Injury victims are often able to pursue compensation for their losses with the help of an attorney after being injured in a Tennessee auto accident. Depending on the circumstances of the collision and the severity of damages incurred, the amount of compensation awarded to accident victims can vary.
Damages Available from a Personal Injury Lawsuit
There are several different types of damages that an injury victim can seek when filing a claim. It depends on the accident what damages they may qualify for. Some of the most common types of damages recovered in a personal injury lawsuit are medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, missed opportunities, mental anguish, and pain and suffering.
Medical Expenses
Medical bills can pile up quickly if a victim suffered a serious or debilitating injury. If awarded compensation for medical damages, an individual can receive coverage of any current or future medical care. This includes any visit to a physician, medical devices and physical therapy needed for rehabilitation, prescriptions, surgical procedures, time spend in the hospital and transportation expenses to and from medical facilities.
Property Damage
When a vehicle collides with another car or fixed object, it is extremely rare for any car involved to not experience any kind of property damage. Accident victims may be able to recover compensation for repair bills incurred when fixing damage by seeking these types of damages in a lawsuit.
Lost Wages
A serious injury can leave a victim incapable of working for an indeterminate amount of time. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can be weeks, months or indefinitely before a victim is able to return to work. In less serious cases, an injury victim may have to take time off from work to go to the doctor, undergo medical treatment or to rehabilitate.
If a victim was injured while on the job, they may be able to pursue workers compensation benefits, as well.
Missed Opportunities
Not to be confused with lost wages, missed opportunity damages refer to when an injury prevents the victim from taking part in a business opportunity. Missed opportunity and lost wage claims often go hand-in-hand. It is critical that an injury victim has documentation proving their case as missed opportunity damages are often difficult to prove.
Mental Anguish
Emotional trauma and mental anguish are typical responses to a traumatic experience. If you experience anxiety, confusion, terror, apprehension, shock, isolation or other symptoms after being involved in an accident, you may have cause to pursue these types of damages. Emotional trauma and mental anguish damages are more difficult to quantify than other types of damages. If you wish to pursue these types of claims, it is crucial that you consult with an experienced auto accident attorney.
Pain and Suffering
Every person has a different tolerance level for pain. Some types of injuries may cause a greater deal of pain and suffering than other types. In order to quantify pain and suffering damage, your attorney will consider:
- How much medication is required;
- How the victims quality of life has changed;
- How long the recovery period is;
- What types of treatments are necessary, including the duration of time needed for treatment.
Contact an Experienced Knoxville Accident Attorney
At Greg Coleman Law, we are dedicated to fighting for the rights of Knoxville residents who have been injured by the actions or negligence of another person or entity. We believe that if another individual caused you harm, you deserve both compassion and compensation for your condition.
We offer free case evaluations for anyone who believes that they may have cause to file a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee.
During an evaluation, a personal injury lawyer from our firm will assess the merits of your claim and offer advice on how best to pursue legal recourse for your injuries.
If you choose to hire our firm to fight for you in seeking compensation for your damages, there is never any cost to you unless we obtain a favorable outcome for your claim.
For more information on the legal rights which may be available to Tennessee auto accident victims and their families or to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys, please complete the Free Case Review form on this page.
