1 Death After Fatal I-65 Crash

According to news reports, a Warrior, AL woman was killed in a car crash on February 15 in northern Jefferson County. Police say Kimberly Mahaffey, 50, was driving on I-65 southbound near Mount Olive Road when her Toyota Rav 4 collided with a tractor-trailer driven by a Tennessee man.

Authorities transported a juvenile passenger in Mahaffey’s vehicle to an area hospital with undisclosed injuries. They did not say whether the tractor-trailer driver was hurt.

Tragically, this terrible accident is just one of the many fatal truck collisions that happen in Alabama annually. According to the state Department of Transportation (DOT), there were more than 8,500 truck accidents statewide in one recent year, killing 130 people.

Injuries That Can Cause Death After a Car Accident

Car accidents are violent events that can lead to severe injuries – injuries that prove fatal all too often. Some of the most common injuries that can cause death after a car accident include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Injuries to internal organs
• Puncture wounds and lacerations
• Severed or crushed limbs
• Severe burns

Even those who survive serious crashes often suffer permanent injuries as a result. Contact an attorney as soon as possible if you were hurt in a car accident in Alabama, as you could be entitled to compensation.

What to Do After a Family Member Is Involved in a Fatal Car Accident

Losing a family member in a car or truck accident is devastating. But if someone else is responsible for the fatal crash, they could owe you money for the harm they caused you and your loved one. The personal representative of your loved one’s estate – commonly called the executor – can bring a wrongful death suit against the person at fault. If this suit is successful, the responsible party will have to pay the estate punitive damages. These damages punish them and deter others from similar behavior.

You can help your case by taking the following steps:

• Save any evidence related to the collision, such as crash scene photos, eyewitness accounts, the deceased’s medical records, and police accident reports.
• Do not talk to any insurance companies. They want you to accept a quick settlement to avoid a more costly payout.
• If you were involved in the collision, write down everything that happened as soon as possible while your memory is still fresh.
• Start a diary to track how the accident has affected you emotionally.
• Contact a truck accident lawyer immediately. While you focus on healing and working through your grief, your attorney can handle your legal case and protect your right to financial recovery.

Contact the Car Accident Attorneys at Stokes Stemle, LLC for Help

At Stokes Stemle, LLC, we are committed to holding wrongdoers responsible when their actions hurt others. If you’ve lost a loved one to a traffic accident that someone else caused, we can help you pursue justice through a wrongful death suit. Contact us today to get started with a free consultation with our Alabama car accident attorneys.