Fatal accidents caused by drunk drivers are among the most preventable. Most people are aware that drinking and driving don’t mix and that a person who has been drinking should not drive. In this day and age of so many ride options, Uber and Lyft for example, obtaining alternate transportation is not difficult. Sadly, drivers who have been drinking still choose to get behind the wheel, sometimes causing serious car accidents in Tennessee as a result.
A young woman who was a student at the University of Tennessee was the victim of one such accident. She was attempting to drive onto onto Interstate 40 when she was struck by another car. The driver whose vehicle hit her had previously been arrested for driving under the influence. He had four prior DUI convictions as well as five convictions for public intoxication.
The woman whose car was hit was pronounced dead at the scene. According to reports, it appeared that she may not have been wearing a seat belt. The cause of the crash remains under investigation and charges have not yet been filed.
The loss of a loved one in Tennessee is always a shock. When the loved one is in the prime of life, it is that much harder. The woman who died would have turned 20 two weeks after the accident that took her life. While there is no amount of money that can undo what has already occurred, a civil lawsuit against the party deemed responsible for the accident can provide compensation for medical costs, final costs and other verifiable losses and a hope that the risk of future car accidents may be reduced.