A head-on car accident in Tennessee resulted in the death of one man on Nov. 3. Investigators suspected that one of the drivers, a 45-year-old Erin woman, was intoxicated at the time of the crash. Reports indicated that charges were pending against her.

The accident occurred at about 6 p.m. on Highway 49 in Erin. The deceased man, a 23-year-old White Bluff resident, was traveling in a Nissan Maxima in the eastbound lane when a westbound Dodge Ram crossed the centerline. The pickup truck collided head-on with the Maxima and moved partially on top of it, causing the Maxima’s roof to detach. The car overturned and came to a stop on the shoulder to the right of the eastbound lane. The force of the impact sent the pickup truck to the shoulder to the right of the westbound lane, where it came to a stop resting on its passenger side.

The 23-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The 45-year-old woman suffered unspecified injuries, and an emergency crew transported her to a hospital. Police suspected she had been drinking and ordered toxicology samples. The nature of the criminal charges pending in the case was undisclosed in reports. The woman also received a citation in connection with the crash.

The sorrow and anger after an accident may leave drunk driving victims’ surviving spouses, children or parents depressed and struggling to resume their normal routines. Personal injury attorneys can be a valuable source of advice about what damages victims’ families can seek from drunk drivers after fatal accidents. Damages from a successful wrongful death suit may provide relief for debts from burial, lost income and other expenses.

Source: The Leaf-Chronicle, “White Bluff man killed in Houston County crash,” Mark Hicks, Nov. 4, 2014

Source: WKRN, “Head-on crash in Erin leaves the White Bluff man dead“, November 04, 2014

Two individuals were killed in a three-vehicle accident in Memphis on Oct. 22, authorities stated. The Interstate 240 collision reportedly took place west of Getwell Road.

That is where a vehicle with a flat tire was attempting to pull over onto the interstate’s emergency lane and was rear-ended by another vehicle traveling at highway speeds, investigators indicated. The first vehicle reportedly caromed into a metal guardrail following the impact, which also caused it to spin out of control. The driver of the first vehicle, a man, was ejected from the car and suffered fatal injuries. Officials declared him dead at the scene of the wreck.

The second vehicle continued to travel along the highway until it collided with a third vehicle. Consequent to this collision, the second vehicle careened off the roadway, rolled over several times and came to a stop in a ditch, authorities said. Its driver, a woman, died at the accident scene.

Emergency personnel transported the third vehicle’s driver to Regional Medical Center. Reportedly, there were other individuals involved in the crash, and they too suffered injuries requiring hospitalization. Authorities described their condition as non-critical. It was unclear how many passengers were present in the three vehicles involved in the wreck. Nor was it clear which vehicles were carrying passengers.

The cause of the initial accident was not reported. Following traffic crashes like this one, the families of deceased victims may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court, naming as defendants the parties whose actionable behavior behind the wheel contributed to the incident. If the at-fault parties happened to perish in the event, then bereaved family members may bring the suit against the estates of the at-fault parties. If successful, claimants might be awarded financial compensation for their various losses.

Source: WREG, “Two dead after crash on I-40“, Ashley Forest, October 25, 2014

A three-car crash left two people dead and four others injured. The accident occurred on Saturday, Oct. 25, on Interstate 240 in Memphis. A 45-year-old man was pulling into the emergency lane because of a flat tire. His vehicle was struck from behind by a second car driven by a 34-year-old woman traveling at a high speed.

The collision caused the man’s car to slam into a metal guard rail. He was ejected from the car as it spun out of control. The man died at the scene of the accident, and two passengers in his car were injured. The woman continued down I-240, striking a second car and forcing it off the road and into a ditch. After this collision, the woman’s car flipped over several times, killing her and injuring two passengers in her car. All four injured parties were taken to Regional Medical Center. They were admitted in non-critical condition.

Liability may fairly clear in fatal accidents like this one. A driver who strikes another car from behind is usually found liable for any resulting injuries or damage. In this case, the woman struck two vehicles from behind.

In a case similar to this, more evidence might exist that indicates that a driver was negligent. For example, evidence may prove that a driver was traveling well above the speed limit. Perhaps a driver did not stop their car after an initial collision. Finally, if someone is driving in the emergency lane, they will likely be found responsible for striking a disabled car there. The injured parties of a similar accident may have a cause of action against the faulty driver for negligence under tort law.

Source: WREG, “Two dead after crash on I-240“, Ashley Forest, October 25, 2014

Three cars were involved in a collision on an interstate in Tennessee. The incident occurred on Oct. 25 in the morning as the vehicles passed through Memphis going east.

Tennessee police believe that one vehicle, a silver Kia, had pulled over to the side of eastbound I-240 near the Lamar Overpass. They suspect that the man driving the Kia was trying to check and see if one of the tires had popped. A black Chevrolet Impala then struck the vehicle from behind, causing a large collision that scattered debris over the roadway and sent the Impala crashing into a third vehicle, a Nissan.

The man in the Kia was ejected from his vehicle and killed. The woman driving the Impala also suffered fatal wounds. The crash knocked the Impala off the road and down an embankment, but the people inside the vehicle reported only minor injuries.

The family of anyone who has been killed in an accident may choose to seek financial compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against any person or organization that shares in the responsibility for the fatal incident. In the case of an automobile accident, the responsible parties may include the driver, the manufacturer or installer of any car part that caused an unexpected mechanical defect, or any other individual who may be demonstrably at fault. The guidance of an attorney may be of assistance to the family as they complete the necessary legal formalities and present the liable parties with a civil suit against them. The attorney might also be able to provide representation for the family in any necessary negotiations with the defendants or appearances before a court.

Source: The Coloradoan, ‘Two dead after fatal crash; MPD officer involved in separate accident”, Oct. 25, 2014

Source: WMCactionnews5.com, “Two dead after fatal crash”, October 25, 2014

A 20-year-old Tennessee man awaited his official charge on Oct. 22 after being detained without bond and accused of criminal homicide. The charge stems from an incident during the early morning of Oct. 18. Prosecutors say that the defendant was driving a 2005 Ford Mustang when he ran over another man along Magnolia Court. The driver is said to have fled the scene, parked in a bank’s parking lot and returned to the scene of the accident.

Though prosecutors charged the defendant with criminal homicide in the death of the man, they reportedly believe that the driver accelerated before striking the decedent, and there are several charges, including first-degree murder and vehicular homicide, which can fall under the general statute. The defendant’s attorney reportedly asked that the state make a decision on which of these crimes his client would be facing.

Prior to the incident, both men had reportedly attended a party together, and witnesses at the gathering claimed that the defendant had been running from the scene. The defendant’s attorney insisted that this was after an alleged altercation. The victim was declared dead at an area hospital.

This incident is an example of how an individual can suffer fatal injuries through no fault of their own. Regardless of criminal charges presented in the case, the defendant might still be liable for careless driving in a wrongful death civil suit. Those who have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others can file a suit over the issue, and with legal help, they may be able to recover financial compensation for their loss.

Source: Herald Citizen, ‘Weekend murder victim identified” Rick Amburgey, Oct. 20, 2014

Source: Herald Citizen , “Murder suspect ‘wasn’t trying to kill’ victim“, October 22, 2014