Head-on vehicle accidents are more violent and deadly than other forms of crashes. Yahoo! has reported that an average of 360 Americans are killed each year in wrong-way collisions, which are often of the head-on variety.
Many of these accidents are the result of negligence. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) study of 1,566 wrong-way crashes from 2004 to 2009 found that drivers had blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than twice the legal limit in 59 percent of the accidents.
In addition to drunk driving, some of these accidents are the result of distracted driving and defective auto parts.
Sadly, recently, two people were killed in a head-on crash in Coffee County. According to WTVF-TV, on July 12, a 1992 Nissan Sentra driven by 35-year-old Patrick Rhodes was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the roadway when it hit a 2001 Chevrolet truck head-on.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) reported that a third vehicle also struck the Nissan and was hit by debris from the crash. According to WTVF, Rhodes was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Additionally, 63-year-old Phyllis Golden, a passenger in the truck, was killed on impact. The driver of the truck, 63-year-old James Golden, and another passenger, 22-year-old Katherine Golden, were both injured.
The accident remains under investigation and charges are pending.
WHO SHOULD I SPEAK TO WHEN MY LOVED ONE DIES IN A CAR ACCIDENT?
If your loved one dies in a car accident because of someone’s negligence, you can hold that party liable via a wrongful death lawsuit, which can help you recover compensation for lost income from the departed family member, medical expenses and funeral costs.
In addition to death, driver error can result in catastrophic injuries, which may require costly rehabilitation and therapy. Make sure you seek damages to help cover these costs.
Nashville injury attorney Stanley Davis is aware of the many ways that a head-on vehicle accident can devastate a family. Call us today if an inattentive driver has harmed you.
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” – John 1:17