Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

Donald R. Pickett, age 71, of Flatrock, Indiana, drove his 2006 Volkswagen the wrong direction on I-71 Saturday evening and caused a multiple car accident that has injured two people and killed himself and one other. The crash happened at approximately 9:20 p.m. near Crestwood, Kentucky in Oldham County. Reports indicate that alcohol may have been a factor leading to this fatal accident.

Pickett, who was driving northbound in the southbound lane of traffic, collided head-on with a 2007 Infiniti driven by Victor Chavez, age 27, of Louisville, Kentucky. George Chavez, age 27, and Julio Chavez, age 29, were both passengers in Victor Chavez’s vehicle. All three passengers in the Infiniti were taken to UL Hospital to be treated for their injuries. George Chavez died at UL Hospital due to the injuries he had sustained in the crash. Puckett was also killed in the crash after he was ejected from his vehicle which then struck a third vehicle.

While it is not fully known at this time why Pickett was driving in the wrong lane of traffic, if alcohol was a factor this tragedy is even worse. The innocent victims of this crash, the Chavez’s and their families should pursue every avenue possible to have all the causes of this crash investigated, and if alcohol truly was a factor, they should utilize not only the criminal justice system, but also the Kentucky civil justice system to seek justice.
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This Kentucky auto accident occurred Tuesday on Ky 90 in Wayne County, Kentucky. Reports indicate that 25 year old Eric Branscum was driving a 2002 Kia Spectrum when his vehicle hit the rear of a 2003 Camry driven by Jessica Whitaker, age 28. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound. The collision between Branscum’s car and Whitaker’s car sent the Camry into the westbound lane of traffic where it collided with a 1992 Dodge caravan driven by Veila Stephenson, age 75.

Branscum was not injured in the crash. Whitaker and Stephenson were seriously injured and flown to UK Hospital where they are being treated. A passenger in Stephenson’s Caravan, Gladys Parmley, age 69, of Monticello, had been taken from the scene of the accident to UK Hospital. Tragically she died from her injuries that evening. The passenger in the Camry, Louanna Ellis, age 57, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
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This single vehicle auto crash happened when the driver of the vehicle hit a guard rail, then attempted to over correct the vehicle, and ended up flipping the vehicle in the median. It resulted in the driver and one passenger suffering severe injury and being taken to the hospital. Another passenger, Ricky Lugo, died at the scene of the crash from his injuries. This Kentucky motor vehicle accident happened in Gallatin County, Kentucky. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Drivers and passengers in vehicles that are involved in Kentucky crashes have legal rights that need to be protected. It’s important to examine what caused the crash so that responsibility can be assigned, and those not at fault can seek legal justice and compensation under the law for their financial and legal damages. Serious accidents run up huge medical bills, lost wages, and can result in permanent injuries. Deaths in accidents are even more emotionally and financially overwhelming. Its important to have objective, knowledgeable, and aggressive help through the legal, medical, and insurance pitfalls that arise under such conditions.

This terrible auto accident happened Sunday around 4:15 p.m.. Robert Kidd was driving his pickup truck when he was rear ended by another vehicle. This first collision caused Mr. Kidd’s truck to cross into the south bound lane of US 68 and crash into a vehicle driven by the Mathis family. Joseph & Donna Mathis were killed in the crash. Mr. Kidd was flown to UK Hospital for his injuries.

Mr. Kidd and the Mathis family have legal rights related to this multi-vehicle accident. Under the law, they can seek legal civil justice, recovery their financial losses and being compensated for what has happened. In serious accidents like this, it’s important to have good legal representation to protect and preserve evidence related to the crash, deal with insurance and medical providers, and protect the right of people who have been injured or killed.
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On Friday, Vickie Carol Lynch, age 49, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was killed in a car crash that involved a church van running a red light and hitting her vehicle. Ms. Lynch died at the scene of the crash. This terrible accident was caused by a 22 year old driver not paying attention. Witnesses report that he light had been red for a while when the van failed to attempt to stop and ran through the intersection of the Georgetown Bypass and Paris Road. Reports indicate that the evidence demonstrates that the van driver never even applied the brakes as he negligently entered the intersection. The driver of the van has been criminally charged with reckless homicide. The van is owned by Bluegrass Baptist Church.

On Saturday, Phillip Lee Burgess Jr., age 28, was a passenger in a car that ran a red light at the intersection of Lemons Mill Road and struck another vehicle. Mr. Burgess was taken from the scene of the accident to Georgetown Community Hospital, where he died from his injuries. The driver of the vehicle that Mr. Burgess was in has been criminally charged with a DUI and second degree manslaughter.

These are two instances where drivers have failed to be patient and attentive to the road. Driver impairment can come from intoxication or just plan paying attention to other things rather than driving. In one case, such failure to be attentive is clearly related to illegally driving after drinking. The other is unclear as to what took the driver’s attention from the road. The results however have been the same. Two innocent people are dead due to negligent driving of others, and families are left to suffer for the loss of their loved ones. In cases like this, it is important that a message be sent to the rest of the community that this sort of negligence while operating a car can be deadly and will not be tolerated. The criminal aspect of sending that message to the perpetrators and the community has begun in these two cases. There is also a civil justice avenue available to victims who are injured and families of victims killed, due to the negligent driving of others, in that they can seek to recover the civil damages from accident. Kentucky Civil Legal Damages include things like recovery of costs of medical bills, lost incomes, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering.
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