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Author: Anthony Proffitt

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Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

1 dead, 7 injured in Knoxville church bus accident

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

Categories
Car Accidents

Wrong-way driver ejected, killed in head-on collision

A wrong-way driver and a passenger in the vehicle he collided with were killed on July 12 in a head-on collision on Interstate 24 in Coffee County, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. An investigation is underway to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.

According to the THP, a 35-year-old man from Tullahoma was driving the wrong way in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 24 when he collided with another vehicle near mile marker 114. The wrong-way driver died at the scene after being ejected from his vehicle. A 63-year-old woman from Hixson, the passenger in the vehicle he collided with, also died at the accident scene. The male driver and a female passenger in that vehicle suffered injuries in the crash and were transported by air to a hospital for treatment.

Head-on automobile collisions are likely to leave those who survive with grievous injuries that can include disabling brain, neck and spinal cord trauma. Many survivors are temporarily or permanently unable to live independently or to provide for themselves financially following these accidents. Some might have concerns about their ability to remain economically stable going forward. Such concerns may be intensified while they are off work, attending to their injuries and experiencing lost or diminished income, or when they are rendered unable to return to work at all.

Injured automobile accident survivors are likely to have an increased cost of living due to the expense of medical and rehabilitative care required to maintain a reasonable standard of living. They may wish to pursue the resources needed to finance these expenses from those determined to be liable for their injuries. A personal injury claim brought in civil court could allow them a chance to recover their actual and future economic losses.

Source: WR, “Hixson woman killed in head-on crash on I-24“, July 14, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

Tennessee car crash kills 2

A car accident that occurred in Coffee County on July 12 at 7 p.m. killed two people. According to investigators, a 35-year-old driver of a sedan was headed west in the eastbound lanes when it crashed head-on into a truck.

One of the truck’s passengers, a 63-year-old woman, was killed on impact. The 63-year-old male driver of the truck and a 22-year-old passenger were injured. Their conditions were not known at the time of the report. The driver of the sedan was thrown from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. After the initial wreck, a third vehicle collided with the sedan and was hit by debris from the accident.

As officials worked to clear the scene for eventual traffic, eastbound interstate lanes were closed for about four hours. At the time of the report, law enforcement officials were still working to determine the exact cause of the car accident. They did not state whether they believed speed or distracted driving were factors, but they did not believe alcohol was a factor.

In cases where the cause of a car accident is not known, the plaintiff’s attorney may have to do a bit more work in order to build a case. He or she can use information from law enforcement investigations and eyewitness accounts to possibly determine the cause of the collision. If successful, the plaintiff may be able to collect compensation for damages that resulted from the accident, such as hospital bills, lost income and pain and suffering.

Source: NewsChannel5.com, “Identities Released Of Two Killed In Coffee County Wreck“, July 13, 2014

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accident involving pedestrian kills 1, injures 2

A motorcycle accident that took place in Tennessee on July 5 left one person dead and two others with serious injuries. According to the report, the crash occurred in the northbound lanes of Interstate 65 between the Madison and Rivergate Parkway exits in Madison about 6 p.m.

Police stated that a 45-year-old pedestrian was driving a truck on the interstate when his vehicle blew a tire. He had entered the roadway in order to remove a piece of the tire when a 34-year-old man’s motorcycle struck him. The impact of the collision between the pedestrian and the motorcycle caused the bike to travel onto the interstate shoulder between the truck and the guardrail, causing both the driver and passenger to be ejected.

The driver of the motorcycle died at the scene of the accident. The 27-year-old passenger of the motorcycle and the pedestrian were both transported to separate hospitals for treatment of serious injuries. Both individuals remained in critical condition the following day. Authorities were still investigating the accident.

Someone who is involved in a motorcycle accident is likely to suffer serious or even fatal injuries due to the force involved in such a crash. If an injury is suffered due to another person’s negligence, the injured party might file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for any resulting financial damages. These damages may include any medical bills that were incurred during the treatment of any injuries and any income that was lost due to hospitalization or being unable to work. The injured party could also seek compensation for pain and suffering.

Source: WKRN, “1 killed, 2 injured after motorcycle hits pedestrian on I-65“, July 06, 2014

Categories
Truck Accidents

3-vehicle crash in Tennessee leaves 3 dead, 6 injured

A Hickman County accident involving a semi-truck and two other vehicles on Interstate 40 inflicted significant damage, according to authorities. The June 27 accident left three people dead and six others injured and caused the highway to be closed for several hours, authorities reported.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a Toyota Tacoma heading east on the interstate collided with a semi-truck traveling without a trailer in the same direction. The impact of the collision caused the Tacoma to spin out and flip over, ultimately coming to a stop in a ditch. Furthermore, the semi-truck rebounded across the median and crashed into a westbound Mercury Grand Marquis, causing both vehicles to flip over, authorities reported.

The driver of the Mercury, a 22-year-old man, and two passengers in the vehicle, a 19-year-old woman and a 50-year-old woman, were all killed as a result of the truck accident. Six other people involved in the incident, including two minors, suffered injuries; yet, the extent of their injuries was not clear in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Police commenced an investigation into the event. Charges are pending, according to police.

In a case such as this, more than one party might be liable for the incident. The people who suffered damages in connection with the event may wish to retain the counsel and resources of a personal injury lawyer or wrongful death attorney in an effort to prove to a civil court that the at-fault parties should be held responsible for the incident. If successful, accident victims and the families of deceased accident victims may receive financial compensation for the damages they suffered in connection with the accident. These damages may include but are not limited to hospital bills, the costs associated with funeral services and even lost earnings.

Source: WKRN, “Charges pending in I-40 crash that killed 3, injured 6“, June 28, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

1 killed, 2 injured in Tennessee head-on collision

A July 5 accident took the life of a woman and injured two other people, according to authorities. The incident reportedly took place near an apartment complex at the intersection of William Blount Drive and Dotson Memorial Road in Maryville just before 10 a.m.

According to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, a 48-year-old woman collided head-on with a pickup truck driven by a 66-year-old man. Purportedly, it was necessary for emergency crews to extricate both drivers from their vehicles in order to transport them to a hospital. The 48-year-old woman suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where she later died. The 66-year-old man was transported to the same hospital via ambulance. Moreover, emergency personnel transported another man injured in the wreck to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. The extent of his injuries was not clear immediately following the incident. Nor was it immediately clear what vehicle he was occupying at the time of the crash.

This case illustrates the catastrophic damage that head-on collisions often wreak upon the people involved in them. The injuries suffered are often traumatic if not fatal. As a result of these injuries, accident victims and their families are often left to cope with not just physical pain and emotional turmoil but also financial stress. However, they may seek recourse in civil court if the collision was caused by another party’s actionable behavior, such as speeding, distracted driving or drunk driving.

If, hypothetically, investigators were to discover substantial evidence from a head-on collision indicating that the car accident was caused by distracted driving, then the people who suffered damages as a result of the crash may hold the at-fault driver accountable via civil action. For example, the injured accident victims may retain a personal injury attorney and file suit against the distracted driver, and certain family members of the deceased accident victims may file a wrongful death claim against the distracted driver.

Source: WVLT, “Maryville woman in critical condition after head-on crash in Blount County“, July 05, 2014

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

4 people killed in chain reaction crash in Tennessee

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

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Tennessee man killed in head-on collision

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

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclist dies in Tennessee accident

A June 19 motorcycle accident in Bellevue left a 64-year-old man dead, police stated. Reportedly, the incident took place on Highway 70 near the Old Hickory Boulevard intersection at approximately 12:25 p.m.

Police stated that the 64-year-old man was traveling on a 2007 Harley Davidson in the eastbound lanes of Highway 70 when a pickup truck towing a utility trailer made a turn directly into the path of the motorcycle. The subsequent collision propelled the 64-year-old man from his motorcycle. Authorities said he died at the accident scene.

The driver of the truck, a 35-year-old man, was driving without a valid driver’s license, allegedly. Police charged him with failure to exercise due care and driving without a license. Furthermore, police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.

If further investigation into this case were to confirm that the accident was the result of negligent driving, the driver responsible for that actionable behavior may be held accountable for the fatal crash not just criminally but also in civil court. For, people who suffer damages as a result of accidents caused by negligent drivers may be entitled to restitution via civil action.

As this particular case illustrates, a motorcycle accident can have calamitous results, including fatal injuries. When that is the case, certain family members of the deceased victim may retain a wrongful death attorney and file suit, seeking financial compensation for the damages they suffered as a result of the fatal accident. If successful, claimants in a wrongful death suit may receive compensation for the expenses associated with their loved one’s funeral services, burial and estate administration. Moreover, they might be awarded restitution for lost earnings if the decedent had contributed income to the family household prior to death.

Source: WSMV, “Police identify motorcyclist killed in Bellevue crash“, Kara Apel, June 19, 2014

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Woman killed in rollover accident

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