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[Jackson, CA] – Thomas Knight and Natasha Terry Die in Fatal Crash on Highway 88 and Sunset Drive
2 Dead in Jackson Vehicle Accident on Highway 88 and Sunset Drive
November 9, 2020 – Thomas Knight, age 50, and Natasha Terry, age 40, were killed on Wednesday. Furthermore, it was a car crash on Highway 88 and Sunset Drive that killed them.
According to reports, while driving an eastbound Mercedes, Mr. Knight veered over the solid double yellow line. As a result, his car collided head-on with a Volkswagen from the opposite direction.
Moreover, Natasha N. Terry drove the Volkswagen. Additionally, officers revealed that both Knight and Terry suffered fatal injuries that they unfortunately passed away from.
The Jackson County Police Dept. will continue to investigate the incident.
It is difficult to verify who is to blame in a head-on collision, here is how to start.
Head-on collisions are scary. Not only that, but they can also leave people seriously injured or worse.
A head-on collision is when cars driving in opposite directions crash hood to hood.
Every car accident can cause injuries. However, statistics show that head-on crashes are even more likely to result in serious harm. Other outcomes include fatalities to everyone involved.
Furthermore, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported a 58% fatality rate for vehicle occupants in head-on collisions during 2017.
Moreover, a head-on crash is more likely to happen in a rural area. Also, 13% of all rural fatal crashes are reportedly head-on. Although, fewer than 7% of fatal crashes are head-on in urban areas.
What can cause a head-on collision?
Usually, an accident is just an accident. It could happen for any number of mechanical reasons. For instance, brake failure or a power steering outage.
But sometimes, a head-on accident can be caused when one driver is driving on the wrong side of the road.
Frequently, it is because of drunk or distracted driving. Nevertheless, driving while texting, unsafe passing, drowsy driving are all other examples of what can cause a collision.
Other reasons why a driver might swerve into the opposite lane are, avoiding an animal, debris in the road, or even icy patches.
Ascertaining who is fault in a head-on collision
That is usually the first question that your insurance company will ask.
The initial impact of a crash could send each car in a different direction. As a result, it could be hard to know immediately how the crash occurred.
Blame normally lies with the person who caused the accident.
Their insurance company is the one pay for any injury or death claims.
Sadly, if an insurance claim cannot be made, it often turns into a personal injury lawsuit. Furthermore, the plaintiff must establish what they are owed by the defendant.
Usually, with estimates from expensive repair companies.
Here is what to look for:
- Duty of care. Each driver has a legal obligation to avoid hurting other people. That means being alert, sober, well-rested, and attentive.
You are not exercising your duty of care If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Including, but not limited to prescription or over-the-counter medications that could impair you.
- Negligence. A driver is negligent if their conduct is not the same of what is expected of a reasonable person.
Examples of “road rage” include driving the wrong way on a one-way street, entering a highway using an off-ramp, or even driving excessively fast.
- Cause. This part is straightforward in any car accident. For injury claims, the plaintiff must prove that their injuries were caused directly by the actions of the defendant.
Fault systems state by state
Each state handles fault differently. The court is the determining factor in the liability of both parties of a head-on car accident.
For example, if the other driver was intoxicated and swerved into your lane, the court might decide that he was 95% at fault.
However, it could also decide that you reacted slowly, because you did not swerve out of the way in time. The court could argue that the accident might not have happened to begin with.
If that is how they rule, then the court would apportion you 5% of liability.
How it goes from there is purely on a state-by-state basis.
To the family and friends of both Thomas Knight and Natasha Terry, we cannot begin to imagine what you are going through, and our sincerest condolences go out to you.
Salkow Law are true advocates that will work with you directly to achieve justice. Insurance companies want to pay as little compensation as they can. They will even try to make your case go away completely. We will fight for you so that does not happen.
Unlike, the law firms you see plastered on billboards and buses, at Salkow Law you will receive a level of personal service long forgotten at the ‘big’ firms. With us you will not be a faceless, nameless case file. We’ll answer any questions you have and make sure you have a full understanding of how the process works.
This is especially true for families that have lost a loved one in an accident. We won’t stop until we’ve gotten you fair compensation to alleviate the financial toll that unexpected devastation brings.
Call us for a free consultation at (310) 914 – 8484
