by Staff Blogger | February 13th, 2020
Most people are aware of the dangers of inclement weather like heavy rain, ice, and snow. But fog can be extremely dangerous, too. That’s because it can severely limit visibility to the point where seeing more than a few feet in front of your vehicle is difficult or impossible.
It’s important to never take fog lightly when you’re driving. Not only does it significantly increase your risks of being involved in a crash, but it can also worsen without warning. You may have visibility of dozens of feet, only to suddenly be unable to see more than one car length ahead.
Following these tips can help you reduce your risks while driving in light, medium, or heavy fog:
- Reduce your speed—The best guideline for all types of inclement weather is to simply reduce your speed. Slowing down means you have more time to react and slow down or stop to avoid a potential collision. When driving in fog, you drive upon slowed or stopped traffic, and traveling below the speed limit means you’ll have enough time to reduce your speed even further.
- Turn on headlights, but not your brights—Having some extra light while driving in fog, even during the daytime, can make it easier to see what’s in front of you and for other drivers to see you. But your bright lights can have the opposite effect, as the fog will reflect them back towards you, making it more difficult to see.
- Avoid all distractions—Being able to quickly react to potential obstacles and hazards is essential while driving, particularly when there’s fog. You never know what’s up ahead when your visibility is limited, and if you look away from the road even momentarily, it may be enough to cause a serious crash.
If you or someone you love gets injured in a fog-related crash, you may be eligible for compensation, especially if the other driver was speeding, distracted, or otherwise failed to drive safely. Contact the Nashville auto accident lawyers at Ponce Law today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | February 5th, 2020
Whether you’re a newly licensed driver or you’ve been traversing our roadways for years, it’s important to know Tennessee driving laws to reduce your risks of being involved in a crash and getting an expensive citation. Here are five traffic laws you may or may not be aware of that are enforced daily by police officers and state troopers throughout the Volunteer State:
- Texting While Driving Law—Texting while driving a vehicle in Tennessee is illegal for all drivers, regardless of age, experience level, or license type. If you need to text, pull over to a safe location first!
- Move Over Law—Whether it’s an emergency vehicle, a utility vehicle, or just an ordinary passenger vehicle, you’re required to move over from the closest lane to it if its lights are flashing.
- Seat Belt Law—If you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle in Tennessee, you’re required by law to buckle up. You’re also in charge of ensuring your passengers are buckled up, whether they’re family members, friends, or strangers.
- Speeding in Construction Zones Law—Tennessee is always working hard to improve its roadways, and that means construction zones. Because workers do their jobs so close to traffic, speed limits are often significantly reduced—and exceeding them means big fines.
- Tennessee DUI Law—If you drive with a blood alcohol content at or exceeding 0.08%, you’re considered over the legal limit. That means you can be arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI)—a serious misdemeanor that results in expensive fines, jail time, and lost driving privileges.
Those are just a few of the important Tennessee driving laws you need to know. And if you’re ever injured in a crash caused by a driver who violated traffic laws, the Nashville auto accident attorneys at Ponce Law want to help. Contact us today.
by Staff Blogger | January 29th, 2020
The Super Bowl is almost here, and with it comes parties and alcohol consumption. While our hometown team came up just short of an appearance in the big game, we know that many people in and around Nashville will celebrate this occasion with friends, family members, and coworkers. If you’re planning on attending a Super Bowl party, follow these tips to stay safe:
- Never drink and drive—Remember that the legal BAC level for intoxication is 0.08%. For many people, that’s two drinks. For some, it’s only one! In addition, buzzed driving IS drunk driving, as even small amounts of alcohol affect reaction times, judgment, and decision-making.
- Don’t let others drink and drive—Ensure that your fellow guests have safe ways of getting home if they’re drinking alcohol. If anyone is intoxicated, take their keys and call a cab or schedule a rideshare service to pick them up.
- Drive defensively—Even if you’re sober, other drivers on the road might not be. Driving at any time on Super Bowl Sunday can be dangerous, so be extra careful on Nashville’s roads by avoiding distractions, watching your speed, and following all traffic laws to the T.
At Ponce Law, we hope everyone enjoys the game and has a great time with their fellow party guests. And if an accident occurs, we’re always here to help. Contact us anytime for a free consultation with our Nashville auto accident lawyers. We have many years of experience helping injured victims, and we know what it takes to win.
by Staff Blogger | January 27th, 2020
After a crash, you need compensation, and it’s clear the other driver was at fault for the accident. After all, the police report, witnesses, and even the other driver all agree on that fact. At that point, it’s safe to cut out the “middle man” and pursue compensation on your own, right? Why call an attorney when you can go it alone after a crash?
Actually, it’s not that simple, and you run serious risks if you forgo legal representation. While it’s true that you may get compensation from the other driver’s insurance company, it’s unlikely to be nearly enough to cover all your medical bills and lost wages, not to mention your future expenses and pain and suffering. In addition, insurance companies are well known for making promises to victims, only to give them the runaround and let the statute of limitations expire.
Don’t Go It Alone After a Crash
Remember, Tennessee’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is just one year. Insurance companies are well aware of that fact, and they use it to their advantage. They’ll be more than happy to delay the process to close your window of opportunity.
In addition, your injuries may prevent you from working, and you may be in serious pain. The last thing you need is to deal with daily calls from the insurance company or play phone tag with an uncooperative adjuster while you’re trying to get better.
When you don’t have an experienced attorney handling your case, you run risk of getting less compensation than you deserve. People often accept the first offer insurers make, simply because they think they have to. It’s vital to understand that you aren’t obligated to accept the first offer you receive.
Let Ponce Law Help
At Ponce Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers know all of the tricks and tactics insurance companies use to reduce or deny claims outright. We stay one step ahead of them, and we do it while our clients rest, spend time with their families, and recover from their injuries. Best of all, we know how to maximize compensation for victims like you. You can be sure that your check covers all your crash-related expenses—not just the ones you incurred the week after the accident.
Don’t go it alone after a crash. Contact us today for a free consultation to get the help you deserve.
by Staff Blogger | January 20th, 2020
Whenever you rent a car, you’re required to sign documents that protect the rental car company from liability in the event of a crash. That doesn’t mean you have no option to get compensation after a car accident involving a rental car, but it does make the process more complicated. That’s because there are multiple potential sources of insurance coverage after a crash involving a rental car, and more than one type of coverage may apply for the same crash.
The main sources of potential compensation in a rental car accident include:
- Your personal auto insurance
- The other party’s auto insurance
- Insurance provided by the renter’s credit card company
- Insurance purchased from the rental company
The fact that there are so many layers of coverage and liability when it comes to rental cars makes accidents involving these types of vehicles exceedingly complex. For example, one type of coverage may provide compensation for property damage, but not for injuries, requiring victims to deal with multiple insurance companies to get the money they need. Ultimately, that often leads to innocent victims getting the runaround and even giving up before being paid any compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you’re ever involved in a crash involving a rental car, whether you were driving one, riding in one as a passenger, or struck by someone else driving a rental car, it’s important to have an experienced Nashville auto accident attorney on your side.
At Ponce Law, we know the laws, contracts, and insurance policies concerning rental cars, and we know how to build effective claims to get victims fair settlements after they’re hurt in crashes involving rental vehicles. Contact us today for a free consultation to find out how we can assist you.
by Staff Blogger | January 13th, 2020
After suffering a crash-related injury, most victims have two priorities: getting better and getting compensation. In addition to being stressful, auto accidents also have the potential to cause serious and disabling injuries. The costs of auto accidents can be overwhelming. When crashes are caused by someone else’s negligence, victims can pursue compensation to cover some or all of their accident-related expenses.
Compensation that victims can recover includes:
- Medical bills – Medical costs after a crash start adding up immediately, especially if victims are transported to the hospital in ambulances. From there, costs may skyrocket due to surgical procedures, overnight stays in the hospital, physical rehabilitation, and more.
- Lost wages – When victims are too hurt to work, they lose the paychecks they and their loved ones depend on. Serious injuries may even be permanently disabling, making it impossible for victims to return to work.
- Property damage – When your vehicle is damaged in a crash with a careless driver, you deserve compensation for any repair bills you have encountered.
- Pain and suffering – Auto accidents are just as traumatic as they are painful. The mental, emotional, and physical toll of a crash can be too much for many victims to bear, resulting in a significant impact on their quality of life and ability to enjoy their favorite activities.
These are just a few of the costs someone might face after being involved in a serious crash. If you have been injured in an auto accident, you should always consider your legal options to be sure you are getting the compensation you are entitled to.
The Nashville auto accident attorneys at Ponce Law know how disruptive car crashes can be to the lives of victims and their loved ones. That’s why we do everything in our power to get them maximum compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation to find out how we can help your family. Put our team’s experience to work on your behalf.
by Staff Blogger | January 6th, 2020
As much as we’d like all auto accident claims to be simple and easily solved, few are. Every auto accident is unique, as are the stories and lives of each injured victim. However, at Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys have many years of experience building successful claims for innocent car accident victims, and that experience means we’ve encountered many of the potential snags and pitfalls that victims may face along the way.
Three common roadblocks include:
- Pre-existing injuries—Insurance companies love to claim accident-related injuries are pre-existing. And sometimes, victims do have pre-existing injuries that are worsened by crashes. When that happens, we collect and compare medical records from the initial injury and the accident-related injury to prove that it was worsened or aggravated by the crash.
- Partial fault—Not all crashes can be pinned exclusively on one driver. In many cases, two or more drivers are at fault, including victims. Tennessee’s modified comparative negligence system means that victims can recover a percentage of settlements, as long as they aren’t 51% or more responsible for their crashes.
- Insurance company refuses to pay—Insurance companies don’t like paying settlements to victims, but they also don’t like dragging things out if they don’t think they can avoid paying. That’s why many claims settle out of court. But sometimes, insurance companies refuse to pay for a myriad of reasons, and when that happens, we don’t hesitate to escalate our client’s claims to trial.
As auto accident lawyers, it’s our job to be ready for any and all snags, from the day our clients contact us until the day they get their checks. Trust our experience and track record of success—your claim will be in good hands. Call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | December 30th, 2019
At Ponce Law, it’s our goal to help injured victims any way we can, whether it’s by helping them make the right decisions after their crashes or by building their compensation claims. But we know we’re not the only ones who want to lend a helping hand. Good Samaritans are everywhere, and people stopping to lend assistance after car accidents is common. If you want to help out after a crash, it’s important to know what to do—and what not to do—to be most effective.
After witnessing a crash, you should:
- Call 911—Calling 911 should be your first priority. Don’t assume someone else has already called, especially if you just watched the crash occur. Give the dispatcher plenty of information, including where the crash occurred and how many vehicles are involved.
- Give victims water, blankets, or other comforting items—Auto accident victims are often in shock. Helping make them more comfortable until emergency personnel arrive is always appreciated.
After witnessing a crash, you shouldn’t:
- Cross a busy street to reach victims—Too often, Good Samaritans put themselves in danger by crossing busy highways or even interstates to reach victims—and some end up getting seriously injured or even killed in the process.
- Move victims—Never move victims after crashes, especially if they’re unconscious. Moving victims who have suffered neck or spine injuries can put them at risk of serious complications and should only be done by trained professionals.
If you or someone you love are the one hurt in a crash, your biggest priorities should be getting medical attention and calling an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer. And at Ponce Law, we’re ready to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | December 23rd, 2019
The aftermath of an auto accident can feel like a blur. Crashes are loud, painful, and traumatic, and it can be difficult to think straight immediately afterward—especially if you’ve been injured. But if you’re capable of doing so, there are a few things you should do when you’re still at the accident scene to help improve your chances of getting compensation.
In addition to calling 911 and waiting for police and emergency responders to arrive, you should also do your best to collect vital information related to the crash. That information includes:
- The other driver’s name, contact details, and insurance information—Getting the other driver’s information is essential for your claim. Get their name, phone number, email, and their insurance details before you leave the scene. When speaking to the other driver, never admit fault for the crash or apologize, which could also be seen as admitting fault to the insurance company.
- Witnesses’ names and contact information—Anyone who saw the crash occur can provide a valuable testimony of the events leading up to impact, which can help prove that you weren’t liable for the accident. Getting full contact information from witnesses can create important evidence for your claim.
- Responding officer’s name, badge number, and police report number—In Tennessee, all auto accidents involving injuries or property damage must be reported to police so that they can properly document them. When the officer arrives, getting the information listed above can help you more easily track down the accident report when your claim is being built.
In addition to following these steps, it’s also vital to contact an experienced Nashville car accident lawyer at Ponce Law. We’re able to help you get the money you deserve, and we’re ready to start today.
by Staff Blogger | December 16th, 2019
Many people associate auto accident claims with crashes that occur while they’re driving. But if you get hurt while riding with someone else, whether the crash was caused by them or another motorist, you can still pursue damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys help injured victims get the money they deserve when they get hurt through no fault of their own. Being involved in a crash as a passenger can be a helpless feeling, but it’s no different than being injured in a collision when you are driving. Someone acted negligently, whether it was the driver sitting next to you or the driver in the other vehicle, and you deserve compensation for their mistake.
We know that some people are hesitant to file compensation claims after accidents when they were riding as passengers, especially if the driver who caused the crash is a friend, family member, or co-worker. However, it’s important to remember that compensation claims rarely affect the liable parties directly. Instead, they’re aimed at recovering damages from their insurance policies.
Don’t miss out on your chance to get compensated for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering after a crash that wasn’t your fault. Tennessee requires drivers to carry auto insurance for situations such as this, and failing to file a claim means failing to take advantage of a solution to your post auto-accident-related expenses. Contact us today for a free consultation of your claim—we’re ready to help.
