Chattanooga Personal Injury Lawyer - Automobile Accidents

High School Volleyball Coach Killed In Chattanooga Crash

Chrissie Cole — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:28:00 GMT

Police suspect excessive speed and alcohol as contributing factors in a fatal wreck that claimed the life of a Central High School assistant volleyball coach.

The accident happened Wednesday at 3:00 a.m. when Jessica Stoker, 21, was traveling north in Interstate 75 near the I24 interchange when she lost control of her vehicle, said Sgt. Jerri Weary, police spokeswoman.

Stoker was ejected from the vehicle, Sgt. Weary said. She was transported to Erlanger Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Alcohol-related car crashes kill someone every 30 minutes and injure someone every two minutes. In 2008, 1,035 people died in alcohol related crashes in the state of Tennessee.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Man Charged In Wreck That Killed Three People

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:40:00 GMT

A Chattanooga man, 23, is facing numerous charges, including DUI, in a fatal car wreck that claimed the lives of three people.

The crash happened last October on I-24 in Chattanooga.

According to police, the man lost control of his Mustang while speeding down the interstate and veered off the road and struck a tree before coming to rest upside down.

Three of the six people in the vehicle at the time of the crash were killed.

Mario Lopez has been indicted on three counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of reckless aggravated assault, violation of the Driver’s License Law and a DUI.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Plane Crash in Tennessee Kills 5 Ministers

Jenny Albano — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:51:01 GMT

A plane crash the morning of Saturday, September 1 killed all five passengers. The plane crashed in the Cherokee National Forest on Holston Mountain and the crash sight was not discovered for at least eight hours after the accident, when another pilot spotted the wreck. All five passengers were ministers, one was thought to be the pilot of the small plane.

The single-engine Beech Bonanza crashed after leaving the Elizabethton Municipal Airport, officials said. The aircraft had taken off from Hamblen County and landed in Elizabethton to pick up two passengers. It was destined for Virginia Highlands Airport near Abingdon, Va., about 40 miles from Elizabethton.

Rescuers said that the reason it took so long to find the plane crash is because the area is very remote and the trees can disguise the wreckage.

The Jehovah's ministers were all from East Tennessee and were on their way to Abingdon to meet with congregation members to talk about building a new church. The names of the ministers have not been released to the public.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Airlines, Cruises, Buses, and Other Mass Transit Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Fatal Drag-Racing Accident in Tennessee

Staff Writer — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:45:30 GMT

On Saturday, June 16, there was a drag-racing accident that killed 6 people and injured over a dozen more. The list of fatalities includes four teenagers and two people in their early twenties. Eighteen people who were injured in the accident are still being treated at local hospitals.

The accident occurred when a driver lost control of his vehicle and drove into the crowd.

The driver of the vehicle, who was a 20-year veteran of drag racing, was identified as Troy Critchley. He only sustained minor injuries.

The police say it is still to early to tell if charges will be filed against the driver. Investigators will release their report in about one week.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on injuries related to Automobile and Motorcycle Accidents

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Woman Dies After Falling Off Trunk of Moving Vehicle

Christina Cole — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:33:47 GMT

A woman was killed in a car accident when she fell off the trunk of a moving car. The district attorney is getting help from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to help figure out what caused the accident.

The woman struck her head on the road, Tuesday, while driving on the trunk. McMinn County investigators were working the accident. The District Attorney General asked the TBI to help assist the investigation.

The woman was transported by helicopter to University of Tennessee Medical Center. A friend said he and Smith were hitched to a ride with a driver in a black Honda, but the woman was riding on the trunk. When she fell, the driver sped off and is still unidentified.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Mother, Daughter settle suit for injuries from accident

John Rice — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:23:02 GMT

In a terrible twist, a New Dorp woman and her daughter heading to visit a sick relative were only blocks from a Brooklyn hospital when they were badly hurt in a car accident almost six years ago.

A speeding, stolen pickup truck, being chased by the owner in another vehicle, ran a red light and broadsided Lisa Yeager's car at Third Avenue and 53rd Street in Brooklyn's Sunset Park section, near Lutheran Medical Center.

After years of litigation, the Yeagers recently received some good news when they reached a $975,000 settlement in their personal-injury case.

The accident occurred around 7 p.m. on June 14, 2001, as the mother and daughter headed to the hospital to visit Mrs. Yeager's father.

The Yeagers sued Thompson, Benitez and Power House in state Supreme Court, St. George.

Benitez and Power House denied liability, contending the pickup truck had been stolen. However, the plaintiffs argued that those defendants were at fault because the keys were left in the truck's ignition while it was parked on a public street, O'Leary said. The lawyer further argued that Thompson had been speeding and driving recklessly because Benitez was chasing him.

The case was settled with the aid of Justice Philip G. Minardo. Chelsea Yeager received $575,000, while her mother settled for $400,000, said O'Leary.

Frank Donnelly, Staten Island Advance

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Rice

Injured in Car Accident?

John Rice — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:02:15 GMT

If you are hurt, follow your doctor's instructions and get all the care the doctor believes you need. Whether it is a suggestion for physical therapy, home exercises, or follow up care with another doctor, follow the orders. That will help you get better (always your ultimate goal) and prevent some unsympathetic adjuster from attacking you later on down the road.

If you do not have health insurance to pay for your treatment, your automobile insurance policy may include Personal Injury Protection or MedPay coverage that will cover some bills and lost wages. Your agent will be able to tell you if you have this coverage. During treatment, decide if you need a lawyer. If you are in a small wreck and only go to the doctor a handful of times, you likely do not need a lawyer. If that is the case, you can contact the other driver's insurance company and settle the case on your own. If you choose to do that, educate yourself on what you're entitled to recover.

Document your injuries. Everyone knows a picture is worth a thousand words. Take photos of your car and, if you have bruising or other visible injuries, have someone take photos of those. Finally, take your time. Do not settle your claim before you know the full extent of your injuries. A settlement is final. If you settle your case in the first day or week and then find out your condition is worse than you thought, you are out of luck. Brooks Schuelke, News 8 Austin.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Rice

Auto Accidents - Consumer Protection Act

John Rice — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 10:55:37 GMT

Did you purchase a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x2 with a 4.7 and/or hemi engine? Have you experienced power surges and/or power losses while operating same? Presently there is a dispute in the Circuit Court of Hamilton County, Tennessee styled Pickett v. DaimlerChrysler; Docket No. 05C-1808 relative to such defects. Such defects could cause consumers/operators to be faced with serious risks in operation of the vehicle.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Rice

Two Students Killed in Car Wreck on the Way to School

Christina Cole — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 02:49:25 GMT

Two Morgan County students died in a two-car accident today on the way to school.

Three other children were injured on Old Harriman Highway between Oakdale and Harriman. The car driver, junior Jordan Langley, and a passenger in the other car freshman Jason Neal, were killed.

The three students that were injured are 8th graders Brandon Neal, junior Josh Brown and junior Seth Moore. They were taken to U-T Medical Center.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole