Author: Anthony Proffitt

A woman has been charged in a collision that killed a 21-year-old man. The 28-year-old woman was allegedly driving under the influence and in the incorrect lane when the car accident occurred. The man was able to pull himself from his vehicle and check on his wife and child, who were passengers. He later died at the scene.

The accused woman’s two children were not properly restrained in her vehicle and also suffered injuries. Her five-year-old suffered a fractured skull, a broken back, and was placed on life support after being transported to the hospital. Her seven-year-old child also suffered facial and head injuries. The woman was also seriously injured.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol waited until the woman was released from the hospital and subsequently filed charges. She will face one count of vehicular homicide, one count of DUI, two vehicular assault charges, as well as aggravated child abuse and child abuse. The woman also received citations for failing to properly restrain her children, not wearing a seat belt, failing to exercise due care, not having insurance, and for having a mixed drink and margarita mix in her vehicle. The woman’s husband told police that she had consumed Jagermeister and Red Bull before leaving home to go to work.

Although the victim died at the scene of the accident, his wife and family may pursue wrongful death charges in civil court. Proving the other driver’s reckless behavior will possibly be easier in this case as there are police records that indicate that woman drank alcohol before driving and even had an alcoholic beverage in her car. The woman’s failure to properly restrain her children further points to her arguably reckless mindset at the time of the accident. Accident victims and families may find that having the assistance of a personal injury lawyer can possibly help them prove their case in civil court.

Source: Wate.com, “Woman charged in wrong-way wreck that killed man“, May 24, 2013

The Tennessee Highway Patrol has stated that a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 took the life of a pedestrian, although authorities have not released the victim’s identity or any information related to the cause of the crash. The car accident occurred when a vehicle ran off the road into the median, striking a pedestrian and shutting down all eastbound lanes for approximately one hour. No other injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

Many pedestrian crashes on interstate highways involve pedestrians who have exited their vehicles due to another car accident or a breakdown. In some cases, these pedestrians are standing or walking near their own vehicles when another car hits them. However, it is unclear if this was the case in this incident. Police often tell motorists to remain in their cars if they have a breakdown as this may offer more safety on a busy interstate.

Authorities continue to investigate the crash and may release more information as it becomes available. Currently, authorities are withholding the identities of the victim and driver, as well as any information on what led the driver to leave the interstate and swerve into the median.

A personal injury attorney may represent the family of a pedestrian victim who has been killed in a collision with a car. A wrongful death suit on behalf of the victim may be filed by the surviving family members and may include pleas for various types of damages. These damages may include compensation for loss of love and affection of the victim, as well as lost future income the victim might have earned. Furthermore, families may decide to seek payment of medical bills, funeral expenses and other costs directly associated with the accident.

Source: WBBJ Eyewitness News, “Pedestrian Killed in Late Night Crash“, May 18, 2013

After a three-vehicle car accident on May 9 in Tennessee, one person died and five other people sustained injuries. A 77-year-old male passenger, who was not wearing a seat belt when the accident happened, died. The injured parties included a 48-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman, a 1-year-old girl, and 4-month-old twin boys.

Officials believe that the driver may have been drinking or using drugs before the car accident, which contributed to the wreck. One of the passengers was also thought to have been impaired. They asked for blood samples to be taken from both individuals to determine if either one showed alcohol or drugs in their system.

The driver of a truck apparently did not sustain injuries in the accident. A van pulled in front of the truck and then hit a sedan. The van flipped before it finally landed on its roof. Investigators remained on site into the evening to determine what happened.

A bystander who was working near the accident scene reported that she heard the collision. She observed children being taken away from the scene and also heard emergency personnel as they attempted to remove someone from a vehicle. She complimented the quick response time of those who responded to the accident.

After a fatal motor-vehicle accident, the loved ones of the person who was killed could want to hold the responsible parties accountable. A personal injury lawyer might be able to help clients file a lawsuit so they can receive proper compensation. In addition, the injured parties could require surgery, lengthy hospital stays, therapy, counseling, prescription medications and other related expenses. A lawyer might review the costs associated with the accident and help the injured recover the finances associated with the accident.

Source: DNJ, “Double Springs crash victims identified“, Mark Bell, May 09, 2013

On April 14, four vehicles were street racing in Tennessee, and three of the vehicles were involved in a collision. According to police, the vehicles involved in the street race were three Ford Mustangs and a Honda Civic. One red Mustang was traveling at a speed of approximately 75 miles per hour when it struck the driver’s side door of the Honda. This Mustang also struck the left front side of an orange Mustang. A fourth vehicle fled the scene.

The driver of the Honda Civic was a 20-year-old male, and he was killed in the car accident. The drivers of both the red and orange Mustangs suffered from non-critical injuries and received care in a local hospital. They were both charged with drag racing, reckless driving and vehicular homicide. Police are looking into the details of the crash and have indicated that the fourth car involved was a gray Mustang.

When a driver causes damage while operating a vehicle, that driver is financially responsible for those damages. In this incident, the actions of the various Mustang drivers resulted in the loss of one life and as well as property damage to the vehicles. The victims of the accident or their families could file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties to seek punitive damages for funeral expenses, car repair costs, medical bills and lost wages.

A car accident such as this one could cause victims and their families to suffer financially due to the various expenses related to the accident. By filing a personal injury lawsuit against the person responsible for the accident, victims and their families could receive compensation for their expenses. A Knoxville personal injury lawyer could provide additional information about a victim’s legal rights after an accident.

Source: WMC TV, “20-year-old killed in street race,” Lauren Squires, April 14, 2013