Oak Ridge Man Killed in Head-On Crash
According to the Montana Highway Patrol, a Tennessee man was killed last Saturday afternoon when an SUV crossed over the center line and hit his motorcycle head-on as he was riding through Glacier National Park. The victim has been identified as 58 year-old Fred Childress of Oak Ridge, TN. Mr. Childress was a co-founder and president of the Tennessee Liberty Alliance and was reportedly winding up a four-week cross-country motorcycle tour when he was involved in the wreck. Our condolences go out to Mr. Childress’s family and friends in the wake of this unfortunate tragedy.
Details have not yet emerged as to why the driver of the SUV crossed the center-line, and this discussion in no way speculates as to the liability of the driver of the SUV in this situation, but such actions are often the result of negligence in auto accident cases. Many such accidents are caused by drivers driving too fast in inclement weather or on unfamiliar terrain. Also, head-on collisions are increasingly being caused by distracted driving, especially with texting while driving on the rise. No matter the cause of the accident, Tennessee provides a way for plaintiffs to recover from defendants who are at fault in such accidents.
When such an accident occurs in Tennessee (as opposed to a different state in which case that state’s law generally applies and will be somewhat different) and results in the death of a victim, Tennessee allows interested parties, namely surviving spouses, personal representatives, or next of kin for that individual, to recover for that individual’s wrongful death. Recovery for wrongful death encompasses both the injuries sustained by the victim prior to death as well as damages for the loss of the victim’s life, including funeral expenses. Courts look at a variety of factors when determining such damages, so it may be necessary to consult an experienced personal injury attorney in order to determine how to assess the damages in such a case and how to optimize the potential for recovery.
Source: http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/99280409.html
