After a minor fender bender, there may not be much need for a personal injury lawyer, but what if you are seriously injured in an accident that was not your fault?
Below, Greg Coleman Law discusses important considerations for anyone who has been involved in a car accident, and how an attorney may benefit a potential claim.
When You May Need an Experienced Attorney
Here are some questions accident victims should ask to help determine if they should hire an attorney to represent them:
Did You Sustain Serious Injuries?
If an accident victim does not feel or see visible evidence of an injury, he or she may decide not to seek medical care.
However, we strongly recommend that you always seek medical treatment following an accident as there are some injuries that may take days or weeks to appear, such as a traumatic brain injury. If you sustained organ damage or internal bleeding, doctors need to examine you and conduct tests to diagnose these injuries.
If the treating physician finds you suffered serious injuries that require additional treatment or could cause more than a few days of pain, you should consider hiring an attorney to help you pursue fair compensation.
The cost of medical treatment for a serious injury can quickly skyrocket. Expenses could include:
- Bills for in-patient hospital stays
- Surgical interventions for injuries related to the accident
- Rehabilitation or physical therapy
- Chiropractor visits
- Lost wages if you are unable to work while recovering
- Cosmetic surgery if you suffered scarring or disfigurement in the accident
- Orthopedic treatment for fractures, sprain and strains or other related injuries
In addition to these tangible costs, there are other non-tangible damages you may be eligible to recover compensation for, such as pain and suffering for the physical pain and mental anguish you endured because of the accident.
Were Your Injuries Caused by Another’s Negligence?
Tennessee is an at-fault state, so the party who caused the accident is also responsible for the damages associated with it. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation.
Is Liability Cut and Dry?
In some accidents, it may be clear who was at fault for the crash:
- A driver speeding to run a red light
- A reckless motorist cited for impaired driving
- A tailgating driver who rear-ended you
- A distracted driver who was seen texting and not paying attention to the road
However, in other cases, liability may not be so cut and dry. In these situations, insurance companies may try to dispute or deny their policyholder’s liability. Alternatively, one of their adjuster’s may contact you at home to trick you into saying something that could damage your credibility or implicate you for a larger portion of liability.
Do You Share Fault for the Accident?
Tennessee applies a modified comparative negligence system when the actions of two or more parties caused an accident.
Even if you share some responsibility for causing the crash, you can pursue a claim against the other party - as long as you are 49 percent or less at fault. However, the total amount of your damages will be reduced by your assigned percentage of fault.
For example, if you were found to be 10 percent liable for the accident, you would only be able to recover 90 percent of your damages. If you were 50 percent or more at fault, you lose any right to pursue compensation.
If you think you may share fault for an accident, we encourage you to consult with one of our knowledgeable lawyers.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?
If you were injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, and we determine you have a valid case, our experienced Knoxville personal injury personal injury attorneys may be able to help you by:
- Fully investigating the cause of the accident
- Gathering evidence to build a strong argument on your behalf
- Handling all communication with the insurance company
- Accurately calculating the value of your damages
- Keeping you informed about the status of your claim throughout the legal process
We accept personal injury claims on contingency, so there is no risk in contacting us to learn more about possible legal options. We do not get paid unless we first achieve a successful recovery on your behalf.
Call to schedule your free consultation today: (865) 247-0080
