Joshua Everett Killed in Greenville, TX, 18-wheeler Accident
Greenville, TX -- December 21, 2016, Joshua Everett was killed following an accident in which his vehicle and an 18-wheeler collided.
The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the fatal incident which occurred just after 3:00 a.m. at the intersection of US Highways 69 and 380.
Initial police reports state that Everett was driving westbound on US 380. They claim that he ran a red light at the intersection and entered US 69 lanes. As he did so, an 18-wheeler was passing through. Everett's vehicle crashed into the side of the truck and burst into flames.
Everett was extracted from the vehicle before the fire became too severe. EMS arrived on the scene and transported him to Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville for treatment. He was later pronounced dead there.
Authorities did not release any additional information in regards to this accident.
Map of the Area
Commentary
Early reports of the accident have claimed that Mr. Everett ran a red light at the intersection, causing the accident. This is certainly possible, considering that sort of thing happens all the time. However, it's important to remind people that early reports should not be taken at face value. There are plenty of reports that get the facts correct and serve as pretty good indicators of what occurred in an accident, but I've seen many accidents where the opposite was the case.
From the accident scene to the police report to news outlets, there are plenty of degrees of separation between the truth and our account of the accident. Any experienced truck accident attorney will tell you that no 18-wheeler accident is straight-forward, and a lot of different factors could be at play. Despite this, many people read early reports, which are usually comprised of surface level details, and take it as the complete story. Sometimes this is because details get lost in the transfer from police report to news report. Other times, this is because the police report itself is wrong.
Police reports often have mistakes or are missing information following preliminary investigations. Unfortunately, many accident reports never go further than preliminary stages. This means that more subtle factors, such as mechanical failures, texting and driving, or other such causes, go unnoticed. This only serves to harm victims and their families further after an accident. Whether they're seeking compensation or simply closure following a crash, knowing only a piece of the full story can only be detrimental to their plight. For this reason, I've always advocated the use of 3rd-Party Investigators.
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As the above article explains in-depth, 3rd-Party Investigators are experts who have years of experience investigating accidents. There are no details too small or unlikely to examine. While police reports can sometimes miss important details upon first examination, a second investigation by an independent professional will ensure that no stone goes unturned and no detail overlooked. When someone is hurt or killed in an accident, the last thing those affected need is to continue forward without knowing exactly what caused the accident. By having a thorough, independent investigation conducted, victims and their families can make steps forward with all the pieces of the puzzle at their disposal. Whether it's seeking to hold someone accountable for negligent actions or simply seeking resolution to the incident, an extensive investigation is an important first step to recovery.
--Grossman Law Offices
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