Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury on December 8, 2014
Earlier this week in East Knoxville, an accident involving two school buses claimed three lives. According to a report by NBC News, two young girls and an aide were all killed in the tragic accident. In addition, three others were admitted to the hospital in serious but stable condition, and twenty-some other students were admitted and treated for minor injuries.
The accident occurred just before three in the afternoon on Asheville Highway at John Sevier Highway. The road was wet from hours of rain that day. Evidently, one of the buses unexpectedly made a sharp left turn, crashing into the median before bouncing off and then crashing into the side of another school bus. One of the buses then flipped over onto its side. Most of the injured people were on the bus that initially lost control and ultimately flipped over.
Police are still investigating how the accident occurred and have accepted the assistance of the National Transportation Safety Board in conducting the investigation. Depending on the result of the investigation, charges may be filed against one or both of the drivers involved.
Driving on Dangerous Roads
The tragic accident described above took place on a road that was wet and slippery. These kinds of conditions can greatly increase the chances of getting into a serious or fatal car accident, and drivers should always take extra precautions in times of inclement weather.
Not only does a wet road mean longer stopping distances and less traction when turning, but it can also mean lower visibility and erratic driving on the part of other drivers. For these reasons, the law requires that drivers do not exceed a safe speed during inclement weather—even if it means traveling below the posted speed limit. In fact, in some cases, drivers can be ticketed for traveling too fast for conditions even if they are traveling at or below the posted speed limit.
Holding the Responsible Party Accountable
When a driver causes an accident because he or she was traveling too fast for the conditions, he or she may be held liable for any injuries that were caused in the accident. Drivers owe all others with whom they share the road a duty to operate their vehicles in a safe and predictable manner.
When a driver fails to live up to this duty and another person is hurt as a result, that accident victim may be able to look to the other driver for compensation for his or her injuries. Generally speaking, a Tennessee accident victim may be able to recover for past and future medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering related to the accident, lost wages, and attorney and court fees.
Are You in Need of an Attorney?
In some cases, an accident victim may be able to recover punitive damages from a defendant when especially egregious behavior is involved. If you have any questions about how to recover for your injuries that were a result of an auto accident, call attorney Matt Hardin today to set up a free initial consultation with a dedicated Tennessee personal injury attorney. Call 615-200-1111 today to set up a free consultation.
See Related Blog Posts:
Bartlett Police Officer May Be Responsible for Fatal Tennessee Accident, Nashville Injury Lawyer’s Blog, published October 22, 2014.
5 Common Causes of Auto Accidents, Nashville Injury Lawyer’s Blog, published November 14, 2014.
