A County Election Commissioner in East Tennessee is facing charges of DUI and vehicular homicide after a Cocke County bicycle accident that killed a 21-year-old Vermont woman, The Republic reported.
Knoxville bicycle accident attorneys understand the risk cyclists face throughout the Tennessee summer. Those risks are exacerbated anytime a drunk driver hits the road. Drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs continue to be involved in a large number of serious and fatal Tennessee car accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports nine cyclists died in Tennessee bicycle accidents in 2009. Nationwide, about one-third of all fatal accidents involve a drunk driver. Tennessee drunk driving accidents claimed 332 lives that year.
The Tennessee State Highway Patrol reports the 73-year-old commissioner was jailed after the accident on Tennessee Highway 73. Authorities report a second bicyclist was also struck in the crash. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports he was driving a 2001 GMC 2500 Sierra pickup shortly before 10 p.m. when the truck struck the two women riding bikes. The paper reported the second cyclist, a 19-year-old woman from Seattle, Washington, was not injured.
In other Knoxville accidents news, the News Sentinel reports a Knoxville man is facing drunk driving charges after allegedly causing a hit-and-run accident. A motorist reportedly followed the suspect and subdued him with pepper spray until authorities arrived. The crash occurred about noon in the 9000 block of Kingston Pike.
A motorist who witnessed the accident called 911 and followed the 2004 Nissan Titan pickup truck outside the city and onto Concord Road in West Knox County. He confronted the suspect at a stop and a struggle ensued. The 51-year-old witness subdued the suspect with pepperspray and waited for police.
Many times, the victims of hit-and-run accidents question whether they should bother to consult with a Tennessee injury lawyer — particularly in cases where the at-fault driver is never identified. In such cases, it can be more important than ever to consult with an attorney with the knowledge and experience to determine whether you can make a claim. In some cases, when the driver is identified but uninsured, a claim may be filed against policies in place on other vehicles in the household. In other cases, a victim may be able to make a claim against his or her own insurance carrier.
Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents are not uncommon and the at-fault driver is often lacking insurance or driving without a license. The News Sentinel recently reported the arrest of two men following a fatal hit-and-run Maryville car accident. That accident involved a victim who jumped from a moving vehicle.
If you or a loved one is injured in a Knoxville car accident, contact Hartsoe Law Firm, P.C. for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights with our Knoxville injury lawyers. Call (877) 472-5657.