There's an old saying that bad things come in threes. Sadly, that adage seems to have proven true on our region's roadways recently. Last Friday, WJGH reported on the region's third car crash-related fatality in a mere three days. The triad of tragedies called to mind the questions we are commonly asked as a law firm for fatal Panama City car crashes: what factors are most likely to lead to a fatal car crash?
The 3rd car accident fatality to strike our region in the short period claimed the life of 23-year-old John Paul Tinsley of Callaway. Tinsley was 1 of 2 passengers in a Corvette driven by Carl Allen Wilson, age 24 of Port St. Joe, on County Road 286 around 9 P.M. on Thursday night. Police report that Wilson was travelling at an excessive speed when he failed to properly negotiate a curve in the road, causing the car to roll over about 4 miles north of Mexico Beach. Tinsley died at the scene. Wilson was ejected from the vehicle and was taken to Bay Medical/Sacred Heart in good condition. A second passenger, 22-year-old Vanessa Ann Raynor, was transported to the hospital in serious condition. Charges against Wilson are currently pending.
Reviewing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA"), the Statistics Brain website compiled a list of the most common causes of fatal accidents. Combining that research with additional information from the popular EHow portal, these include:
Of course, these are not the only factors that can lead to fatal vehicle accidents. Other elements we see frequently in our work as a Panama City car accident death law firm include: drug (legal or illegal) use; driver aggression/road rage; defective or poorly maintained auto parts, including tires; and medical issues impairing driver skill. Much of the time, an accident involves more than one danger-elevating factor.
Our thoughts go out to the family of John Paul Tinsley and the families of the other victims who lost their lives in the recent spate of vehicle accidents. We hope this trend comes to an end, and that other families do not experience the terrible moment of receiving tragic news. We urge all drivers to use caution on the roadways – most accidents involve some form of driver responsibility, and it is up to each driver to keep our community safe.
Where some or all of the fault falls upon a driver, the family of a crash victim may have a wrongful death claim. Attorney Pittman has experience bringing such claims, thus helping families in the Panhandle region recover essential compensation in the wake of unexpected tragedy. Our team promises to provide the very best of legal service to each and every client. We also promise to treat grieving families with sensitivity, never forgetting the very human side of every wrongful death suit.