Life is full of everyday choices that usually do not result in deadly consequences. Unfortunately, one never knows when a simple decision can end in tragedy. One Tennessee family recently lost a loved one due to the apparent negligence of an intoxicated driver. Apart from the criminal proceedings that typically follow these types of fatal accidents, surviving families of deceased victims may be entitled to seek recovery of monetary losses through a wrongful death lawsuit.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 63-year-old man was riding his bicycle along the south shoulder of Highway 53. He was traveling with his small dog around 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning. A motorist was also traveling along the highway in the southbound lanes. For reasons that are unclear, the motorist purportedly crossed two lanes and struck the man on his bicycle.
The impact killed both the man and his dog at the scene. Police have now charged the driver with several criminal offenses, including vehicular homicide and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Reportedly, the man was also driving on a revoked license. It is unclear whether the man remains in the custody of Tennessee officials.
In the aftermath of these these types of senseless tragedies, families are often burdened with significant financial losses. When the gathered evidence suggests that another party’s negligence caused or significantly contributed to the death of a victim, then a wrongful death claim may be appropriate. An attorney can help prepare a claim in order to pursue recovery of the monetary losses that inevitably accompany such tragedies.
