by Staff Blogger | February 20th, 2019
Most states in the U.S. give personal injury victims at least two years to file claims against the negligent drivers who caused their crashes, with many states giving between three years and even up to 10 years.
However, Tennessee is one of just a handful of states that gives injured victims only one year to file compensation claims after car accidents. Although that may seem like a long time, especially if you were recently involved in an auto accident, it can pass in the blink of an eye. And once the statute of limitations for a claim expires, the chances of getting compensation for an injury or accident vanish completely and permanently.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident lawyers always emphasize the importance of acting quickly after an auto accident. In addition to the possibility of the statute of limitations expiring, there’s also the risk of evidence disappearing and witnesses becoming more difficult to locate or contact.
In addition, insurance companies begin preparing their defenses against victims as soon as they find out about crashes. And when they get a big head start, it can be more difficult for injured people like you to get the full compensation they deserve.
Finally, acting fast means you can increase your chances of getting compensation sooner. After a crash, don’t wait to get the legal help you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation, and let us get to work for you.
by Staff Blogger | February 13th, 2019
Suffering an injury during an auto accident is extremely common for anyone unlucky enough to be involved in a crash. But due to fear of medical costs or just simply not having enough time in the day, some victims may delay or even forgo seeing a doctor after an accident.
Getting medical treatment as soon as possible after the crash is one of the most important things you and your loved ones can do for three reasons:
- It treats your existing injuries—You may be filled with adrenaline and other stress hormones after the crash. Those hormones can mask the symptoms of crash-related injuries, including pain and reduced mobility. Getting immediate treatment can prevent your injuries from getting any worse.
- It treats or rules out internal injuries—Auto accident injuries aren’t always obvious. Because of the forces that crashes generate on victims’ bodies, internal injuries can occur. Organs can be damaged during crashes, and symptoms may not show up for days. A full medical examination can rule out potentially life-threatening injuries.
- It creates proof that the accident caused your injuries—If you decide to file a compensation claim, the insurance company will want proof that the crash caused your injuries. Getting immediate medical treatment means you’ll have a medical record that can serve as valuable proof for your claim.
After you’ve been treated by a doctor, get a Nashville auto accident lawyer on your side. At Ponce Law, we’re ready to put our experience to work for you. Call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | February 6th, 2019
People who are hurt in auto accidents that weren’t their fault should be compensated for their injury-related expenses. It’s no secret that crashes can result in huge medical bills that may be unaffordable for victims whose injuries prevent them from working.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be wondering how much money you may be eligible to receive. Because all auto accidents are different, all auto accident claims are different. However, our Nashville auto accident lawyers are ready to work hard to make sure you’re fairly compensated for your accident-related expenses.
When you choose us to handle your car accident claim, we accomplish that by calculating the following expenses:
- Your current and future medical bills—Even if you’ve been released from the hospital or have already been treated for your injuries, you still may face more expensive bills in the future. We’ll determine how much money you need to pay for your injury-related expenses.
- Your current and future lost wages—Auto accident injuries can put victims out of work for weeks, months, or even years. Getting compensation for a short-term injury doesn’t make sense for victims of long-term injuries, and we won’t settle for less than what you deserve.
- Pain and suffering—It’s hard to put a price tag on reduced quality of life, but we’ll make sure the insurance company knows how your accident has affected your day-to-day activities.
At Ponce Law, it’s our goal to make sure you get every penny that you deserve for what you’ve gone through. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | February 4th, 2019
After an auto accident, you’ll come into contact with several people who can have a big impact on the outcome of your claim. Some of those people will be at the accident scene itself. Provided you’re able to do so, it’s important to speak to the right people before you leave the scene.
Those people include:
- The other driver—Always speak with the other driver. Exchanging names, contact information, and insurance details makes it easier to file a compensation claim. When speaking with the other driver, always stick to the facts of what happened and don’t admit fault prematurely.
- The responding police officers—Whether you or someone else called 911 after the crash, you can expect police to arrive quickly. When they get to the scene, cooperate with them and answer their questions. Your answers will help them complete their accident report, which can help build your claim.
- Anyone who witnessed the crash—It’s always helpful to have an unbiased account of what happened, and bystanders and witnesses can provide that. Witnesses can be difficult to locate after crashes occur, so getting their contact details before you leave the scene of the crash can prove vital when you begin seeking compensation.
After speaking with those parties, you should get medical treatment as soon as possible. Whether you go to the hospital via ambulance or arrange your own transportation, getting evaluated by a doctor can help rule out internal injuries and provide proof that your injuries are accident-related.
Finally, getting in touch with an experienced Nashville car accident lawyer can make a big difference in your claim’s chances of succeeding. The auto accident attorneys at Ponce Law are ready to put their experience to work for you. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | January 30th, 2019
If you were recently injured in a car accident, you know you need money for your injury-related expenses. But what types of damages are available to you?
At Ponce Law, it’s our goal to help victims like you understand all of the compensation that’s potentially available after a crash and to help you obtain that money for yourself and your loved ones. When insurance companies find out about car accidents, they often present victims with settlement offers just days later. But those settlement offers are rarely enough to cover even a fraction of total accident-related costs, and they often don’t factor in all of the associated expenses and damages.
Our Nashville car accident lawyers have helped many people just like you after their car accidents, and we know how far-reaching the consequences of crashes can be on victims’ lives. That’s why we do everything in our power to help victims get compensation for:
- Current and future medical bills—The initial treatment you received after the accident may be just the beginning in terms of medical bills. You also may need future surgeries, physical rehabilitation, and more.
- Current and future lost wages—It can be difficult to determine how long your injuries will keep you out of work, and there’s a big difference between getting damages for one month of lost wages and getting damages for permanent disability.
- Pain and suffering—Auto accidents are painful and traumatic, and you should be compensated for how you’ve been affected by the crash.
Let us help you get the money you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | January 23rd, 2019
Car accident claims are time-sensitive. Unfortunately, many auto accident victims don’t have the energy or even the physical capacity to do much after their crashes except rest and recover. However, a phone call is all it takes to start protecting your rights to maximum compensation after a crash.
That’s why our Nashville auto accident attorneys always recommend that victims get in touch with a law firm as soon as possible after their accidents. Waiting too long to begin the process of filing a claim can have several negative effects on its potential outcome, including:
- The statutes of limitations can expire—Tennessee has a short statute of limitations compared to most other states. Personal injury claims in the Volunteer State can only be filed up to one year past the accident or injury date. If victims wait beyond that time frame, they lose their chance.
- Evidence can disappear—The most important aspect of personal injury claims is evidence. When we build claims for our clients, we need to be able to show that they weren’t at fault for their injuries. But when claims aren’t filed until several weeks or months later, evidence may be unavailable.
- The insurance company will have more time to build its case—Insurance companies are reluctant to pay victims any money after crashes, let alone fair settlements. And the longer victims wait to file their claims, the more time insurance companies will have to prepare their own cases against them.
Don’t let the clock run out on your chance of getting full compensation. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | January 16th, 2019
Most people believe that carrying mandatory auto insurance policies takes most of the frustration and guesswork out of car accident claims. It’s a common assumption to think that when people cause crashes that hurt others or damage their property, their insurance automatically kicks in and pays victims a fair and adequate settlement.
However, that belief is often shattered when auto accident victims pursue compensation for the first time. Many victims run into roadblock after roadblock, and the insurance companies they deal with couldn’t be less cooperative. That’s because insurance companies are in business to make big profits—not to pay out fair settlements to victims like you.
Insurance companies have devised many methods for either reducing victims’ settlements or denying their claims entirely. Knowing about these tactics can help you avoid making common mistakes. Some of those tactics include:
- Getting victims to admit fault for their crashes—Insurance adjusters may come across as friendly and helpful, but what they’re really after are ways to deny your claim. The more you talk to the insurance adjusters, the more potentially incriminating statements you might give them—even if they have to take your words out of context.
- Getting victims to accept lowball settlements—When it comes to personal injury claims, one and done is a good rule of thumb. That means victims generally only get one chance at compensation. Insurance companies know that, and they sometimes offer victims small settlements immediately after their crashes. If they accept those offers, they typically can’t pursue more money in the future.
The Nashville car accident attorneys at Ponce Law are ready to protect you from these tactics. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | January 9th, 2019
If you were injured in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault in Middle Tennessee, the Nashville car accident attorneys at Ponce Law are here for you. But if you’re going through the legal process for the first time, you may be wondering what happens after you call a lawyer.
When we begin building claims for victims like you, our priority is to get them maximum compensation for their crash-related expenses. We know that car accidents often leave victims in dire financial straits. In addition to facing expensive medical bills and physical rehabilitation costs, victims also may be unable to work for the foreseeable future. Some may even be permanently disabled and lose their careers.
When you choose us to handle your claim, there are many steps in between your first phone call to our law firm and the day you get your check. Those steps are our bread and butter, and they include:
- Collecting evidence that proves you weren’t at fault—Any and all evidence related to the crash can be valuable and important, including police accident reports, witness statements, surveillance camera footage, and even crash scene debris.
- Determining how much money you’re owed—The insurance company wants to pay you as little as possible for your accident-related expenses, but we want you to get full compensation. To make that happen, we’ll calculate all of the ways the crash will affect your family’s finances—both now and in the future.
- Protecting you from the insurance company—Many people who pursue compensation after crashes are doing so for the first time. Insurance companies know that, and they take advantage of that fact. But our Nashville auto accident attorneys will handle all communication with the insurance company, leaving you free to relax and focus on getting better.
Getting a lawyer on your side can make all the difference in your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | January 2nd, 2019
People who are injured in car accidents that weren’t their fault have the right to file compensation claims to get money for expenses like medical bills and lost wages. But getting fair compensation can be difficult, and in some cases, victims are denied all compensation outright by the insurance company.
It’s important to understand that insurance companies don’t always have victims’ best interests at heart. Instead, they prioritize protecting their own profits—and paying fair settlements to people who are facing hefty accident-related expenses isn’t aligned with that goal. That means insurance companies do everything they can to avoid paying victims the money they deserve. They even have teams of adjusters whose primary job is to find ways to reduce or deny victims’ claims.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys know the tricks that insurance companies use to protect their profits, including offering lowball settlements to victims immediately after crashes and denying claims because of minor oversights. Our years of experience helping victims means that we can stay one step ahead of them throughout the legal process. From gathering evidence to negotiating a fair settlement, our experience and resources gives us the advantage.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash that wasn’t your fault, don’t leave your future in the hands of the insurance company. Get an advocate on your side who cares about your recovery and your family’s well-being. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | December 26th, 2018
You were just injured in an auto accident. Now you’re facing expensive medical bills and weeks or even months away from work. That means no paychecks and no way to pay for your accident-related expenses. When you contact the insurance company, you either get a lowball settlement offer or are denied the opportunity to get any compensation at all.
It seems unfair, but it happens to innocent victims all the time. Insurance companies are in business to make big profits, and paying fair settlements to everyone who needs them isn’t their biggest priority. In fact, insurance companies have teams of adjusters on staff who are tasked with finding ways to either disqualify victims from getting money or to give them the smallest settlements possible.
There are several reasons that insurance companies reduce or deny claims, including:
- Lack of evidence—Whether it’s a lack of evidence that indicates the other driver was at fault, or lack of evidence connecting a victim’s injuries with the crash, insurance companies are quick to shut down claims that can’t be easily and definitively proven.
- Using your statements against you—Adjusters are always on the lookout for incriminating statements that they can use against claimants, even if they have to use them out of context. That’s why you should never prematurely admit fault after a crash and avoid talking about your accident on social media.
Having an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer on your side can help protect you from these tactics. Call Ponce Law today for a free consultation.
