On August 10th, a federal lawsuit was filed against the driver and owner of a tractor-trailer rig involved in a collision responsible for claiming the life of an 18-year old Mooresburg mother. Jennifer Lawson filed the suit with the U.S. District Court in Greeneville for the Eastern District of Tennessee against the driver, Ion Hazapariu, and the truck’s owner, Yes Express, Inc. “The Blanket Company”. Lawson is the mother, administrator and personal representative of the estate of Ashley Nicole Lawson.
The suit alleges that Hazapariu negligently attempted to perform an illegal left-hand turn. This action caused his rig to be in the wrong lane causing a collision between the two vehicles; thus, leading to Lawson’s injury and death, and injury of her infant daughter who was a passenger.
The suit also suggests that Hazapariu was backing, or had just backed, the truck on a public road, which caused the tractor-trailer rig to be pointing in the wrong direction for the side of the road the truck was.
The events of the crash
Lawson’s 2000 Daewoo was traveling north on 11W when a southbound 2005 Volvo tractor-trailer, driven by Hazapariu, of Luling, TX, pulled into Lawson’s path while he was attempting to make an improper left-hand turn from the median onto a side street.
Hazapariu was not injured. Both surviving victims in Ashley’s car were transported to area hospitals by ground and air ambulances. While all three of the occupants of Lawson’s car were properly restrained, Trooper’s said seat belts would not have made a difference in Ashley’s case, as her injuries were so severe.
Jennifer Lawson’s lawsuit alleges that Hazaparui failed to:
- Maintain the vehicle under proper and reasonable control
- Maintain a proper lookout for other vehicles
- Operate the vehicle appropriately for the existing conditions, which includes watching for signage, road markings and the road’s layout
- Place his vehicle in the correct direction
- Drive in a reasonable and prudent manner
The plaintiff alleges that, because of Hazapariu’s negligence, the deceased woman suffered serious, disabling, painful and permanent bodily injuries and then subsequent death. The suit asks the court to award damages for:
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering and grief of the decedent
- Health care and funeral expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- The pecuniary value of life of the decedent
- Loss of lifetime future earnings
- The decedent’s minor child’s lifetime loss of parental consortium
- Costs of the legal action
- Pre-judgment interest
Truck accidents, like Lawson’s, can be tragic. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a large truck, please schedule a free consultation with truck accident attorneys at Knoxville’s Gilreath & Associates today, or continue browsing our blog and knowledge center to find other information.