A 78-year-old Tennessee teacher who retired in 2002 after 40 years of teaching passed away in the hospital on a recent Monday. His death from car accident injuries came one day after he was a passenger in a car that was involved in a head-on collision. The deceased man’s wife and her sister were treated in the same hospital, and their conditions were reportedly stable.
According to the accident report, the couple was in a car that was driven by the man’s sister-in-law. They were eastbound on a five-lane road when a driver in an SUV allegedly made a U-turn and traveled into their lane. The head-on collision that followed caused injuries to both drivers and the two passengers in the car.
It was initially thought that the elderly man, who was in the back seat, suffered no more than a fractured wrist. It was noted that there was no evidence of potentially fatal injuries for any of the victims. For this reason, no blood tests were requested by the patrolman. The report shows that there was also no evidence to indicate drug or alcohol use by the drivers.
No charges were reportedly filed, but the report notes that the SUV driver failed to yield, and also failed to maintain proper lane usage. When individuals in Tennessee suffer car accident injuries caused by the negligent actions of another party, claims for financial relief may be pursued. In this case, the wife of the man who died retains the right to file a personal injury claim with regard to her medical expenses. She may also file a wrongful death claim for medical expenses and end-of-life costs related to her husband’s medical care and death. Other monetary damages recognized under applicable laws may also be sought when a claim is filed in a civil court.
Source: knoxnews.com, “Retired Knox teacher dies from crash injuries”, Don Jacobs, Aug. 19, 2015
