Posted in Car Accident,Pedestrian Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 29, 2015
Caryville Car Accident Kills Father and Son, Injures Police Officer
A man and his son lost their lives and a Jacksboro police officer suffered serious injuries as a result of a car accident that occurred in Caryville, Tennessee, last Friday.
According to a report by wate.com, the accident occurred around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon when a 44-year-old man was driving his GMC Envoy SUV with his two children as passengers.
Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that the man was making a left turn when his car suddenly veered off the roadway and into a ditch before hitting a tree head-on.
The force of the collision caused the man to be ejected from the car. Officials said he wasn’t wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident and died as a result of his injuries.
The man’s 6-year-old son also died in the accident, while his 8-year-old daughter suffered serious injuries.
Later, as a Jacksboro police officer was responding to the scene of the accident, he was struck by a 1993 GMC pickup truck and suffered serious injuries. The police officer was taken to UT Medical Center by ambulance for treatment, while the driver of the pickup truck was charged with failure to maintain control and failure to exercise due care.
The Cookeville car accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law express our condolences to the family of the victims of this tragic accident.
Tips for Staying out of Harm’s Way after an Accident
Being in an auto accident is traumatic enough. Unfortunately, both victims and responders, whether they’re EMS personnel or just helpful bystanders, run the risk of being struck by passing vehicles at the scene of the accident. To help reduce your chances of being a victim for the second time after an accident, or to stay out of harm’s way if you’re rendering aid, consider the following tips:
If it’s safe to do so without further injuring yourself or your passengers, try to move your vehicle out of the roadway and to the shoulder when the coast is clear. In some conditions, such as at night, during heavy rain, or on roads that feature blind corners, drivers in oncoming traffic may not be able to see you before it’s too late. That’s why it’s safer to get your vehicle out of harm’s way as soon as possible.
Your best defense against being struck by a vehicle after an accident is to get EMS personnel on the scene as quickly as possible. Not only can paramedics and police administer first aid and help treat your injuries, but they can also block off the roadway and direct traffic away from your vehicle. In most cases, police can be on the scene of the accident in minutes, so if you have a cell phone with you, dial 911 as soon as you can.
Standing on the shoulder of the road outside of a vehicle is extremely dangerous. Whether you were just in the accident or stopped to help, always make sure you and anyone else on the scene who aren’t EMS personnel stand as far away from the shoulder as possible. In addition, never attempt to repair your vehicle after a collision—wait for a tow truck to remove it from the scene instead.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Cookeville car accident lawyers know that it seems unthinkable that you can be a victim of an auto accident twice in a short timeframe, but we’ve seen it happen to many of our clients in the past. However, such tragedies can often be avoided if you take extra precautions after an accident.
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident or in the aftermath of a car accident, get in touch with our legal team today. We can investigate the accident and determine if you’re eligible to receive compensation for your expenses. Just dial (931) 754-1188 or fill out a free online form today.
