Wrongful Death

According to a WBIR.com report, a 12-year-old Greenville boy was killed when he was hit by a school bus he was approaching to board. The Greene County school bus accident happened at the intersection of Snapps Ferry Road and Holder Road at approximately 6:49 a.m., and the sister of the victim had already boarded the bus when she asked the driver to wait because her brother was coming. The 62-year-old bus driver states he had already began to drive away when he hit something he believed was a dog. After he backed up, however, he found the boy.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) reports that the bus driver has not presently been charged in this tragic pedestrian accident, but that charges may be filed pending an investigation. The Criminal Investigation Division of the THP is assisting with the investigation. Greene County school officials have planned to meet with school bus drivers to discuss and reinforce the importance of their job, and grief counselors will be available at Chuckey-Doak Middle School, where the boy was a student, to help students and staff.

The sudden loss of a loved one is incredibly devastating for a family, and can also leave them with many questions, such as wondering if the unexpected death could have been prevented. If you have lost a loved one in an accident, a Tennessee wrongful death attorney with Massey & Associates, P.C. can help you and your family during this difficult time and make sure you receive compensation that can help with the unexpected costs that may arise following a loved one’s passing. To discuss your case with a member of our team, call (423) 697-4529.

A mother and resident of Gallatin recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Sumner County Board of Education for the death of her 9-year-old daughter, according to The Tennessean. The lawsuit alleges that the school board is partially responsible for the tragic death. The daughter was a third grade student at Benny Bills Elementary in Gallatin, and was killed in a car accident caused by her stepfather after leaving an after school program. The stepfather had reportedly been drinking the entire day when he picked up the young victim, and he crashed his Chevy pickup into a tree after failing to negotiate a turn. The stepfather fled on foot, leaving his stepdaughter trapped and very seriously injured. The girl was later pronounced dead at an area medical center.

The stepfather in this case pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident involving death, driving with a revoked license, and aggravated vehicular homicide; he was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Though the stepfather has already been convicted, the mother of the young victim has now filed a civil lawsuit against the Sumner County school board, claiming school officials were negligent in their duties when they allowed the girl to leave school with an intoxicated step-parent who apparently was not on the approved transportation list. In addition, the suit claims that the school’s Unity program leader smelled alcohol on the stepfather’s breath, but allowed the little girl to go instead of contacting the mother.

The mother hopes that by filing this lawsuit, she may prevent future tragedies from happening to other students.

In the event a family member or loved one dies unexpectedly, the first question that may be asked by surviving relatives is “could the death have been prevented?” If you are a Tennessee resident who has lost a loved one in an unexpected accident that you feel was caused by the negligence of another party, the wrongful death lawyers in Chattanooga with Massey & Associates, P.C. can help. We aim to hold any at-fault parties legally accountable. To see how our law team can help you during this difficult time, call (423) 697-4529 for a free consultation.