The exact cause of a motor vehicle accident can be difficult to prove, especially when one of the drivers is killed in the collision. Witness accounts can then become an especially valuable source of evidence. A recent three-vehicle collision in west Charlotte shows how police often turn to witnesses’ accounts to establish the cause of an accident.
Shortly before 9 a.m., on May 2, drivers on Freedom Drive and Lundy Lane noticed a Chevrolet Venture speeding down Freedom Drive. According to police reports of events related by witnesses, the vehicle also made frequent lane changes and crossed into the opposite lane several times. Witnesses said that the Chevrolet crossed the yellow lane dividing line shortly before it reached the Lundy Lane intersection. The Chevrolet was struck head-on by a Ford Econoline heading in the opposite direction. A Ford Taurus was unable to avoid the disabled vehicles and crashed into the Venture.
The driver of the Venture was killed in the collision. The driver of the Econoline was hospitalized with serious injuries, and the driver of the Taurus and a passenger were treated for minor injuries. Police released a preliminary report which named driver impairment from alcohol and speeding as possible causes of the collision. Also, the driver of the Chevrolet was not wearing a seat belt. The Major Crash Investigations Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is collecting evidence that it hopes to use to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Anyone who has suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident may wish to seek damages from the party who caused the collision. An experienced personal injury lawyer can provide a helpful evaluation of the evidence and an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.
