Author: Anthony Proffitt

Federal accident investigators are researching the practices of a government agency responsible for making sure commercial vehicles are safe. They are questioning the competence of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration following the deaths of 25 people who were involved in four truck and tour bus crashes in several states including Tennessee. The agency was aware of critical safety issues concerning truck and bus companies but failed to attempt to correct the situation.

One accident involved a tractor-trailer involved in a collision with eight other vehicles. The car accident, which occurred in Tennessee, involved two fatalities and six injuries. The truck driver had violated federal regulations concerning the amount of hours drivers are required to rest, and company records indicated that several of its drivers had similar violations. The motor carrier administration was aware that the drivers were spending too many hours on the road but only conducted a marginal safety inspection that permitted the company to remain in operation.

Another accident involved a California tour bus that overturned, killing eight people and injuring several others. The bus driver said that his brakes failed. Authorities discovered that all six brakes on the bus were defective and involved cracked or worn drums as well as other components that were deemed inoperative. Further investigation indicated that the company had received violations for mechanical problems during prior inspections. The motor carrier administration employs approximately 350 safety inspectors and oversees more than 525,000 truck, tour and intercity bus companies. More than 3.5 million inspections are conducted across the United States annually. Careful inspections and accountability could reduce the number of fatal car and truck accidents, making the nation’s roads safer for all drivers.

A motor vehicle accident attorney could help those who have suffered as a result of a trucking companies negligence. An attorney may investigate an accident to prove that a certain party is liable for his or her client’s injuries, therefore winning a favorable settlement on their behalf.

Source: KGW, “Feds: Lack of oversight in deadly bus crahses“, November 08, 2013

A chain-reaction crash that began when a semitrailer collided with a stopped car on Interstate 65 in Marshall County left two people dead and two others injured Nov. 7. Some of the lanes in a southbound stretch of the highway were closed for several hours as 330 gallons of spilled fuel were cleaned up and debris was cleared.

The collision near mile marker 27 close to the Alabama state line began, according to authorities, when a semitrailer clipped the bumper of a Ford Taurus that was stopped in the middle of two lanes of travel. Another semitrailer approached the scene and was unable to stop before striking the car and its driver, who had reportedly exited the vehicle and was standing next to it in the roadway. The 56-year-old Racine, Wisconsin, man was killed by the impact, but his 57-year-old passenger inside the car was not reported to be injured.

Soon after the semitrailer struck the Wisconsin man, a 19-year-old Bethpage woman approached the scene in a Chrysler sedan and reportedly swerved to avoid striking the man’s body; the sedan then plowed into one of the semitrailers that had stopped at the scene. This impact killed her 20-year-old passenger from Georgia and left her with unspecified injuries. Lastly, one other vehicle became involved when it ran over the Wisconsin man’s body, which was still in the roadway; the driver was able to maneuver evasively to avoid striking any of the other vehicles.

After this complex automobile accident, the young Tennessee woman who was injured might be facing astronomical medical expenses and lost wages due to missing work to recover from her injuries if they were serious. While the reportedly responsible driver perished in the crash, it may be possible for her to file a civil claim against his estate in order to secure a settlement to cover her costs.

Source: News Channel 5, “2 Killed, 2 Injured In I-65S Crash In Marshall County“, November 07, 2013

According to a report submitted by a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, an accident that occurred on Oct. 28 resulted in the death of one person and critical injuries to another. At the time of the report, the accident was still under investigation, but charges against the driver who caused the accident were pending.

At approximately 6:45 a.m., according to authorities, a 27-year-old Lynchburg man crossed the center line into oncoming traffic on the Wattendorf Memorial Highway near the AEDC and sideswiped one vehicle before colliding with another head-on. The driver of the third vehicle, a 44-year-old Estill Springs man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The Lynchburg man was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. The driver whose vehicle was sideswiped, a 37-year-old Winchester resident, was not injured in the accident.

Family members of those who were killed in a car accident like this one may be eligible to seek compensation from either the deceased individual’s insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company. However, many agents may attempt to downplay the accident or attempt to settle for an amount that does not fully cover the damages.

A Tennessee attorney may be able to help the family members by negotiating with the insurance company that is responsible for the compensation by, among other possibilities, demonstrating the full financial costs that resulted from the accident. If the attorney is successful, this compensation may help the family cover medical costs, loss of income and funeral costs in addition to other damages. Alternatively, the case could be scheduled for a civil trial if settlement negotiations are not fruitful.

Source: Tullahoma News, “Man killed in 3-car wreck on AEDC highway“, Wayne Thomas, November 28, 2013

A Tennessee senior citizen is dead after a fatal early morning car crash just outside of Rhea County. Police are investigating the circumstances and report that they have plans to file criminal charges.

Around 7 a.m. on Oct. 22, a 45-year-old Lenoir City man and his 83-year-old father were driving in a 2005 Ford 5LM on State Hwy. 68. Near the border of Rhea County, a Chevy Silverado pickup driven by a 38-year-old Clarkrange man was traveling in the opposite direction. As the two vehicles neared each other, the pickup suddenly crossed the median of the highway. The man in the Ford swerved across into the opposite lane to avoid the pickup. The pickup driver then corrected, turned back into his own lane and collided with the Ford.

Three ambulances from Cumberland County Emergency Services quickly arrived at the scene, along with first responders from the Cumberland County Fire Department. The Ford driver’s father was killed in the collision. The condition of the two living drivers is unknown. The highway was closed for an hour due to the crash, while Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers investigated the incident. According to reports, authorities are planning to file charges, and an investigation is still underway.

The driver who lost his father may have a claim for wrongful death against the driver at fault, as well as for any injuries and damage suffered during the accident. An attorney who has experience in automobile accident cases may be able to help with an investigation into the circumstances and properly assign liability for the crash. The attorney may then be able to file a lawsuit in civil court to recover compensation for the loss.

Source: Crossville Chronicle, “Dayton man identified as crash victim”, Michael R. Moser, October 25, 2013

A Toone car accident left a family in mourning after one individual was killed and two others were injured on Oct. 21. The Hardeman County car accident involved five vehicles.

According to the police report, the accident occurred on State Highway 18 at about 8:12 a.m. when a northbound vehicle traveled into the southbound lane. The vehicle that was occupied by the deceased was hit in the front on the right-hand side. The impact of the collision caused that vehicle to move backwards off of the west edge of the road and overturn onto its left side.

The man in the overturned vehicle was a former Bolivar High School basketball player and Jackson State Community College athlete. Two other individuals suffered injuries in the accident, but the status of those individuals was not reported. Police were still investigating the accident at the time of the report, but they did not suspect that drugs or alcohol played a part in the accident.

The families of victims who die in auto accidents may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit. One of the requirements to successfully pursue this cause of action is to show that another person’s negligence caused the accident. A person may act in a negligent manner when he or she acts in a manner that is different than a reasonably prudent person. For example, the driver may be texting while driving, drinking and driving or not paying attention to the roadway, causing him or her to cross into another lane of traffic.

Source: WBBJ, “One Killed in Early Morning Toone Crash“, Krystyna Biassou, October 21, 2013

The parents of two people killed in a Tennessee freeway crash involving a tractor-trailer want the Rutherford County district attorney to bring criminal charges against the truck’s driver. No charges have yet been filed; however, the district attorney has agreed to present the matter to a grand jury.

The case concerns a deadly freeway accident that happened in the early morning hours of June 13 on Interstate 24 in Murfreesboro. The two were traveling to the Bonnaroo Music Festival when their car was struck from behind by the tractor-trailer. The car burst into flames, and both passengers died at the scene. Ten other vehicles were also involved in the crash, and five people were injured.

The truck’s driver was cited for failure to exercise due care, but the parents of the victims want the driver charged with vehicular manslaughter. They claim that he would have been able to stop had he not ignored three overhead message boards warning that traffic was slowing down.

The families of those lost as a result of a car accident stemming from another driver’s negligence may be able to pursue legal action in a civil claim. These families might be entitled to a wrongful death lawsuit that may help them recover damages for multiple losses associated with the death of their loved one, including lost earning power in cases where the victim had dependents. An attorney who has experience litigating wrongful death cases may be able to help those families receive compensation for those damages by representing them in settlement negotiations with the relevant insurance companies or, if necessary, by arguing the families’ cases in a civil court.

Source: WKRN, “Families of fatal Bonnaroo traffic crash demand justice“, Jamey Tucker, October 14, 2013