Knoxville Man Dies in Crash in National Park
Forty-seven year-old Paul Rodgers of Knoxville died a few weeks ago when the van he was driving through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park reportedly drifted off of the right edge of the road, struck a tree, and then slid several feet down an embankment. According to reports, Rodgers was found dead at the scene, although he was properly wearing his seat belt and the van’s airbag deployed. There is no evidence that alcohol or drugs were involved, but the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Tennessee is a state known for its winding and steep back roads, and crashes such as the one described above seem to happen with a greater frequency in this state than in most others. This is especially true of the roads in the National Park, as they are often extremely steep and very curvy and threaten the drivers with blind curves in some spots. Thus, drivers who are not familiar with the roads or who lose their focus for a split-second, even if no drugs or alcohol seem to be a factor at all, can end up driving off of the road or into the opposing lane.
Every year, Tennesseans and tourists are seriously injured due to negligent driving on Tennessee’s back roads. Unfortunately there are situations, as in the case above, where wrecks on these winding and steep roads can cause serious injury or prove fatal. Victims of such wrecks, whether they be those actually injured in the wrecks or their families, may find themselves faced with a substantial amount of medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages for which they may be forced to turn to the courts for compensation. Victims who find themselves facing such situations should contact an experienced personal injury attorney in East Tennessee who can assist them in recovering for all of their losses.
Source: http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=12876121
