Nashville Car Accident Attorneys and Injury Lawsuits

Tennessee car accidents occur with alarming frequency, and when they take place, the majority of them leave at least one person injured. As a result, the need for legal help from experienced Nashville car accident attorneys is high at any given time. However, this need is not completely understood or acknowledged by many of those who have been harmed.

Below you'll find information regarding Tennessee car accident statistics, how liability issues tend to be analyzed in car accident situations under TN law, how insurance companies tend to be involved with the aftermath of these car accidents and finally how you should proceed if you or someone you love has been harmed and you need the help of experienced Nashville car accident lawyers.

Tennessee Car Accident Statistics

As stated above, Tennessee car accidents occur on a daily basis, especially in Nashville, and one look at the statistics regarding these occurrences should alert anyone to the fact that this issue is an enormous problem in regards to the health and welfare of the residents of Tennessee. It should also be noted that despite innumerable efforts made by government entities, public safety officials, private groups and even private citizens that these statistics have remained largely consistent in recent years.

Every year, more than 1,000 people are killed in Tennessee car accidents and another 63,000 are injured. If one breaks these numbers down further, the results are even more daunting. Basically, almost 3 people are killed every day in Tennessee car accidents and more than 172 are injured. These numbers deal only with accidents involving vehicles and do not even take into account those who have been harmed as pedestrians, motorcyclists or bicyclists.

Car Accidents in TN and Driver Liability

When a Tennessee car accident takes place, one of the steps that must be completed afterward is to determine which party is at fault for the collision and as a result for any injuries suffered or damages incurred. There are several steps taken in regards to determining liability, and the first is usually taken by the police who report to the accident scene after a crash. If it's clear that one driver was at fault, it will usually be indicated in the police's accident report. If necessary and proper, the driver at fault will also be issued a citation or even arrested in particularly egregious situations.

Beyond the initial steps taken by the police, the next step in determining liability usually occurs when insurance companies get involved and Nashville personal injury lawyers review the facts of the situation. If it's clear that one driver was completely at fault for the accident, it gives rise to the efforts to secure a settlement or to the filing of a Tennessee personal injury lawsuit for car accident injuries in an attempt to recover auto accident damages.

However, not all Tennessee car accidents involve situations where one driver is completely at fault and the other is completely free of responsibility. Many times, both or all drivers involved in an accident were partially responsible for the damage that occurred, and when this situation arises the need for help from Nashville car accident attorneys becomes paramount.

This is because the situation must be applied to the standards under Tennessee personal injury law that deals with comparative fault. Comparative fault is a legal doctrine that takes the situations where more than one person was at fault into account. Tennessee follows what's known as the '50% Rule' whereby a plaintiff cannot recover damages in a personal injury car accident lawsuit unless he or she is 49% at fault or less. If the plaintiff and defendant are each 50% at fault, no damages can be recovered. Clearly, the help of Nashville car accident attorneys in making this determination is paramount.

Tennessee Insurance Companies and Auto Accidents

Basically, there are two different situations where insurance companies can become involved in the aftermath of a car accident in Tennessee. The first involves when the driver at fault has insurance coverage. Steps that must be taken in order to properly build a Tennessee personal injury case when there is coverage is to determine how much coverage is available for the injured person and to explore the possibility of a settlement with that insurance company if the damages involved are less than the policy limits.

The other scenario where insurance company involvement is common occurs when someone is injured by another driver who does not have insurance coverage. People who have coverage often choose to pay premiums for uninsured or underinsured motorists, which means that if someone is injured by a driver without coverage, that injured person must file a claim and perhaps negotiate with his or her own insurance company.

How Our Nashville Car Accident Lawsuit Attorneys Can Help

As can be seen, there are several important decisions to be made and analysis to be done in the aftermath of a Tennessee car accident before a proper course for recovery can be set. If you or someone you love has been harmed in this type of situation, seek the help of Nashville car accident lawyers who understand the scope of the problem in Tennessee who understand the norms regarding comparative negligence and who can work with or against insurance companies to obtain justice. Contact Michael D. Ponce & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.