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Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

3-car collision causes death of 2

Three cars were involved in a collision on an interstate in Tennessee. The incident occurred on Oct. 25 in the morning as the vehicles passed through Memphis going east.

Tennessee police believe that one vehicle, a silver Kia, had pulled over to the side of eastbound I-240 near the Lamar Overpass. They suspect that the man driving the Kia was trying to check and see if one of the tires had popped. A black Chevrolet Impala then struck the vehicle from behind, causing a large collision that scattered debris over the roadway and sent the Impala crashing into a third vehicle, a Nissan.

The man in the Kia was ejected from his vehicle and killed. The woman driving the Impala also suffered fatal wounds. The crash knocked the Impala off the road and down an embankment, but the people inside the vehicle reported only minor injuries.

The family of anyone who has been killed in an accident may choose to seek financial compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against any person or organization that shares in the responsibility for the fatal incident. In the case of an automobile accident, the responsible parties may include the driver, the manufacturer or installer of any car part that caused an unexpected mechanical defect, or any other individual who may be demonstrably at fault. The guidance of an attorney may be of assistance to the family as they complete the necessary legal formalities and present the liable parties with a civil suit against them. The attorney might also be able to provide representation for the family in any necessary negotiations with the defendants or appearances before a court.

Source: The Coloradoan, ‘Two dead after fatal crash; MPD officer involved in separate accident”, Oct. 25, 2014

Source: WMCactionnews5.com, “Two dead after fatal crash”, October 25, 2014

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Tennessee driver awaits charges after striking man with car

A 20-year-old Tennessee man awaited his official charge on Oct. 22 after being detained without bond and accused of criminal homicide. The charge stems from an incident during the early morning of Oct. 18. Prosecutors say that the defendant was driving a 2005 Ford Mustang when he ran over another man along Magnolia Court. The driver is said to have fled the scene, parked in a bank’s parking lot and returned to the scene of the accident.

Though prosecutors charged the defendant with criminal homicide in the death of the man, they reportedly believe that the driver accelerated before striking the decedent, and there are several charges, including first-degree murder and vehicular homicide, which can fall under the general statute. The defendant’s attorney reportedly asked that the state make a decision on which of these crimes his client would be facing.

Prior to the incident, both men had reportedly attended a party together, and witnesses at the gathering claimed that the defendant had been running from the scene. The defendant’s attorney insisted that this was after an alleged altercation. The victim was declared dead at an area hospital.

This incident is an example of how an individual can suffer fatal injuries through no fault of their own. Regardless of criminal charges presented in the case, the defendant might still be liable for careless driving in a wrongful death civil suit. Those who have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others can file a suit over the issue, and with legal help, they may be able to recover financial compensation for their loss.

Source: Herald Citizen, ‘Weekend murder victim identified” Rick Amburgey, Oct. 20, 2014

Source: Herald Citizen , “Murder suspect ‘wasn’t trying to kill’ victim“, October 22, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

Man killed in Tennessee car-truck collision

Police reported that a crash that occurred on Oct. 11 in Bluff City resulted in the death of one driver. According to authorities, the collision occurred at an intersection in front of a flea market on U.S. Highway 11E.

The accident reportedly occurred around 11:30 a.m. According to police, a male driver was pulling out from the flea market when his pickup truck was struck on the side by a woman driving on the highway. Emergency personnel found both vehicles in the median when they arrived.

The man was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to the injuries he had allegedly received in the accident. The woman had to be extricated from her car by emergency personnel. She was also transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Law enforcement were still investigating accident two days after its occurrence. There was no word on whether speed, alcohol or distracted driving may have been involved.

When people die or are seriously injured in a car accident, they or their loved ones may be able to recover damages by filing a civil lawsuit in the form of a personal injury or wrongful death claim. When one of the drivers involved in an accident was killed, as in this case, the other party may still be able to recover damages for injuries from the decedent’s estate if it is proven that the decedent was liable. In the event that a person wrongfully kills another through negligent driving, he or she may be civilly liable to the deceased person’s family for the losses they suffered. In either case, negligent drivers can be held responsible to pay both economic and non-economic damages. If the case is especially egregious, punitive damages may also be recoverable.

Source: TriCities.com, “One killed in Bluff City crash“, October 13, 2014

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle crash statistics

Each year in Tennessee and in the United States, many motorcyclists are injured in motor vehicle accidents, sometimes fatally. While lack of helmet use can result in a higher likelihood of fatal injury, in 2012, 93 percent of the 139 motorcyclists killed in accidents in Tennessee were wearing helmets.

According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), the national statistics for 2012 were also grim. The year brought a total of 4,957 motorcyclist fatalities in accidents, a number that had increased by seven percent from the prior year. Additionally, 93,000 motorcyclists were injured as a result of collisions, a 15-percent increase from 2011.

Motorcycle fatalities represented 15 percent of all of those killed for the year in motor vehicle accidents. Even though motorcycles represented only .7 percent of all vehicle miles traveled for the year, they were over 26 times more likely to be killed in an accident than occupants in passenger motor vehicles per mile traveled. Of fatally injured motorcyclists, 52 percent died as a result of colliding with another moving motor vehicle while 7 percent of those were struck from the rear by another car.

Many times, motorcycle accidents are caused by inattentiveness of other drivers while turning left or passing on highways. When a motorcyclist is killed by the carelessness or negligence of another driver, the other driver may be civilly liable to pay the motorcyclist’s family damages. Depending on the individual facts of the case, families may be able to recover funeral expenses, lost income, loss of companionship and more. Families may wish to consult with a personal injury attorney who may be able to determine whether there is a case to recover such damages.

Source: NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, “Motorcycles“, October 11, 2014

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

A 6-car pile-up in Tennessee leaves a family of 4 dead

An Oct. 3 six-car crash left a family of four dead and four others injured. The accident, which is still under investigation, began when two cars were stopped for unknown reasons in the middle of I-40 in Wilson County. According to investigators, the two cars were then struck from behind by four other vehicles.

According to sources, a Tennessee woman and mother of two who survived the crash said that she was forced to stop upon seeing patrol cars in the middle of the road. She could not recall additional details prior to the collision. A Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesperson said that the incidents leading to the fatal crash are still being investigated.

The family of four that was killed in the crash hailed from Benton, Kentucky, and included a pastor for Roseland Baptist Church. Police charged a 24-year-old Lebanon man with driving under the influence.

Currently, at least one driver in the pile-up was found to be under the influence. In additional to criminal charges, the man may also face a civil suit from those who were injured and from the family of those killed. As the investigation continues, negligence may be found on the part of some of the other drivers involved as well, and they may face similar consequences.

Funeral expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages due to accident injury and medical expenses are all grounds for civil cases. Those that were injured in the accident and the family members of those killed may want to contact a lawyer to explore their options with regard to compensation. Using police reports, witness accounts and accident reconstruction, a lawyer could potentially build a case that gets those affected recompense for their losses.

Source: WSMV, “Survivor in I-40 crash speaks out“, Alanna Autler, October 05, 2014

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

2 killed, 1 injured in 3-vehicle Tennessee crash

Two people were killed and one person was injured in a crash on Sept. 29 on I-24 in La Vergne, according to authorities. The accident, occurring around 4:30 PM in the westbound lanes, happened when a Freightliner truck was unable to stop before it rear-ended a stalled 1994 Toyota Camry on the interstate, killing both the driver and passenger.

A 25-year-old motorcyclist riding on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle while traveling behind the semi-truck swerved in an effort to avoid the wreck. He suffered serious injuries when he was thrown from his motorcycle as a result. The truck’s 29-year-old driver escaped without injury. The Camry’s driver, a 23-year-old woman from Murfreesboro, was pronounced dead at the scene; her 22-year-old passenger died two days later due to his injuries while receiving treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

As a result of the fatal multi-vehicle accident, the westbound lanes of I-24 were closed for five hours as the police conducted their on-site investigation and accident cleanup following the collision. No charges have been filed in the serious accident, and the investigation continues.

Serious car accidents can occur due to many things, encompassing driver negligence, carelessness, system failures and operating unsafe vehicles on the roads. People considering wrongful death lawsuits may benefit from consulting with a personal injury attorney who accepts vehicle accident cases. An attorney may be able to review the individual facts of each case in order to determine whether or not their client has a potentially viable claim. They might then be able to help recover damages and costs by filing a civil complaint, negotiating and advocating for their client.

Source: WSMV, “2 dead after crash on I-24 in La Vergne“, Stuart Ervin, October 02, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

I-40 crash in Tennessee kills 1

A four-vehicle crash in Knoxville on Sept. 26 killed a 43-year-old man, according to authorities. The man was reportedly driving a Chevrolet Camaro west on Interstate 40 when he decelerated on account of traffic and was struck by a vehicle trailing him. Consequently, the Camaro rear-ended the vehicle in front of it, a Volvo, which in turn spun into the median and was struck by a fourth vehicle, according to police.

The 43-year-old man suffered fatal injuries as a result of the wreck, authorities reported. The three other drivers involved in the accident suffered nonfatal injuries. One of them, a 21-year-old man, received emergency transport to UT Medical Center for treatment of injuries that officials described as serious.

Typically, car accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities warrant long and exhaustive investigations. If, hypothetically, an investigation were to conclude that distracted driving was the main contributory factor in a chain-reaction crash like this one, then the people who suffered losses on account of the accident may bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, citing negligence.

For example, certain family members of deceased accident victims may seek to recover the pecuniary damages they suffered in relation to the fatal accident by retaining a lawyer and filing a wrongful death claim. If successful, these bereaved family members might be awarded financial compensation for end-of-life expenses, such as funeral bills, and lost earnings associated with the sudden and wrongful death of their loved one.

Injured victims may file a personal injury claim against the driver whose negligence caused the accident resulting in their injuries. In this way, victims may seek restitution for hospital bills, expenses associated with long-term medical care and rehabilitation as well as lost wages.

Source: WVLT, “One killed in four car crash near Cedar Bluff on I-40“, Eric Arnold and Christine Jessel Grider , September 29, 2014

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Woman kills bicyclist in hit-and-run collision

Law enforcement officers report that a 53-year-old Clarksville woman was charged with vehicular homicide after allegedly killing a bicyclist in an early morning hit-and-run accident before fleeing the scene. The accident occurred around 12:15 am on Monday, Sept. 22 when the woman apparently rear-ended the man as he rode his bicycle on the shoulder of Tiny Town Road near the intersection of Needmore Road.

While investigating the accident, police canvassed the area, encountering the woman’s blue Jaguar. The car had damage and human hair from the accident victim stuck in the windshield. Additionally, parts missing from the car were identical to parts found at the scene, and the woman’s phone showed texts discussing an accident that occurred on the day in question.

Several people who saw the woman shortly after the accident told police the woman had told people she had hit a deer. The woman also told police she had hit a deer as well. After determining that the woman caused the fatal accident, police arrested her on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Her bond was set at $1.1 million, and she is in custody at Montgomery County Jail. In addition to vehicular homicide, she was also charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident causing death, failing to yield the right of way, failing to carry a driver’s license and failing to carry insurance.

Families and loved ones of people killed by drivers are often able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the allegedly at-fault driver. Personal injury attorneys who have experience in wrongful death actions may look at the facts of each individual case and evaluate whether a valid claim or additional claims might exist. If successful, families may be able to recover both economic and noneconomic damages, including funeral expenses, lost income, loss of benefits, loss of consortium and others.

Source: The Leaf-Chronicle, “Woman charged in hit and run death of Clarksville cyclist“, Tavia D. Green, September 24, 2014

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Driver charged in fatal Tennessee accident

A driver involved in a fatal collision in Kingsport on July 19 has been indicted by a Sullivan County Grand Jury. The man was charged with speeding, driving under the influence, driving left of center, reckless endangerment, reckless aggravated assault and vehicular homicide by intoxication.

According to the Kingston Police Department, the fatal car accident took place at about 5:00 a.m. on East Stone Drive near Tyson Lane. A Honda Accord was reportedly traveling the wrong way on the road when it collided head-on with an eastbound Kia Spectra.

The driver of the Kia was killed as a result of the impact. The driver of the Accord and his female front seat passenger were both taken to Holston Valley Medical Center for treatment of possible injuries. Both vehicles sustained extensive, disabling damages. At the time of the accident, police believed that alcohol and speeding had played a role in the accident. Blood test results from the Honda driver allegedly confirmed this, yielding a .15 percent at the time of the accident, almost twice the legal limit in Tennessee. Additionally, the investigation reportedly revealed that the Honda had been traveling upwards of 73 mph in a 45-mph zone at the time of the accident.

The family of a deceased victim might file a wrongful death claim against an accused driver to recover damages resulting from the victim’s death. The information from any applicable police investigations and criminal charges brought against a driver can be used as evidence to show liability and negligence in a civil suit. In Tennessee, a successful claim might result in rewards for non-economic damages including the pain and suffering of the deceased due to the injury and for economic damages including expenses incurred due to the victim’s loss.

Source: WCYB, “Kingsport man charged in fatal July accident“, September 25, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

Drivers increase their risk of a crash substantially by texting

As mobile devices have become more popular, people in Tennessee and across the nation are increasingly using them while operating motor vehicles. According to a guide from the Federal Communications Commission, however, texting and driving has a substantial and negative effect on the safety of individuals engaging in these activities as well as their passengers and others on or near the road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010, 18 percent of all fatal crashes were due to driver distraction, accounting for more than 3,000 deaths and over 400,000 injuries. Information from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute states that texting while driving puts someone at a 23-times-greater risk of getting into a crash than a non-distracted driver.

In an effort to reduce the numbers of deaths and injuries that are a result of using mobile devices while on the road, the FCC Distracted Driving Information Clearinghouse has been created. People are also urged to make teens and young drivers aware of the risks involved with texting behind the wheel, and parents are called upon to set a good example by not using a mobile device while on the road. Instead of taking a call or responding to a text, it is recommended that individuals pull over to avoid the increased risk of a collision.

If someone has been in an automobile accident, whatever the cause, he or she may end up facing a variety of expenses, including vehicle repairs, medical bills and car rental costs. An insurance company may want to settle the case quickly, and for the lowest amount possible, which could result in someone having to pay for some of these expenses out-of-pocket. A lawyer could help a car accident victim seek equitable compensation through a personal injury claim by presenting a strong case and advising the plaintiff on when to settle.

Source: Federal Communications Commission, “The Dangers of Texting While Driving“, September 21, 2014