Motorcyclist Killed in Highway 109 Accident
A woman was killed late last month after a pickup truck pulled out into the road and collided with her motorcycle. Deborah Miller, 46, was traveling north on Highway 109 near Academy Road at around 8:15 a.m. when a 2004 Ford F-150 Extended Cab truck pulled out of the parking lot of the Home Run Market and struck her motorcycle.
The driver of the pickup truck was Nerique Vazquez, 40, who pulled directly into the path of the oncoming motorcycle. Ms. Miller was ejected from her motorcycle and onto the roadway. She was declared dead at the scene by medical personnel. Mr. Vazquez and his two passengers were unharmed in the accident. He was issued a citation for failure to drive with due care, and no other charges have been filed against him at this time.
Since the accident, a public outcry has been made for better safety on Highway 109. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced within days after Ms. Miller’s death that “immediate safety improvements” would be made to the intersection of Highway 109 and Academy Road. In addition, TDOT will be installing better traffic signage with flashing caution lights and enhanced striping. A traffic light was planned for the intersection during a widening project of Highway 109 that was scheduled for 2017, but because of recent accidents and the public outcry, TDOT is looking into rushing the improvements.
Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Statistics
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security reported that in 2013 there were 134 deaths that resulted from motorcycle accidents in the state. In 2014, there have already been another 118 fatalities that resulted from motorcycle accidents, and reporting has not ended for the year. In 2012, there were a total reported 3,318 motorcycle accidents, a number that had increased from 3,172 accidents the year prior.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accidents
Even with Tennessee’s helmet requirement for motorcyclists on the road, getting into an accident with a passenger vehicle can come with devastating results. Because a motorcycle does not come with the protection of a car, the driver and passenger of a motorcycle are far more likely to end up with serious injuries or die as a result of the accident.
If you have been in a motorcycle accident, you may have a claim for damages. Compensation for motorcycle injuries can include:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and transportation costs
- Lost wages
- Impaired earning ability
- Disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Wrongful death
- Funeral expenses
…and other costs that are reasonably related to the accident.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
Even if you are wearing a helmet, getting involved in a motorcycle accident with a passenger vehicle can result in catastrophic injuries that can cause permanent disability or death. If you or someone that you know has been injured in a motorcycle accident, let the experienced Nashville accident lawyers at Calhoun Law, PLC fight for the compensation that you deserve. Reach out to us today for help.