Motorcyclist Dies after Construction Zone Accident
A local Tennessee man died recently as a result of injuries sustained following a motorcyle accident near Lakewood KY. The man, identified by authorities as Joseph McKinney, passed away one day after crashing his motorcycle while traveling through a coned construction zone.
McKinney and a passenger, later identified as Lisa Ogle, were riding his 1987 Harley Davidson on Old Hickory Boulevard in Lakewood when the accident occurred. While entering the construction zone McKinney struck a traffic sign near the merge point, injuring both himself and his passenger. No other vehicles were involved in the accident. According to one witness, it appeared that McKinney had passed another vehicle with enough time to merge just prior to striking the traffic sign, but no further accounts of the accident were reported. At this time police do not believe that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash, though McKinney was driving on a revoked license when the incident occurred.
Following the accident, 52-year-old McKinney was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died the next morning; 56-year-old Ogle was also taken to Vanderbilt as a result of injuries sustained during the crash, but those injuries were reported as non-life threatening. No construction workers or other motorists were reported injured as a result of the accident.
Construction Zone Accidents
Accidents in construction zones can be caused by a number of factors including, poor signage, failure to properly signal motorists, collisions with construction equipment, and poorly placed traffic control devices. While not all construction hazards can be completely eliminated, construction workers must take steps to ensure the safety of passing motorists. When construction workers fail to take the proper precautions their negligence may give rise to personal injury claims for an injured motorist, their passengers, or their family.
Unfortunately, it can be extremely difficult to seek compensation for your injuries if you are injured as a result of construction zone negligence. Knowing who and when to sue can be difficult to navigate, and blame can be hard to place in complex accidents with multiple actors. Tennessee, in particular, operates on a comparative negligence scheme.
In times like these the help of a good personal injury lawyer can be the difference between fair compensation and piles of unpaid medical bills. If you or someone you know has been injured in a traffic zone accident you should contact an lawyer immediately to ensure the highest likelihood of pursuing a successful claim.
Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers
The damages that result from a motor vehicle accident can be catastrophic, and we at Calhoun Law, PLC in Nashville understand how confusing and complex traffic accident litigation can be. Depending on the specifics of your case, you may be entitled to present and future medical expenses, lost wages, disability compensation, and reduced earning ability compensation as well as awards for pain and suffering, emotional distress, property damage, and wrongful death. Contact us today so that we can ensure that you are properly compensated for your injuries.