Posted on Monday, April 20th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
On Monday, April 13th, Hunter Thomas Rollins fled the scene of an accident where two state troopers and two civilians were injured. The troopers were chasing Rollins after he refused to pull over, Trooper Derek Campbell said Tuesday, April 14th. The troopers collided with a Honda Civic at the intersection of Jordan Lane and Holmes Avenue in Huntsville, Alabama. The troopers’ car overturned and caught fire. As a result of that collision, two other vehicles – a Dodge Charger and a Honda Accord – were hit. The injured parties were taken to local hospitals and have since been released. As of late Tuesday, Rollins was taken into custody and is charged with four felony counts.
What is next for those involved in this accident?
WBRC Fox6’s LawCall Host, Tiffany Bittner, interviews Attorney Ken Riley.
TIFFANY BITTNER: Ken, a wreck involving five or more vehicles could have been much more dangerous. Thank goodness there were not any casualties. Since Mr. Rollins caused the accident, but was not involved in the actual collisions, what exactly is he liable for in regard to this accident?
KEN RILEY: Mr. Rollins may still be held responsible for all elements of damage – pain and suffering, lost wages, medical expenses, etc. – even though there was no contact between his vehicle and any of the other vehicles. Mr. Rollins could also be held responsible for punitive damages.
TIFFANY BITTNER: Luckily, Mr. Rollins was caught and can be held liable; however, there are plenty of instances where a phantom vehicle is involved in an auto accident. How does that work for the client when an at-fault driver fleas the scene of an accident?
KEN RILEY: If a client comes to us after being injured in an auto accident involving a phantom vehicle, we always check to see if they have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. Whenever I am doing a public presentation on the dangers of distracted driving, I also take that opportunity to recommend each person in the room gets adequate UM/UIM coverage.
TIFFANY BITTNER: For those that do not have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, will you explain what it is and when it may apply to them?
KEN RILEY: UM/UIM will help someone in instances where the at-fault driver does not have enough personal auto insurance coverage to help them fully recover or if the at-fault driver fleas the scene of the accident. When you are severely injured, you cannot rely on someone else’s insurance coverage to compensate you for the longevity of your injuries. It could take you months to heal and you will need to be compensated for your time away from work, medical costs, etc.
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Disclaimer: The intent of this post is to provide general information to our readers and to help improve the safety and quality of life for those who live in our state. At Farris, Riley & Pitt Law Firm, we intend to honor those who are victimized in accidents across Alabama. We aim to provide up to date information to the public surrounding these incidents in hopes of helping others avoid becoming victims themselves. If anyone is involved in an accident, we would like to make sure they know how to respond, should a tragedy occur. Information in this post, should not be considered legal or medical advice. You should seek further assistance from a legal or medical professional if you or a loved one is a victim in an accident. Any photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.
