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Drunk Driving Accidents

Knoxville man accepts plea deal in sixth DUI offense

A local Knoxville man, already convicted in five previous DUI cases, has accepted a plea deal that would mean 20 years behind bars. The family of his latest victim is speaking out, though, after discovering that, after only six years, he will be eligible for parole.

This most recent DUI took the life of one man and injured five others, including the victim’s son, who was left with such serious brain injuries that he can no longer walk, talk, or engage in his favorite pastime—playing soccer.

The man’s wife and family are left to pick up the pieces and are outraged—and insulted—that the offender could see freedom in such a short time.

The collision took place August 23, 2013 on Governor John Sevier Highway. The intoxicated driver, whose toxicology report came back as positive for crack cocaine and Valium, veered into the oncoming lane, striking the victim’s vehicle and causing it to careen into an SUV.

Tennessee state law dictates that a fifth DUI automatically carries a felony charge, as does each conviction thereafter. He is facing two counts of vehicular assault and charges of aggravated vehicular homicide.

In the coming days, a judge will be tasked with deciding whether the plea deal is fair or not and either accept or reject it. The family is pleading for the latter.

Cases like these deserve a swift and definitive response, but often insurance companies do their best to limit payouts and downplay the damages the accident has caused. A Knoxville attorney can work with the victim’s family to make sure justice is served and victims receive compensation for the pain and suffering they’ve had to endure.

Source: wate.com, “5 time DUI offender accused in deadly Knoxville crash may get plea deal with parole eligibility after six years,” Stephanie Beecken, April 22, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

Massive accident in Memphis leaves several injured and 1 dead

It only takes a moment for a drive through town to turn into a dangerous situation. Drivers who are speeding, under the influence or otherwise operating a vehicle irresponsibly pose a risk to all other drivers on the road. Tennesseans are involved in serious car accidents each day, many of which could have been avoided. These tragic occurrences can leave innocent victims and their families feeling lost, confused and overwhelmed.

In Memphis, a massive car crash sent multiple people to the hospital and resulted in the death of at least one person. The incident happened near the intersection of Covington Pike and Raleigh Lagrange Road. In all, the accident involved 10 vehicles, some of which overturned during the collision. Six people were taken to the hospital, including a 4-year-old in critical condition. In addition, an adult male died at the scene.

Several of the cars involved were twisted and badly damaged during the accident, and police closed down the area for several hours afterward in order to conduct an investigation and clear the road.

Car wrecks happen each day on roads across the state, and some of them result in serious injuries and even death. Although there is no way for victims to avoid some collisions, there are still options available after the fact to help them recover from the incident. Working with insurance companies, paying medical bills and dealing with pain and suffering in the wake of an accident is never easy, though compensation is available to help victims involved. Understanding Tennessee law is the first step toward finding help.

Source: WMCTV, “10 cars involved in fatal crash, child in critical condition,” April 17, 2014

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Tennessee motorcyclists in critical condition after car collision

With the onset of spring, many Tennesseans feel it’s time to warm up the motorcycles and get out on the road. There are plenty of great riding opportunities in the state, though it is important for riders to stay alert. Motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries, including broken bones and head injuries. In some cases, other motorists on the road do not respect the space of motorcycle riders sharing the road, and collisions sometimes result from fully preventable situations.

Multiple people were hospitalized in Cleveland after a passenger vehicle collided with a pair of motorcycles. The accident happened after the car crossed the median, striking one motorcycle head-on before hitting another from the side. The accident happened in the late afternoon on Frontage Road.

Two of the cyclists were airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center with critical injuries. Two others are reported in critical condition, as well, while a fifth person was also transported to the hospital. The accident is still under investigation from police, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that criminal charges may result from the collision. It was unclear at the time of the initial report whether drugs or alcohol had been involved in the accident.

The collision serves as an example of how quickly riders can be imperiled by drivers on the road. It also shows the extent of the serious injuries that can result from these types of accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious motorcycle accident, especially one that was the result of negligence on the part if another motorist, compensation may be available to help you work through the aftermath of the event.

Source: Cleveland Daily Banner, “Five injured in car, motorcycle crash,” Greg Kaylor, April 14, 2014

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Homicide charges follow fatal accident involving 13-year-old boy

Losing a loved one in a motor vehicle accident is devastating. Those involved in severe collisions are left searching for answers. What happened leading up to the accident? Was there anything that could have been done to prevent the deadly turn of events? Although there are sometimes no easy answers to these questions, fatal accidents can often be attributed to the negligence of another driver on the road. In these cases, the family of a deceased person may be entitled to compensation to help them through the difficult times ahead. 

A Tennessee woman recently lost her 13-year-old son in a fatal collision while her car was stopped on the side of the interstate. The 47-year-old mother had pulled her vehicle to the shoulder of the road as the result of a flat tire. She and her 12-year-old daughter were standing on the road’s shoulder while the son changed the tire. Reportedly, another motorist, lost control of her vehicle and crashed into the boy. The young teenager was killed by the out-of-control car.

The mother was also struck by the vehicle, which subsequently fled the scene of the accident. Police later arrested the 33-year-old driver and charged her with two counts, including vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that drugs may have been involved in the accident. The driver who fled the scene was previously charged with reckless endangerment while driving her car in another incident.

Families who have lost someone in an accident could benefit from familiarizing themselves with the legal options available to them. A wrongful death case may provide financial compensation to help with medical expenses, funeral expenses and pain and suffering related to the accident. Obtaining counsel familiar with Tennessee laws surrounding fatal motor vehicle accidents is the first step toward finding resolution.

Source: The Tennessean, “Suspect in deadly hit-and-run charged with homicide,” Adam Tamburin and Brian Wilson, April 11, 2014

Categories
Truck Accidents

Tennessee truck accident leaves 2 dead, 1 injured

For truck drivers, exhaustion and fatigue all can contribute to distraction on a job that requires nonstop attentiveness. One momentary lapse in focus on the road ahead and the job at hand can have fatal consequences. A truck accident often requires extensive investigation in order to determine the causation and the fault, especially when the truck’s involvement resulted in serious injury or fatality.

A recent truck accident in Tennessee claimed the lives of two people and injured one. Coincidentally, these three people had just survived a previous accident, but tragically faced a second accident when a tractor-trailer slammed into the driver’s side of their stalled vehicle, which was sitting crossways in the lane. The collision killed both the driver of the vehicle and a female passenger, while a male passenger suffered serious injuries. The truck driver remained unscathed.

Was this a case of an inattentive driver, who had the ability to stop or reduce speed enough had he seen the car stalled on the road ahead? Was the truck unable to stop because of a mechanical issue? We don’t know yet, but possibilities like these are what make it imperative for accident sites to be properly analyzed and all potential factors taken into account.

Truck drivers are often under pressure to meet deadlines. This sometimes leads them to fail to heed regulations regarding required downtime. The ensuing fatigue could greatly limit their attentiveness and reaction time and cause them to lose control of their tractor-trailers. Should it be determined that this, or other negligent behavior on the part of the driver, played a role in this fatal accident it is possible the truck driver could face personal injury lawsuits. The trucking company might also be held liable, particularly if the truck was found to be poorly maintained or have a faulty braking system. 

Keep in mind that if you or a loved one suffered injuries during a truck accident, you have the right to seek proper compensation. In most cases the best way to go about this is with the help of a motor vehicle accident attorney.

Source: WBIR.com, “Victims in I-81 crash survived 1st accident, died in 2nd,” April 7, 2014

Categories
Car Accidents

Street race leaves Tennessee teen dead

Whether it is commuting to work, picking the kids up from school or driving around town with friends, cars provide convenience and pleasure in many aspects of everyday life. But when drivers abuse the privilege of operating a motor vehicle, the machines can quickly become dangerous and deadly weapons on the streets. Motorists are harmed or killed in car accidents every day across the United States. Although drunk driving and negligence are common factors in fatal accidents, a new trend is also contributing to accidents in Tennessee.

In Memphis, a 19-year-old man is dead after a collision with another vehicle. Initial reports suggest the accident may have been the result of street racing. The teenager was turning left through an intersection when his vehicle was struck by driver behind the wheel of a 2003 Ford Mustang. The teen died after being taken to a nearby hospital.

The teen is not the first street racing fatality in the city. Just last year, a 20-year-old man was killed after a pair of street racers collided with his vehicle. This trend in Memphis, and in many other parts of the country, poses risk to innocent people anywhere in the vicinity of racing cars, as the high speeds of the vehicles commonly lead to catastrophic injuries and death.

Compensation may be available, via personal injury lawsuits, to families of car accident victims in Tennessee to help them cover expenses related to medical bills and funerals. This money can also be sought for pain and suffering related to the loss of a loved one. In many cases, insurance companies will attempt to deny claims or pay as little as possible, leaving victims feeling exasperated. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, for the best chance of recovery, pursing a claim sooner rather than later is a good idea.

Source: WMCTV, “Memphis teen killed in car crash,” Jerica Phillips, April 6, 2014

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Tennessee pedestrian killed by alleged drunk driver

Drunk drivers continue to be a major threat to everyone on the road, and even pedestrians aren’t safe. Many car accidents are attributed to drunk drivers whose behavior can cause serious injuries and even death. The mere fact that drivers are intoxicated with drugs or alcohol while driving is enough reason for Tennessee authorities to bring charges of driving under the influence. One reason for these drunk driving laws is to help reduce the number of drunk driving accidents that occur.

A pedestrian from Tennessee had his Alabama vacation, and life, cut short when he tried to cross the road and a truck driven by an alleged drunk driver hit him. A nurse practitioner witnessed the incident and tried to revive the victim, to no avail. The driver who hit the pedestrian also called 911, but the victim was believed to have died on impact.

According to the witness, the drunk driver did not exhibit any erratic driving behavior. He further stressed that the driver was driving in his lane and maintained his speed even as he approached the victim. In spite of this testimony, the driver was still charged with driving under the influence coupled with criminally negligent homicide.

While this tragic accident happened out of state, it did happen to a fellow Tennessean. Anyone in Tennessee who becomes involved in an accident with a drunk driver should understand the options for filing lawsuits and receiving financial compensation. This is particularly important if you or a loved one suffered serious injuries resulting in huge medical bills. A lawsuit could also be beneficial in situations such as this one where a life is unnecessarily lost.

Source: Fox10tv.com, “Witness: I saw him get hit,” Candace Murphy, March 31, 2014

Categories
Truck Accidents

Trucker from fatal Tennessee truck wreck merely loses license

For professional drivers, driving is a job and requires constant vigilance. Truck drivers must take extra precautions when driving because the size of the vehicle makes it more difficult to control. In fact, factors like distracted driving among truckers can lead to truck accidents that can be far more deadly and dangerous than typical car accidents. 

A truck driver has been sentenced to a one-year revocation of his driver’s license and a $500 fine after a court determined his negligence caused a fatal Tennessee truck accident. Although the driver was proven not to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a three-hour hearing convinced a judge that the driver failed to yield and did not exercise due care. Ultimately, his inattentiveness caused the deaths of two victims.

The driver reportedly changed his account of what happened regarding the accident after it took place, initially claiming he was distracted and then later telling police that cars pulled out in front of him and stopped. Officials worked diligently to identify what had happened to cause the Tennessee wreck and concluded that the driver had lied to make it seem as though other driver’s actions contributed to the truck accident. The only negligence identified was that of the trucker. He failed to notice the slowed or stopped traffic and crashed because of his distracted driving that night.

In the case of this truck driver, he was convicted of a criminal misdemeanor. That conviction and the loss of the driver’s license won’t always provide surviving family with a true sense of justice. If you are involved in a truck-related accident, understand that you can take legal action against the trucking company and driver for failing to exercise due care. Commercial drivers should be the most careful drivers on the road; when they fail to live up to that expectation people get hurt or killed. Victims of those failures deserve a chance to be compensated.

Source: The Murfreesboro Post, “Truck driver who caused deadly crash apologizes to family,” Sam Stockard, March 28, 2014

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Driver negligence, not car problem, led to fatal Tennessee crash

Vehicle wrecks happen every day on Tennessee roads and some of them result in serious injuries and death. Many of these fatal accidents are avoidable. Any time a crash causes the death of a driver or passenger in a vehicle, police investigate the scene to determine the cause of the accident. This information is later used to determine liability. If negligence such as drunk driving is found to have contributed to the wreck, the incident could become a wrongful death case. 

A jury has found a 21-year-old man guilty of vehicular homicide in Tennessee. The ruling comes after a 2012 drunk driving accident involving the driver and his best friend as a passenger. The two were riding together when the car left the road and collided with a metal sign pole. The passenger of the vehicle was killed in the accident.

The driver cited mechanical troubles as the cause of the car accident, though police reports suggest other factors were involved. A blood alcohol test showed that the driver was indeed under the influence of alcohol and, therefore, too impaired to drive. In addition, the police officer who investigated the crash estimated that the car was traveling at 91 MPH when the driver attempted to brake going into a turn.

In a wrongful death case, the family of a victim might be entitled to financial compensation to help them with medical bills and funeral expenses, as well as to help cope with pain and suffering. Families who find themselves in this position may obtain counsel to assist them with the legal process of a wrongful death lawsuit. Doing so will never bring a loved one back, but perhaps it can provide some relief through financial retribution. 

Source: Johnson City Press, “UPDATE: Carter jury finds driver guilty of vehicular homicide in 2012,” John Thompson, March 27, 2014

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

St. Patrick’s Day paves way for dangerous Tennessee roads

Despite the fact that law enforcement agencies in Tennessee and across the United States are cracking down on drunk driving, many people still feel confident enough to get behind the wheel of their car while intoxicated. These drivers pose dangers to everyone on the road, and they account for a high percentage of automobile accidents that involve serious injury or death. Unfortunately, the likelihood of a collision with a drunk driver is higher during holidays, and these accidents can cut a celebration very short. 

With St. Patrick’s Day just behind us, many people in Tennessee are facing drunk driving charges. The holiday is one of the biggest DUI holidays in the country. Last year alone, the Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested approximately 70 people for driving under the influence in the 72-hour holiday period. The state continues to make efforts to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road each year, though officials cannot keep everyone safe.

Many drivers arrested for driving while intoxicated are caught after they collide with other vehicles. It is not uncommon for these drivers to speed and even fail to take any evasive action at the time of the accident, which means the collisions can be particularly dangerous to other motorists. Innocent victims suffer injuries or even die in drunk accidents in Tennessee too often. The wrongdoing of impaired drivers can turn holidays into tragedies. 

If you have been involved in an accident with a drunk driver, it is important for you to understand your options and the potential for financial compensation. This is especially true if you have suffered serious injuries that result in extensive hospital bills. Exploring your opportunities with a personal injury lawyer is a simple step toward getting passed this stressful, painful time.

Source: WCYB, “Tow-To-Go offers ‘last resort’ option for drinkers on St. Patrick’s Day,” Jonathan Radford, March 17, 2014