Motor vehicle accidents involving more people than just the two drivers can be very overwhelming and confusing to deal with, and can become especially emotional when there are fatalities. Around 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, a Tennessee church van was on its way home from a weekend away when another car veered over the center line of Chapman Highway and collided with the van head-on. Twelve passengers were injured and two have been pronounced dead. The other driver was transported to a medical center and was listed in critical condition Sunday night. It is being investigated whether or not he was in possession of illegal substances at the time of the accident.

In an instance like this, it is very common that close family and friends of the victims of the accident are going to want an investigation and will need to understand the results. It is understandable that they are extremely upset. Questions of liability, wrongful death, distracted driving, and possible driving under the influence come up and answers are demanded. When reports indicate that an accident is the result of another person’s negligence, families of the victims might be wise to understand their legal rights.

Should you find yourself in a situation involving a motor vehicle crash, it is important to know what you are eligible for in terms of damages and compensation. Families that may have been directly or indirectly involved in a car accident might have to wait for the results of an investigation, but in the meantime they can contact an attorney familiar with car accidents to help them understand their rights and seek compensation if necessary..

It is also important to be mindful of what your county and the state of Tennessee have to say about these kinds of accidents and investigations. Making sure you know the ways that you’ll be able to take care of yourself and family after an accident such as this can help with the extra costs and coping when dealing with one such a traumatic and tragic event.

Source: knoxnews.com, “‘Powdery substance’ found in SUV in fatal church van crash,” Sept. 17, 2012