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Tennessee Car Accident Lawyer

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Victims of auto accidents can attest to the fact that the experience is one of the most stressful and terrifying that an individual may ever encounter. Any victim faces the possibility of serious injury or even death when vehicles collide, often at high rates of speed. The same awful consequences can befall any passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians involved. There is also the issue of property damage added to the physical injuries.

The number of issues facing a victim may keep adding up after an auto accident when medical bills start mounting, time is lost from work, children must miss school days, and the victim is forced to deal with loss of transportation. Add to this list the inability to do housekeeping chores like cooking and cleaning or taking care of children, and it quickly becomes apparent that a car accident victim can rack up a huge amount of costs for basic everyday needs. In light of these factors, one can easily see why the assistance of a Tennessee car accident lawyer is necessary for a victim to receive proper compensation for all losses experienced.

The legal professionals at The Eichholz Law Firm have successfully recovered over $500 million for victims of auto accidents.

At the Scene of an Auto Accident with Injuries or Damages

Should you find yourself the victim of a car accident in Tennessee where there are injuries or damages, do your best to remain calm, and follow these important steps:

  • 1. Call 911 or other emergency services. This will alert police, fire trucks and ambulances of the accident and get their help on the way. It is not uncommon for the dispatcher to request that you perform the next step while remaining on the phone.
  • 2. Examine yourself for injuries, then check others if possible. As the emergency dispatcher remains on the phone, examine yourself and all passengers in your vehicle for injuries. If you are able, go check the drivers and passengers of other accident vehicles. Should any pedestrians be involved, check with them as well.
  • 3. Take pictures at the scene. Providing you are physically able, use your phone to photograph the accident scene. Make sure to clearly capture the tag number, make and model of every car. In addition, get pictures showing skid marks, all property damage, and any additional evidence that could help prove who is at fault.
  • 4. Collect other drivers’ information. It is important to personally get the contact information of each driver involved in the accident. If possible, request to take a picture of their insurance card and license. Also, get the contact information of all witnesses who saw the accident take place.
  • 5. Do not leave the accident scene. Stay at the scene of any vehicle or pedestrian accident in which you are involved. Only leave after law enforcement has indicated you may.

After Leaving the Accident Scene

In the aftermath of the trauma from a car accident in Tennessee, many victims may feel bewildered and confused. The following is a list of important items to remember:

  • 1. Contact an automobile accident attorney as soon as possible. Our auto accident lawyers at The Eichholz Law Firm will help guide and advise you during the claims process of a car accident lawsuit in Tennessee. If you do not enlist the aid of a legal representative, you could end up paying large amounts from your own pocket for the costs incurred from injuries or damages that resulted from the accident, whether or not it was your fault.
  • 2. Collect paperwork. Gather all medical bills, diagnosis papers, notes from doctors, and prescription costs, as well as any receipts for rental cars and towing services. In short, gather documentation of all expenses arising from the car accident. In addition, it is vital to retain copies of any repair estimates for your vehicle or property, plus all paperwork you receive from insurance companies.
  • 3. Keep notes of all inconveniences. It may be possible to receive compensation for other expenses you incur that are directly related to the auto accident. For example, housekeeping and child care costs during your recovery while unable to do normal duties can possibly be recouped.
  • 4. Provide all documentation to your attorney. After scheduling an appointment to meet with us, make sure you bring all notes, documents, bills and records to provide us with everything we need to build your case. These items will help us pursue rightful compensation for damages in your auto accident lawsuit if you choose to proceed.

It is extremely important and cannot be stressed enough that victims of car crashes need to take pictures at the scene, make good notes of everything that happens afterward, and keep documentation and records of all expenses and costs. These items can help make the difference in having a successful legal outcome or being disappointed with the final result. Memories begin to fade, so details should always be written down and retained.

Auto Accident Causes

Some car accidents are simply unavoidable, like cases where another driver’s negligence is the cause or where a vehicle’s malfunction causes the driver to suddenly lose control. A wide variety of circumstances can contribute to the accident. Certain factors keep showing up repeatedly, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s years of data collection.

Accidents with resultant serious personal injuries are frequently caused by drivers who are not paying attention while operating a vehicle on the road.

What Should Injured Drivers do Regarding Insurance Companies?

In cases where considerable damage has occurred in an auto accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company often dispatches an investigator to examine the vehicles, assess all damage, and determine what caused the collision. While the insurance adjuster may seem friendly, they have one goal – to save the insurance company some money.

Adjusters have been trained to seek out certain information, and they tend to appear when the accident victim is most vulnerable. Any information given to an adjuster may be used against the individual. In the event of a legal suit, this information and wording can be twisted and result in lowered compensation for the victim.

The legal team at The Eichholz Law Firm has years of experience in acting as a shield against these investigators. Our highly skilled auto accident attorneys know how to help steer a victim safely around the pitfalls and roadblocks that arise in dealing with insurance companies.

Insurance Settlements

In most cases, car accident claims do not end up being heard at trial. Typically, these cases get resolved through dealing directly with the insurers. Even when an auto accident claim is filed against a person rather than an insurance company, it is usually settled before going to trial. For this reason, it is highly beneficial to enlist the services of a qualified, skilled car accident lawyer in Tennessee to guide you in the claim and settlement process.

A settlement involves compromise between the involved parties who have a dispute. With the assistance of an experienced lawyer, the chances are much greater for a victim to win a fair settlement amount. The following factors must be considered:

  • Vehicle damage and repairs
  • Amount of insurance coverage
  • Medical bills, both past and future
  • Injured’s pain and suffering
  • Wages lost from missed work

Tennessee Car Accident Laws

The state of Tennessee operates under an at-fault system, which means that a driver who is determined to be legally responsible for an accident is also responsible for the cost of damages and injuries that a victim sustained. The driver’s insurance is therefore required to cover the damages suffered by the auto accident victim. All Tennessee drivers are required to have insurance that can help them cover damages and injuries they may cause to another person on the road. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Tennessee drivers must have the following minimum limits for their liability insurance coverage:

  • $25,000 for each injury or death per accident
  • $50,000 for any injuries in single accident
  • $15,000 for property damage coverage

Some states in the country use the principle of contributory negligence in auto accident cases. If victims are deemed to be negligent in any way at all, they are not allowed to recover any compensation whatsoever. Most states, however, use the principle of comparative negligence. In this manner, the liability of each party is determined and given a percentage figure. For example, if the victim was speeding at the time of the wreck, he or she will be assigned a certain amount of fault for the collision, and the resulting compensation awarded by the court will be reduced based on the percentage of negligence for speeding. Tennessee is a modified comparative negligence state that follows the 50 percent rule. Under this rule, the injured plaintiff may collect compensation as long as their negligence is determined to be 49 percent or less.

According to the Tennessee Code of Laws section 28-3-104, the state allows one year from the date of the car accident for plaintiffs to ask the court for a civil remedy. The law sets the statute of limitations for any type of car accident lawsuit.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Tennessee

Given the above information, it becomes very clear that the services of a highly qualified auto accident attorney can prove invaluable for an injury victim. Choose a law firm whose track record of success in such cases speaks for itself. 

Call the Eichholz Law Firm today at (855)-551-1019 or fill out an online form for a free consultation.           

Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.
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