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Sevierville Man Killed, Knoxville Woman Hurt in Negligent Motorcycle Wreck on Chapman Highway
Last month, a 23-year-old man was tragically killed in a motorcycle crash on Chapman Highway in Knoxville. According to a spokesperson for the Knoxville Police Department, the Sevierville man and his 24-year-old passenger were headed north on a Honda motorcycle near East Ford Lane when a sport utility vehicle (SUV) made an unexpected U-turn in front of him. Unfortunately, the driver of the motorcycle could not stop before striking the SUV.
Following the traffic wreck, the man was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. His passenger was treated for non-fatal injuries at the same hospital. The 60-year-old SUV driver and her 64-year-old passenger were not injured in the collision. Although Knoxville police reportedly do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the deadly motorcycle wreck, evidence gathered during the accident investigation will apparently be forwarded to the Knox County district attorney’s office to determine whether criminal charges against the driver of the SUV are merited.
Both the deceased man and his passenger were reportedly wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time of the fatal crash. According to the nation’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), safety helmets prevent about 37 percent of traffic accident deaths among motorcycle drivers and 41 percent of motorcycle passenger fatalities across the United States each year. The State of Tennessee enacted a universal helmet law in 1967. This means all drivers and passengers in our state are required to wear a safety helmet when traveling on a motorcycle. The CDC estimates that the lives of about 46 out of every 100,000 registered motorcycle riders in Tennessee in 2010 were saved by wearing a helmet. In addition, helmet use saved the state approximately $94 million in economic costs during the same year. Overall, CDC data states Tennessee is sixth in the nation for lives and economic costs saved as a result of motorcycle helmet use.
Since motorcycles offer a rider little protection from impact, such accidents are normally serious or fatal. Overall, 134 motorcycle deaths occurred across the State of Tennessee in 2013. Last year, there were 96 motorcycle collisions in Blount County, 94 in Knox County, and 49 in Sevier County. Sadly, the victim of a motorcycle collision may suffer a traumatic head injury, paralysis, broken bones, lacerations, soft tissue harm, wrongful death, and other injuries. If you were hurt or lost a treasured loved one in a motorcycle wreck that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover damages for your lost earnings, pain and suffering, temporary or permanent disability, medical bills, your relative’s funeral expenses, and more. An experienced personal injury lawyer can discuss your right to compensation with you in greater detail.
The knowledgeable attorneys at the Hartsoe Law Firm, P.C. provide quality legal representation to injured clients in Knoxville and across Eastern Tennessee. To speak with a seasoned lawyer about your motorcycle accident or other personal injury case, do not hesitate to call the Hartsoe Law Firm, P.C. at (865) 804-1011 or contact us through our website.
Additional Resources: U-turn on Chapman Highway kills motorcyclist, by Don Jacobs, Knoxville News Sentinel Related Blog Posts: Knoxville Court Refuses to Exclude Physician’s Expert Testimony in Premises Liability Case: Starnes v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, August 6, 2014, Knoxville Injury Lawyer Blog
Knoxville Court Sides With Insurer in Wrongful Death Case: Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company v. Simmons, July 30, 2014, Knoxville Injury Lawyer Blog