Have you been hurt in an automobile accident? Was a loved one killed in a car crash? If either of these is true, Tennessee gives you just one year to file a lawsuit. Our Nashville attorneys can help you, filing a lawsuit on your behalf and working to get you a fair compensation.
Car accidents are on the rise in Nashville, Davidson County, and Tennessee as a whole. A report from Tennessee’s Department of Safety & Homeland Security showed that car accidents in Davidson County in 2015 were up 44 percent from 2011; for drivers 65 or older, it was an over 50 percent increase. Younger drivers are being affected as well
- from 2014-2015, the number of drivers aged 15-24 in crashes went up neatly 17 percent. If you or someone you know has been in a car accident recently, you are not alone. You can recover compensation for the damages of the accident, such as medical bills and lost wages, from the responsible party with a lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in an automobile accident, please contact our Nashville office for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Who Might Have Been At Fault in My Car Accident?
A number of factors will determine whether you can sue, and our Nashville attorneys can provide insight as to whether you have a case. Determining if you have a case usually involves investigating the cause of the accident and working with medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists. If doing this tells us that you have a case, it can also tell us who was at fault in the accident, and we can work with you to file a lawsuit against that at-fault driver or other responsible party.
The type of crash you were involved in tends to play a big part in who your lawsuit would be filed against. The attorneys in our Nashville office handle lawsuits against:
Negligent Drivers
A lawsuit could allege that the other driver in your crash was negligent in causing the crash. Negligence in car accident lawsuits can come in many different forms; the general definition is that the driver did not act reasonably with care while driving. That could mean speeding, running a red light, running a stop sign, texting while driving, and much more. One unfortunately common form of negligent driving is drunk driving - Davidson county’s number of crashes caused by drunk driving in 2015 were 5% higher than 2014, and 19% higher than 2011.
Truck Drivers/Trucking Companies
In lawsuits for trucking accidents, either the truck driver or the trucking company is the one alleged to be at fault. Examples of negligence specific to trucking accidents can include:
- Overloaded trucks
- Truck drivers who fail to take required rest breaks
- Inappropriately maintained trucks
- Failure to stop at weigh stations
- Driver inexperience
Truck accidents are the type of auto accidents where you are helped out most by having an experienced attorney. Trucking firms’ insurance companies can send investigators of their own to gather evidence that helps them reduce their potential liability, and pay you less. That’s why we investigate, to make sure you get your case heard and prove that you deserve fair compensation. Our trucking investigations can include requesting driver logs from the trucking company.
Car Manufacturers
Sometimes, a defective automobile or car part is the cause of an accident. In cases like these, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the company that produced the defective vehicle or component. This can include something like defective brake pads that caused a failure to break, resulting in an accident - the company that made or installed these brake pads could be found at fault. To determine the cause of this kind of crash, our Morgan & Morgan attorneys review the accident reports.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are another form of auto accidents that are all too common in Nashville - Davidson County’s motorcycle accidents increased 12.6% from 2014-2015.
The idea of motorcycle riders being responsible for most motorcycle accidents is actually a misconception. A famous study known as The Hurt Report found that in two-thirds of accidents involving a car and motorcycle, the driver of the passenger vehicle violated the biker’s right-of-way and caused the accident. In motorcycle accidents where a motor vehicle or truck driver is at fault, there are several forms of negligence that occur, including:
- Failure to recognize a motorcycle in traffic
- Cars making left-hand turns without first checking oncoming traffic
- Cars recklessly changing lanes
Regardless of what you were driving in a motorcycle accident, if the other party was at fault, we can help you prove that.
Wrongful Death
If a spouse, child, or family member has passed away as a result of an auto accident, our Nashville attorneys may be able to help you file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver who caused the accident. In a wrongful death lawsuit, a surviving parent or spouse can possibly receive damages for, among other things, medical expenses, emotional pain and suffering, and funeral costs.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover?
A lot of different factors will determine how much you could receive in compensation in a car accident lawsuit. How severe were the injuries? How long was your hospital stay? Did you miss an extensive amount of work? All of these can be taken into account during your case, and your attorney can explain the damages that may be available to you as a result.
Generally, car accident victims can potentially recover compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: Morgan & Morgan’s Nashville attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical expenses - not just current, but future. That includes not only hospital and doctor’s bills, but future doctor’s visits, rehabilitation expenses, and expenses for in-care home aides.
- Lost Wages and Income: Like medical expenses, your attorney may be able to get you compensated for both past and future lost wages if you were unable to work as a result of the accident. You can be compensated for the time you missed, and possibly get compensation for reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to work for an extended period.
- Pain and Suffering: Car accidents can cause both physical pain and emotional suffering. If it is proven you have experienced either of these after an accident, you could potentially be compensated for it.
- Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are often given out if the at-fault party drove recklessly; these damages are compensation that driver gives that is meant to discourage other drivers from driving in a similar way.
Dealing With Insurance Companies: Why You Need a Lawyer
After a car accident, you’re likely dealing with a lot of physical and emotional stress. That is why we recommend contacting us to represent you - so that we can deal with the insurance companies on your behalf while you rest. Your Morgan & Morgan attorney can review your insurance policy to make sure you have been properly reimbursed for medical expenses, or fill out necessary paperwork to make sure your payment isn’t held up.
In a car accident case, the at-fault party’s insurance company may offer a settlement. Sometimes it is a quick cash settlement that does not offer appropriate compensation for your injuries. We help you determine an appropriate settlement amount, and we’re willing to go to trial to help you get it if need be. We work to get you the amount of money that’s right for you; and since our attorneys only get a fee if we win your case, you don’t owe us hourly fees. We make sure you don’t feel pressured to take an inadequate settlement.
Our attorneys in the Nashville area may be able to help you with your car accident case. To find out how, complete our free, no-obligation case review form today.