, many children will walk to and from school or their bus stops. When drivers fail to pay attention or obey traffic laws in school zones, children may be put in great danger of being injured in a pedestrian accident. Sometimes, children may not fully understand how to safely walk near traffic and might take risks a driver is not prepared for. However, in many other cases, a negligent, speeding or distracted driver may disregard safety laws and harm a child.

Already, a Tennessee mother has expressed worry for children who cross the street at a bus stop in Memphis. The woman’s concern may reflect the feelings of countless parents across the state with children who walk to their schools or bus stops. Reportedly, the woman took a cell phone video of vehicles driving past buses that were stopped to let children off. She said that she almost saw a young girl get hit by a car that continued driving past the stopped bus.

Tennessee law requires all drivers to stop when a school bus has its stop sign extended to allow children to safely cross the street. This includes large, multi-lane roadways with a center turn lane instead of a barrier or median. It is important for drivers to be vigilant for buses that have stopped, and to watch for children crossing the street. Those who fail to obey school zone laws may cause tragic fatal accidents and might therefore be held liable for the wrongful death of a child, funeral expenses for the family and criminal charges.

Source: News Channel 3, “Mother concerned about cars passing stopped school buses,” Caitlin Alexander, Sept. 3, 2015

Not all accidents are preventable. This is the very nature of an accident. They are unpredictable, and therefore it is not always possible to take preventative measures against them. However, there are a few cases in which certain factors exacerbate the chances of an accident happening. These factors are what can be eliminated.

In 2012 alone, the number of lethal car accidents across the U.S. totaled up to 30,800. While that was a drop from previous years, it is still a very large number. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration keep track of every lethal car accident that occurs in the country. They also keep track of the causes for these accidents. This can lead to the discovery of certain patterns which increase the likelihood of an accident.

There are some causes that simply are not preventable. However, a number of accidents are either due to negligence on the part of one or more drivers, poor maintenance of a vehicle, or faulty manufacturing of the vehicle. There are also accidents that occur because of entirely preventable things like driver distraction or impairment. This is why there are so many campaigns geared against drunk driving or texting while driving. Taking one’s eyes away from the road for even a second can result in a potentially lethal accident.

While it is impossible to entirely stop accidents, these preventable aspects can at least be controlled. One of the best things that a person can do to prevent accidents while on the road is paying attention.

Tennessee teenagers can feel invincible, especially if they have recently learned to drive. Unfortunately, the roads can be a dangerous place. In a split second, a fun ride with friends can quickly turn tragic. When such accidents occur, the family members of the deceased are often left dealing with grief and anger. This is especially true when the accident was caused by a drunk driver.

Two 17-year-old girls were killed a DUI car accident. The teenagers both attended school in Memphis, Tennessee. Reports do not offer details regarding the girls’ injuries. It is unclear from reports whether the deceased girls were pronounced dead at the scene or were transported to a hospital first.

The girls were traveling in a vehicle with three other people. Two of these were also hurt in the crash, but their injuries were not life-threatening. The fifth person did not suffer any injuries. Reports do not clearly explain the relationship between these five people.

The other vehicle was driven by a 32-year-old man from Mississippi. He has been charged with DUI death and DUI injury. Reports do not state whether any other people were riding in this man’s vehicle at the time of the accident.

If you are struggling with emotional and financial losses brought on by the untimely death of a loved one, pursuing wrongful death litigation may be helpful. These types of civil lawsuits may provide peace and a sense of justice to those left to pick up the pieces after a tragic death. Succeeding with such a lawsuit may offer you and your family closure. If you want to gain a better understanding of wrongful death lawsuits, it may be helpful to speak with an attorney.  

Source: wbbjtv.com, “Arrest made in fatal accident involving Memphis teens,” June 1, 2015

Car accidents occur on a regular basis in Tennessee. Many of these are minor and result only in a few scratches on a bumper. Some accidents, however, produce life-altering outcomes. In the worst case scenarios, one or more fatalities may result from a single accident.

Three young boys died as a result of a fatal car crash involving a sport utility vehicle and a minivan. The boys were 1, 8 and 13 years old. The crash, which occurred on a Tennessee highway, also caused the deaths of three others. The relationship between these six people was not disclosed in reports. Three more people were also injured in the accident. Reports do not indicate how serious these injuries are.  

The accident occurred when the SUV crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the minivan head-on. The minivan had been carrying eight people. It is unclear from reports how many people were riding in the SUV.

Reports do not offer any details on why the SUV crossed out of its lane or whether law enforcement authorities believe intoxication was a factor in the accident.   

Car accidents are often tragic, but they are especially heartbreaking when they involve the deaths of children. When these collisions are caused by the negligence of another driver, the families of the deceased often seek justice for the untimely deaths of their loved ones. If you have lost a relative in a fatal car crash, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Speaking with an attorney may help you determine whether pursuing this type of litigation is a good option for you and your family.

Source: news.yahoo.com, “Six people killed in two-car crash on Tennessee Highway,” May 8, 2015

Residents in Tennessee might benefit from understanding more about the safety risks and implications associated with a van crash that recently occurred in Florida. On March 30, 18 people were inside a 15-passenger 2000 Dodge Ram van when the vehicle ran a stop sign and plunged into a ravine nearby. Ten people were killed, and eight people were injured in the accident. By April 3, four of the ten surviving victims were released from the hospital.

The 58-year-old driver killed in the crash was reportedly a long-term bus driver for the schools in St Lucie County. The nature of the accident refocused attention on the safety risks associated with many of these types of vehicles. The 15-pasenger vehicles are so risk-laden that many insurers refuse to provide coverage for the vehicles. Data collected by federal agencies shows that more than 500 people died in an accident associated with 15-passenger vans between 2004 and 2010.

Many of these accident are attributable to a blown tire or vehicles overturning. Safety advocates claim that the particular dimensions of these types of vans makes them more susceptible to being involved in a fatal accident. Organizations who frequently travel in large groups, such as churches and colleges, have been warned that overloading these vehicles can increase the likelihood of a rollover crash occurring. Many of the older model 15-passenger vans lack the tire monitoring and stability controls that are standard in today’s vehicles.

People who lose loved ones to fatal accidents often benefit from speaking with legal counsel about filing a wrongful death claim. Lawyers may be able to investigate the accidents and help identify any of the parties who may be culpable or causing the accident. Plaintiffs in these may be entitled to receive restitution designed to account for economic and noneconomic damages resulting from the untimely death.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported the death of a 44-year-old woman in a car and semi truck crash on Interstate 24 between Manchester and Monteagle. The semi hit the back of her 2000 Saturn coupe when her vehicle slowed down. The impact forced her car off the road. Her 20-year-old male passenger was injured.

The report from the highway patrol stated that the woman had seen a disabled car in the median, and that she slowed to stop and offer help. At that point, the driver of the semi, a 48-year-old man, said that he was unable to stop and therefore hit her vehicle.

The truck driver was not hurt. The highway patrol troopers did not attribute the accident to drinking or drugs. Criminal charges, however, remain a possibility once their investigation is finished.

Although it is not known if charges will be pressed against the truck driver, accidents similar to this are sometimes blamed on inattentive driving due to texting or driver fatigue. The survivor of a lost loved one sometimes has cause for filing a wrongful death claim to recover damages like funeral expenses, lost income to a household or medical bills prior to the death. If a car accident resulted from a driver’s negligence, then compensation might be obtained from the responsible party or his or her insurance company. An attorney might be able to assess an accident investigation to see if it contains evidence that indicates negligence. The adequacy of a settlement offered by an insurance company could also be reviewed by an attorney to see if it fulfills a client’s need for compensation.

Source: WKRN, “Good Samaritan killed in crash on I-24 in Coffee County,” Feb. 26, 2015

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, a man was killed in a head-on collision that occurred on Jan. 9. The accident occurred around 7:40 a.m. on Highway 107 in the 1600 block.

The 42-year-old man was driving his Chevy S-10 pickup truck on the highway. A 43-year-old man driving a Honda Accord had been weaving in and out of traffic and passing other vehicles, according to witness reports. The Honda’s driver allegedly swerved out in front of the man’s pickup truck. The victim attempted to avoid hitting the Honda, but witnesses indicated the Honda also swerved, colliding head-on into the man’s truck.

Responding medical personnel declared the 42-year-old dead at the accident scene. The Honda’s driver was flown for treatment of his injuries to Johnson City Medical Center. Authorities indicate the Honda’s driver is currently in stable condition. They also indicated their investigation into the accident is continuing and that criminal charges may be filed against the man.

The families of those who are unexpectedly killed due to the wrongful actions of another driver must deal with not only the grief of their unexpected loss but also significant financial expenses. Families of those killed may have been dependent on their loved one’s income. Additionally, there may be medical expenses for treatment that the decedent received as well as funeral arrangement costs to deal with. All of these damages are potentially recoverable by filing of a wrongful death lawsuit. A family might want to consider contacting a personal injury lawyer for assistance with preparing the suit.

Source: WJHL, “Man dies in Friday morning crash in Chuckey, TN”, Jan. 9, 2015

An examination of data gleaned from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows a number of trends that might interest Tennessee motorists. These Fatality Analysis Reporting System statistics demonstrate that, while some places, like the District of Columbia, only had around 2.4 vehicle crash fatalities per 100,000 people, other locales, like Montana and North Dakota, played host to upwards of 20 fatalities per 100,000 residents.

According to statistics released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute, population density is a major contributing factor in motor vehicle death rates, but it isn’t necessarily the deciding parameter. Tennessee, with a population of under 7 million, experienced more than 1,000 traffic fatalities in 2012. This total was on the same order of magnitude as the number of deaths in some more populated states, like New York.

The institute noted that details like road speeds and local traffic laws could also play roles in fatal crashes. In Tennessee, where just under 50 percent of fatal accident motorists had known BAC results yet data remained unavailable on the total percentage of drivers who sustained fatal injuries with BACs over the limit, alcohol could be a critical ongoing road safety factor. The Highway Loss Data Institute also pointed out that not all states maintain reporting information on BAC crash involvement.

Criminal courts don’t always help survivors recover from vehicle accidents. For instance, a wreck that leads to the death of a primary caregiver or breadwinner might leave their relatives unable to afford their normal living expenses. Nonetheless, traffic courts and district attorneys aren’t responsible for offsetting survivors’ costs with judgment awards. Many victims consider wrongful death lawsuits and other civil court actions as a means of pursuing restitution.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, “Fatality Facts“, December 30, 2014