Nashville, Tennessee Home Blogs Tennessee Nashville Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Topics

On the Road

Major Medical

Protecting Your Family

In the Workplace

Miscellaneous

Two College Students Killed in Sewanee Tractor Trailer Wreck

George Fusner
George Fusner
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 630
Visit George Fusner on Avvo
Posted by George FusnerOctober 12, 2009 10:17 AM
Tags: Sewanee Tractor Trailer crash; college students killed
10 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

19-year-old Kathryn "Katy" Christianson of Chattanooga and 18-year-old Kathleen Beech of Clarksville were killed in the Thursday morning crash while they are two other University of the South rowing team members were en route to practice. The accident occurred at approximately 7 AM local time. This hits close to home as I have a son in college.

According to police reports, Beech (the driver of the vehicle) went to cross U.S. 41-A at Airport Road when her vehicle was struck by an oncoming tractor-trailer, driven by John H. Tucker. Tucker was treated at a hospital and released.

It is a difficult time for all those involved to pick up the pieces. Ms. Christianson and Ms. Bleech leave behind friends, family, and teammates. They all have my condolences.

Many facts of the accident remain untold. What was the cause of the accident? Did Ms. Bleech not see the truck? It was early enough, he should have had his lights on. How fast was the truck going? These are questions that hopefully will find answers. Also, the passengers of Ms. Bleech’s vehicle (as well as Ms. Christianson’s family) can recover from the insurance policies of both Ms. Bleech and the truck driver, even if Ms. Bleech was the more negligent driver.

If you or someone you know is injured as a passenger of a vehicle, talk to an experienced car wreck or tractor trailer wreck attorney about recovering what is due. Just because the driver of your vehicle was negligent does not bar you from recovering from the other driver’s insurance policy or from their insurance policy if you are a passenger. IN some cases if there is not enough insurance your own underinusred motorist policy may allow for a recovery as well.

10 Comments

Have an opinion about this post? Please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

slb
Posted by slb
October 13, 2009 9:56 AM

And you wonder why you guys have a bad reputation.

George FusnerInjuryBoard Attorney Member
Posted by George Fusner
October 13, 2009 10:32 AM

What did you find offensive about the blog?

slb
Posted by slb
October 13, 2009 12:52 PM

"Also, the passengers of Ms. Bleech’s vehicle (as well as Ms. Christianson’s family) can recover from the insurance policies of both Ms. Bleech and the truck driver, even if Ms. Bleech was the more negligent driver."

Let's say the car did pull out in front of the truck. Now, in addition to the horrible memory of having killed two girls (through little or no fault of his own) the driver has to deal with the circling sharks who are looking for ways to cut in on compensation.

Why not add the negligence of God in making it not light in the early morning? I understand the desire for compensation when there is true negligence and a bread winner is lost or there are medical bills to contend with, but the notion of varying degrees of negligence to compensate for the tragic loss of two young people is just scratching at a wound. A young driver made a tragic mistake - maybe it's just a tragedy and not a moneymaking opportunity.

George FusnerInjuryBoard Attorney Member
Posted by George Fusner
October 13, 2009 1:36 PM

How do you know the driver made a tragic mistake until after a competent investigation is completed? What if the truck driver did not have his lights on? What if he was speeding? The law expressly allows for recovery of damages for wrong death in these circumstances. What are the parents damages? Its hard to quantify life by money however, that is the system since a "life for a life" is even worse. The object is early investigation. If it reveals no fault so be it. However, in my experience that is very infrequent.

Joesphine
Posted by Joesphine
October 13, 2009 9:01 PM

I agree with SLB. You guys bring your reputation on yourself. SLB addressed the wrong-doing on your part towards the truck driver, but I noticed that you also encourage the two surviving passengers to seek damages agaisnt Ms. Beech (not Bleech). A 19-year-old girl is dead and now you want her friends to seek damages against her family for what can only be deemed as a tragic accident. Shame on you!

Posted by
October 19, 2009 10:31 PM

I am not an personal injury attorney, nor am I an attorney - but I think George was pointing out that many people do not realize that just because the driver is at fault, the passengers are not prevented or limited from making a claim against anyone. It's a caveat in the law most don't know about.

Bert McCameron
Posted by Bert McCameron
October 25, 2009 1:00 AM

My heart goes out to many of the families that have lost in this situation. Dmv laws have guidlines for when lights should be used, besides this was just a scenerio. At this point there are to many "what ifs." The posts that I am posting is a major "what if:"
1.) What if the vehicle was loaned to the driver by a friend or family member.
2.) What if the vehicle was loaned to the driver by a friend or family member and they knew or didn't know that the driver didn't have a license for what every reason.

again my prayers for the families

Anonymous
Posted by Anonymous
October 26, 2009 4:36 PM

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure Kathleen was texting at the time of the accident.

Anonymous
Posted by Anonymous
October 26, 2009 4:36 PM

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure Kathleen was texting at the time of the accident.

George FusnerInjuryBoard Attorney Member
Posted by George Fusner
November 02, 2009 2:09 PM

That is very revealing. Most people do not know that the cell phone companies do not retain records of the text messages very long. I have heard only as long as 60 days. Further they will not release them without a subpoena. To get a subpoena issued a lawsuit has to be filed. Even more reason to get a quailifed attoney involved sooner rather than later.

Comments for this article are closed.

Subscribe to InjuryBoard Nashville

 InjuryBoard Nashville RSS Feeds

Keep up with the latest updates using your favorite RSS reader

Injury Board Nashville is brought to you by Law Office of George R. Fusner, Jr.

Legal Assistance Center

More Info
Law Office of George R. Fusner, Jr. (866) 735-1102 Ext 630
google
Personal Injury Lawyers Serving: All of Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Dickson, Murfreesboro, Ashland City, Gallatin, Goodlettsville, LaVergne, Smyrna, Columbia, Clarksville, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Antioch, Hermitage, Bellevue, Fairview & areas surrounding I-40, I-24, I-65, I-440 & I-840
116 Wilson Pike CircleSuite 210, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027 [ Show Map ]
Better Business Bureau Accredited Business Confidential

Your question will be referred to an attorney near you. If your question is of a legal nature, then by submitting this form you agree you are not forming a formal attorney / client relationship. Read our full privacy policy.

Looking for an InjuryBoard attorney closer to home? Click here.

Additional Resources

Subscribe to Blog Updates

Enter your email address if you would like to receive email notifications when comments are made on this post.

Email address

Blog Archives

View previous posts from:

Interesting Links

Popular Tags

Cheatham County Tennessee Defective gas can Dover Tennessee Exploding gas can headon collision I-24 Tractor Trailer Wreck Pleasant View Tennessee Tennessee Underride wrongful death Wrongful Death

Regional Blogs

Find an InjuryBoard Blog in your area: