A car accident in Wilson County led to the death of an oncologist on Aug. 5. The crash occurred around 9 p.m. when a man driving on Stewarts Ferry Pike reportedly did not stop at a traffic light and ended up hitting the side of a car that was traveling on South Mt. Juliet Road. The driver who reportedly caused the accident was a 20-year-old man who is now facing multiple charges related to the accident and the fatality.

The younger man’s vehicle struck the driver’s side of the 59-year-old doctor’s car, killing the doctor instantly and causing both vehicles to go off the road into a ditch. There were multiple witnesses to the accident, and at least three people called 911. One witness said that he thought that a man who had his head against the steering wheel was seriously injured.

Another witness relayed seeing the 20-year-old driver get out of his car and stumble. There was evidence that the driver had been drinking alcohol and had taken drugs, according to a traffic report. A blood test was administered, but the results were unavailable three days later. The driver was charged with felony reckless endangerment and received a citation for not yielding to a traffic signal, but authorities are considering a charge of vehicular homicide.

When people lose their lives in auto accidents caused by reckless or negligent drivers, families could look into the possibility of filing wrongful death claims. Attorneys could offer assistance in these cases by working with investigatory agencies to assess the circumstances of the crashes and discuss legal strategies to negotiate for fair compensation.

Source: WKRN, “Hermitage doctor killed in Wilson County crash, Driver charged“, August 08, 2014

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