Multi-vehicle accidents are reported all over the U.S. and they too often have tragic consequences. Recently, a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 431 claimed the life of a Tennessee man. The truck accident, which involved three vehicles, occurred in the morning hours of December 7 on Highway 431 near Dunmor, Kentucky.
According to a news report, a 29-year-old resident of Greenville, Kentucky, was driving a Chevrolet Impala southbound on U.S. 431. The Impala suddenly went off the right side of the road. Two brothers from Tennessee pulled over in a 1997 Toyota pickup to offer assistance. The passenger in the pickup truck exited the vehicle to try to help the other driver. Meanwhile, a 2000 GMC dump truck traveling south came out of a curve and lost control on the wet road as the driver tried to apply the brakes. The dump truck then struck the passenger of the Toyota pickup truck and the truck itself.
The passenger of the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The driver of the pickup truck was taken to the hospital by ambulance. He was treated for his injuries and was later released.
The drivers of the Impala and 2000 GMC dump truck were not injured. Apparently, both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident, which is still under investigation.
Losing a loved one in a traffic accident is tragic for the surviving loved ones. The highway patrol has been warning drivers to be extra cautious while driving, not only for their own safety but for the safety of others on the road.
Although surviving family members can file a lawsuit against negligent drivers in the aftermath of fatal car accidents--to claim expenses for medical care before death, funeral services and other related costs--no amount of monetary compensation can compensate for the life lost. Such lawsuits can, however, ease the financial burden during the grieving process.
When fatal accidents involve commercial vehicles, such as trucks, it is important to consider whether the driver him- or herself should be subject to any litigation, or whether his or her employer or another party were negligent.
Source: surfky.com, "Fatal Accident on US 431 Near Dunmor," Dec. 7, 2012