It’s important to always follow the rules of the road, including knowing when each car has the right of way. A recent fatal car accident in Knoxville illustrates the importance of knowing when it’s your turn to go and always being vigilant for other vehicles.
According to police, the car accident, which occurred at the intersection of Dutch Valley Drive and Plummer Road, happened when a car that was stopped at a stop sign pulled out into traffic. A Nissan Altima, being driven by a 76-year-old woman, correctly stopped at a stop sign at the intersection but then pulled onto Dutch Valley Drive in front of a Dodge Durango.
The elderly woman was taken to a local hospital, where she died. According to reports, she was not wearing a seat belt.
Also injured in the accident was the 32-year-old female driver of the Durango and a 6-year-old boy and a 3-year-old, who were also in the SUV. It is not known if the kids were the woman’s children. No one in the Durango was wearing a seat belt, and charges will reportedly be filed against the woman for not having the children properly restrained.
But whether the children were restrained properly, it appears that the Durango was not at fault for the accident. Since the woman and the children were hospitalized, the woman may be able to file a lawsuit against the estate of the driver of the Altima to help cover medical expenses. People need to follow the rules of the road when they are driving, and that means learning when each vehicle has the right of way.
Source: WBIR, “Police identify woman killed in Dutch Valley crash,” Jan. 30, 2013