Category: Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Tennessee authorities report that an accident in Bartlett on Aug. 4 claimed the life of a female teenager who was a passenger in a truck. Media sources noted that the deceased teen was a former resident of the area and was visiting from Houston, Texas.

According to reports, the accident happened at the intersection of Memphis-Arlington and Yale at approximately 4:40 p.m. when a motorist driving a Lincoln Town Car did not yield the right-of-way and hit a Ford F-150 truck. The force of the impact sent the truck across the roadway’s median and into the path of oncoming traffic. A third vehicle then hit the Ford, and the truck rolled over on its right side.

A female teen passenger was ejected from the truck and died as a result. The truck driver, also a teenager, suffered undisclosed injuries, and he was taken to a local medical center. His current condition was not mentioned. Reports did not indicate if anyone else suffered injuries. Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash and have not yet pressed any charges.

The unexpected loss of a loved one in a crash could cause a family financial hardships as they deal with final arrangements. Whenever a fatal accident is caused by a negligent or reckless driver, the family of the decedent could hold that motorist liable by filing a claim for wrongful death. Any charges the driver faces may be used to establish negligence in civil court. A victim’s family could be awarded financial compensation for their accident-related expenses and losses such as funeral and medical costs.

Source: WREG, “Update: Teenage girl killed, Bartlett High student hurt in crash“, Ashley Crockett and George Brown, August 05, 2014

A collision between a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle left one dead and one injured in Greenville on July 26. The driver of the passenger vehicle was arrested after the fatal accident, and she told police that she had not seen the motorcycle as she pulled into the road.

The Greenville Police Department reports that the accident took place about 7:20 p.m. at the intersection of West Summer Street and North Sunset Street when a motorcycle driven by a 52-year-old Kingsport man collided with a Chevrolet van driven by a 25-year-old Greenville woman. The Chevrolet was making a left turn onto Summer Street from a stop sign when it traveled into the path of the eastbound motorcycle.

The driver of the motorcycle and his 54-year-old female passenger were both thrown from the bike due to the impact. The man was declared dead at the scene. His passenger suffered serious injuries, including head injuries and a broken leg. She was transported via air to Johnson City Medical Center.

Police arrested the driver of the Chevrolet after the incident for failure to yield, driving with a suspended driver’s license and violation of financial responsibility. If there is a claim of wrongful death filed related to the crash, the charges might be used as evidence to show liability and negligence.

After a fatal motorcycle crash caused by a negligent driver, the family of the decedent might file a wrongful death claim seeking damages in connection with their loss. A successful claim might allow the family to collect funds for the funeral and burial expenses as well as for the loss of any income that the deceased earned to support dependents. Most civil claims are resolved through out-of-court settlements, for which there may be extensive negotiations.

Source: Times News, “Greeneville crash kills Kingsport businessman“, Wes Bunch, July 28, 2014

An FBI task force is looking into whether a hit-and-run that left two people dead in 2013 may have been caused by a man who was a deputy recruit at a Tennessee training academy. On July 24, police visited the Shelby County sheriff’s training academy and took a 24-year-old man into custody on suspicion of hitting two people and leaving the scene of the fatal crash.

The accident occurred Aug. 18, 2013, on Interstate 40 in the vicinity of Warford Street in Memphis. According to reports, a 34-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were standing beside a disabled car when the man, driving a pickup truck, allegedly struck and killed both of them and then left the scene. Officers have charged him with multiple offenses, including two counts of murder, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death and one count of reckless homicide.

The fiancé and the mother of one of the deceased, a 34-year-old woman, have been asking that justice be served in what had become a cold case. A tip generated by a previous news story apparently helped investigators to identify the suspected driver, who is no longer a recruit. Prior to being taken into custody, the only blemish on the former recruit’s record was running a red light in 2013.

When a traffic accident results in death, the family of the deceased may be able to seek financial compensation from the driver who caused the crash. A wrongful death claim would involve proving that the crash was a result of a negligent act performed by someone other than the deceased. Compensation from one of these claims might be provided for the family’s loss of financial support and any related expenses.

Source: WMC, “Former SCSO recruit charged with murder in fatal hit-and-run“, Ashli Blow and Jason Miles, July 25, 2014

An accident involving a church bus that was carrying 18 passengers occurred in Tennessee on July 17. According to the report, a 54-year-old female died as a result of her injuries from the crash.

It was stated that the bus collided with two vehicles after possibly malfunctioning at an intersection around 5:30 p.m. Authorities stated that the bus malfunction caused it to not be able to stop in time, and it only came to a rest in a nearby CVS parking lot after striking a sedan and a pickup truck.

The driver of the sedan died in the crash. Police reported that she had latched her seat belt but was sitting on top of it when the collision occurred. Two individuals in the pickup truck and five individuals on the bus were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. One of the occupants of the truck reportedly remained in critical condition at the time of the report.

It was reported that the occupants of the bus were traveling from Brazil, Ind., to Knoxville to attend a conference at Johnson University. One day after the crash, authorities were still investigating the accident to determine if any charges would be filed in association with the incident.

Fatal accidents can occur suddenly and without warning. If a family loses a loved one due to the recklessness or negligence of another driver, they may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver. If the accused driver was on the clock at the time the accident occurred, the family may also be able to name the company that employed the driver as a defendant.

Source: WBIR, “KPD id’s woman killed in crash with church bus“, July 18, 2014

Four people died and four suffered injuries in a chain reaction crash involving five vehicles in Haywood County, near Jackson. The June 25 accident happened on Interstate 40 in traffic that had slowed down due to an earlier accident in the area.

According to reports, the fatal accident began in the westbound lanes of I-40 when a freight truck rear-ended a Lexus driven by a Staten Island, New York, woman. The impact caused the Lexus to crash into the rear of a tractor-trailer, which in turn crashed into the tractor-trailer ahead of it. The freight truck also crashed into another vehicle during the accident. Four of the five vehicles involved caught fire because of the collision.

The New York woman and her passenger, a Massachusetts resident, died in the accident, as were two other people. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that speed had played a role in the accident but also that they did not immediately issue any criminal charges or citations. As in similar fatal accidents, victims might choose to file claims once liability can be established.

Because police believe that speed played a role in the accident, the families of the occupants of the Lexus might consider filing wrongful death claims if it can be shown the that driver of the freight truck was negligent while driving. In these types of cases in Tennessee, a successful claim might mean that the family could receive compensation for the funeral and burial costs that they incurred and for the loss of support and services from the decedent.

Source: SILive, “Staten Island woman killed in Tennessee crash, report says“, Maura Grunlund, July 02, 2014

A man was killed in a head-on collision in Rutherford County shortly before 6:30 a.m. on June 25. The collision took place in the 4200 block of Lascassas Pike, which is near Shady Lane. Investigators say that the driver who allegedly caused the crash will likely face charges since she was apparently under the influence of drugs. She was also tested for alcohol intoxication.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the fatal collision happened when a Mitsubishi that was headed west on Lascassas Pike crossed the double yellow lines and collided head-on with an eastbound Ford Ranger. The 33-year-old Murfreesboro man who was driving the Ranger had attempted to avoid a collision with the Mitsubishi by pulling into the shoulder.

The driver of the Ranger was declared dead at the scene of the accident. The 31-year-old Murfreesboro woman driving the Mitsubishi was taken to an area hospital to receive treatment for injuries suffered in the accident. If the driver truly was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the fatal accident, this information might be used to establish negligence if any family members of the deceased driver consider filing a wrongful death claim.

If a wrongful death claim is successful in Tennessee, the family of the decedent might receive remuneration for the funeral and burial expenses they incurred. The family might also be compensated for any financial losses experienced due to the person’s death, such as support and services. The first step in many wrongful death claims is proving that there was an act of negligence involved, which may be easier if any at-fault parties are facing related criminal charges.

Source: News Channel 5, “33-Year-Old Man Killed In Rutherford County Head-On Crash“, June 25, 2014

A rollover accident in Tennessee left one woman dead and a man seriously injured on June 15. Police believe that the driver may have been intoxicated at the time of the fatal accident. Reports indicated that felony charges were pending against him.

The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. in Smyrna. The deceased woman, a 26-year-old Murfreesboro woman, was a passenger in a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 31-year-old Rockville man. The vehicle was headed west on Interstate 24 when the driver lost control of the SUV near the Almaville Road exit. A Tennessee Highway Patrol report said that the vehicle left the highway and hit the median, leading the driver to overcorrect to get back onto the roadway. The Tahoe overturned as a result, traveling across several lanes on the highway before coming to a stop upright.

The woman was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The driver, who was conscious when emergency crews arrived at the scene but was non-responsive afterward, was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for treatment of serious injuries. His condition was unknown the following day.

People who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol cause thousands of deaths each year. Surviving relatives of drunk driving victims must often grieve their loved ones while struggling with the costs of medical treatment and funeral expenses. Many families must also arrange to replace the deceased’s contributions to their households, such as income or child or elder care. Some spouses, parents or children of deceased accident victims consider filing wrongful death claims against at-fault drivers. Personal injury attorneys could guide families through the process of seeking compensation.

Source: WKRN, “Woman dies after being ejected in crash on I-24 in Smyrna“, June 16, 2014

The loss of a loved one in a car accident is always difficult. In addition to the pain associated with losing someone special, friends and relatives must take care of hospital bills, funeral expenses and several other concerns. To help people find their way through this troubling time, it is possible for them to pursue a wrongful death case. This takes into account the nature of the accident and assigns liability to one or more parties.

In Anderson County, one person is dead after a collision between a pickup truck and a semitruck. The accident occurred around 6 a.m. on Edgemoor Road. A pickup truck apparently collided head-on with a semitruck on the road resulting in the death of one person. Police were conducting an investigation to determine the nature of the accident and its cause. An initial eyewitness report suggested the driver of the pickup lost control of the vehicle.

Fatal accidents can happen very quickly on the road, and there are many different factors that can play a role. It may the result of negligence by another driver on the road, or it may be the result of a mechanical malfunction in a vehicle. In the accident on Edgemoor, it is possible the driver of the vehicle experienced a problem with his pickup that caused him to lose control.

No matter how an accident comes about, it is important for those associated with a victim to pursue an appropriate outcome for the case. Understanding Tennessee law and the options available to friends and relatives of the deceased is the first step toward obtaining the compensation needed to navigate the difficult time.

Source: Local 8, “Edgemoor Road reopens following fatal accident,” May 14, 2014

Losing a loved one can be devastating. It can be even harder to accept if their death comes at the hands of a negligent or irresponsible driver. When fatal accidents occur, determining responsibility is sometimes a difficult and emotionally taxing experience. However, it is often a necessary step for families seeking closure about an incident. A recent crash in Tennessee left two dead and another critically injured.

The accident in question occurred in Knoxville one Sunday morning. A young man had noticed a broken down car on the shoulder of the road and pulled over to assist. He was out of his car, along with the young man and woman from the other vehicle, when disaster struck. Another driver lost control of his car as he passed by and ploughed into the trio.

The result was devastating. The two young men were killed in the accident, while the 19-year-old woman was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in a critical condition. It is unknown how the driver lost control, but he now faces multiple charges. These include vehicular assault and two counts of vehicular homicide. Furthermore, the accused driver is alleged to have been uninsured and not in possession of a license.

This tragic accident reminds drivers in Tennessee how easily fatal accidents can occur. If you lose someone you love in an automobile accident, you may feel too caught up in grief to consider legal matters. Nevertheless, seeking compensation either from insurance or the responsible party can be helpful in covering funeral expenses and similar costs. An attorney may be able to help you through this difficult time and seek the financial support you need.

Source: WBIR, “KPD: Driver who hit 3 pedestrians didn’t have license,” April 28, 2014

Losing a loved one in a motor vehicle accident is devastating. Those involved in severe collisions are left searching for answers. What happened leading up to the accident? Was there anything that could have been done to prevent the deadly turn of events? Although there are sometimes no easy answers to these questions, fatal accidents can often be attributed to the negligence of another driver on the road. In these cases, the family of a deceased person may be entitled to compensation to help them through the difficult times ahead. 

A Tennessee woman recently lost her 13-year-old son in a fatal collision while her car was stopped on the side of the interstate. The 47-year-old mother had pulled her vehicle to the shoulder of the road as the result of a flat tire. She and her 12-year-old daughter were standing on the road’s shoulder while the son changed the tire. Reportedly, another motorist, lost control of her vehicle and crashed into the boy. The young teenager was killed by the out-of-control car.

The mother was also struck by the vehicle, which subsequently fled the scene of the accident. Police later arrested the 33-year-old driver and charged her with two counts, including vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that drugs may have been involved in the accident. The driver who fled the scene was previously charged with reckless endangerment while driving her car in another incident.

Families who have lost someone in an accident could benefit from familiarizing themselves with the legal options available to them. A wrongful death case may provide financial compensation to help with medical expenses, funeral expenses and pain and suffering related to the accident. Obtaining counsel familiar with Tennessee laws surrounding fatal motor vehicle accidents is the first step toward finding resolution.

Source: The Tennessean, “Suspect in deadly hit-and-run charged with homicide,” Adam Tamburin and Brian Wilson, April 11, 2014