Teen Dies in Nighttime Auto Accident in Owensboro Kentucky- how To Be Prepared for Nighttime Driving
A teenager operating a Ford Mustang without lights at night was struck in the side by another vehicle attempting a left-hand turn. The accident occurred on December 21, 2022 in Owensboro, Kentucky. The impact of the accident caused the Ford Mustang to go down an embankment resulting in the death of the teenager. It is not known why the teenager was driving without lights or whether there was sufficient roadway lighting for the driver of the turning vehicle to see the teenager’s Mustang. The Mustang was manufactured in 2013 and should have had an automatic light function. Many years ago, all vehicles required manual use of headlights, but most modern vehicles have an automatic light function, so the driver does not have to manually turn on their lights.
Keys to Safe Nighttime Driving
There are many keys to safe nighttime driving. One of them we learned from the tragic Owensboro accident described above. Use the automatic headlight function so you do not have to manually turn on your headlights. Headlights are extremely important so that you can see and, also, so that you can be seen. If you do not have the automatic light function, always turn on your lights immediately after starting your car. Secondly, use your bright lights. Many of us are reluctant to use our bright lights because you have to manually turn them on and off as you encounter traffic in the opposite direction. The bright lights are so important because they give us so much more reaction time for any hazard on the roadway and they help prevent accidents with animals because they react to the light and the light is not only longer in its reach but it is also wider and will alert animals before they get near the roadway. Bright lights are especially necessary on country highways and roads where there is little if any roadway lighting and they are not necessary in congested areas with significant roadway lighting.
A third key to safe nighttime driving is reduced speed especially when traveling on unfamiliar roadways where we cannot anticipate turns and hills and anything else that may delay our recognition of a hazard. Closely related to speed is the distance we travel from the vehicle in front of us. The recommended spacing between vehicles is one car length per 10 miles per hour of speed and more distance is required if the road is wet or otherwise slick. Remember, if the car in front of you has to stop suddenly and you fail to stop your vehicle, you will be held responsible for causing the accident. The most common auto accident is the rear-ender and it can be prevented most of the time if we maintain proper following distances.
Contact Kentucky Auto Accident Lawyer
The circumstances in the nighttime accident in Owensboro, described above, will require the services of an experienced Kentucky auto accident attorney to investigate and locate all available evidence to determine liability and to maximize all insurance benefits available to anyone injured in this auto accident. Matthew Troutman, Kentucky auto accident lawyer, of the Troutman Law Office has been handling auto accident claims, almost exclusively, since 1986 and has the experience and talent to obtain the best result for the victims in the above car accident. It is very likely that if the driver making the left-hand turn is determined to be partially at fault, there will not have enough insurance to fully compensate the victim’s estate, and, therefore, it will be important for there to be underinsured motorist benefits available.
If you need legal assistance due to a motor vehicle accident, contact Kentucky auto accident attorney Matthew Troutman directly at 859-696-0001 or 502-648-9507 and he will meet with you in the hospital, your home or wherever is convenient for you. He will give you direct access through his cell phone and guide you through the difficult process necessary to obtain the best result possible for you in your car accident claim. To learn more about the Troutman Law Office, click here.