by Staff Blogger | June 17th, 2019
After calling 911, the most important thing you can do after an auto accident is go to the hospital or get treated by a doctor right away. Getting medical attention not only treats your immediate injuries and creates an official record linking them to your accident, but it can also rule out internal injuries that may become life-threatening.
Some auto accident victims delay or even forgo medical treatment after crashes because they don’t think they’re hurt enough to require attention. However, it’s common for pain, bruising, and other common symptoms of internal injuries to be masked by adrenaline and pain from other surface injuries. Meanwhile, victims may be experiencing severe internal organ damage or bleeding, putting them at risk of serious complications.
Going to the hospital or seeing a doctor right away after a crash can help rule out the following internal injuries:
- Liver and kidney damage—Both the liver and kidneys can be damaged during auto accidents, especially when the lower back or torso are hurt, but the damage may not be noticed for hours, days, or even weeks.
- Brain bleeding—Victims who suffer life-threatening cerebral hemorrhages may believe their symptoms, which can include nausea and pressure, are due to crash-related headaches and stress.
- Fractured ribs—Broken ribs are common during auto accidents, but the pain may not be noticed for hours or days after they occur. People who suffer broken ribs are at risk for damaged blood vessels and even punctured lungs.
Whether you travel to the hospital in an ambulance after the crash, arrange your own transportation, or see a doctor at a private health clinic, it’s important to get treated immediately.
After you’ve been treated, getting legal representation should be your next priority. The Nashville auto accident lawyers at Ponce Law are here to help. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | June 10th, 2019
Like many cities, Nashville is home to multiple e-scooter brands. These small transportation devices can be activated via smartphone and driven around the city for a small fee per minute, making them appealing to both residents and tourists who are traveling short distances. However, the safety of these devices has come into question in recent months.
While scooter riders should always be safety-conscious while riding, drivers should also be aware of their presence and always be on the lookout for them—especially near downtown Nashville. The next time you’re driving through a scooter hotspot, keep these tips in mind:
- Scooter riders travel much faster than pedestrians—When driving or turning through an intersection, remember to always look both ways and to check multiple times before proceeding. That’s because scooters are much faster than pedestrians, but can be just as difficult to see.
- Scooter riders don’t always follow the rules of the road—Scooter riders can be erratic. They may ride off of sidewalks and into the street at any time, or they may drive through stop signs and red lights without slowing down or stopping. Driving defensively in areas where scooters are frequently used can help you avoid an accident.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers know that drivers, pedestrians, and even scooter riders aren’t always focused on safety. That’s why it’s our goal to help victims get compensation after they get hurt by other people’s negligence. If you or someone you love was injured, contact us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | June 3rd, 2019
You were just involved in an auto accident. You’re in pain, your loved ones are hurt, and your injuries may prevent you from going back to work for weeks, months, or even years. Making the right moves during this time—and avoiding big mistakes—can help you protect your health and your rights to compensation.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys know that this may be a stressful time for you and your family. This list of dos and don’ts can help you stay on the right track after your auto accident:
- Do get medical treatment—Getting treatment at a hospital or doctor’s office prevents your health from worsening and also creates a valuable medical record of your injuries.
- Don’t admit fault—Whether you’re talking to the police officer, the other driver, witnesses, or the insurance adjuster, never admit fault for the crash. Doing so can jeopardize your claim, even if evidence proves you didn’t cause the accident.
- Do notify your insurance provider—Your insurance provider requires notification of all accidents within a few days, so don’t wait too long to alert them of the accident.
- Don’t wait to file a claim—Tennessee’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is among the shortest in the nation at one year. In addition, evidence can quickly disappear. The sooner you call our legal team, the better.
That’s just a small list of things to do and to avoid after a crash. Call us today to get the experienced legal representation you and your loved ones deserve after your auto accident.
by Staff Blogger | May 29th, 2019
At Ponce Law, we work hard to help victims get compensation after auto accidents that weren’t their fault. But we also want our clients and their loved ones to stay safe on the road—and that includes helping them become safer drivers.
Over the years, our Nashville auto accident attorneys have investigated countless claims, and we’ve seen certain contributing factors pop up in crash after crash after crash. To reduce your risks of being involved in or causing a crash in Middle Tennessee, keep these three tips in mind:
- Don’t speed—Speeding is still the most common contributing factor to auto accidents in the U.S. All public roads in Tennessee have marked speed limits, and exceeding those speed limits significantly increases your chances of causing a crash.
- Avoid distractions—Distracted driving is a safety epidemic nationwide, and it results in many crashes every year in Nashville and Davidson County. To reduce your risks, avoid using your phone while driving and keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road, and your mind on the task at hand.
- Don’t drive after drinking—There’s no excuse for driving while impaired. If you’ve consumed alcohol, use a rideshare service, call a cab, or have a sober driver take you home. Getting behind the wheel while intoxicated is extremely dangerous.
Avoiding these dangerous behaviors can reduce your risk of being involved in a crash, but it can’t eliminate it. If you or someone you love was hurt in an accident caused by a negligent driver, we’re here to help. Call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | May 22nd, 2019
Tennessee drivers are required by law to carry auto insurance in case they’re involved in accidents. The state has a minimum requirement for coverage that all drivers must meet. These requirements are:
- $25,000 for each injury or death per accident
- $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident
- $15,000 for property damage per accident
However, a large number of drivers in Tennessee are uninsured. In fact, a recent study found that Tennessee ranks 5th for most uninsured drivers in the nation. When those drivers cause accidents, their victims may find it difficult to pay for their medical bills and lost wages, as they may have to pay most of them out of pocket.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident lawyers want to help innocent victims get compensation after crashes. Whether they were injured in hit-and-run accidents or accidents caused by uninsured drivers, some victims may still be eligible to get money for their accident-related expenses through their own insurance plans.
If you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection, you can file a claim against your own insurance policy to get compensation. You may have other methods of obtaining compensation, including filing claims against other parties if their negligence contributed to the accident. Find out your options today by contacting Ponce Law for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | May 15th, 2019
In just a few short years, rideshare services and vehicles have become ubiquitous in cities and towns throughout the country. Due to their smartphone apps and GPS tracking, they make getting around town more convenient and seamless. However, riders still face risks when they get in rideshare vehicles, especially when drivers are negligent.
Rideshare drivers are often focused on getting their passengers to their destination as quickly as possible to maximize their earnings. While that may be desirable for many passengers, it can also put them in danger. At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident lawyers represent people who are hurt in auto accidents that weren’t their fault—including rideshare customers who were hurt in the following types of crashes:
- Crashes caused by rideshare drivers—In addition to speeding, rideshare drivers may also be distracted by their smartphones, their stereos, conversations with passengers, or scheduling additional pickups. When rideshare drivers’ negligence results in accidents, they should be held accountable.
- Crashes caused by other drivers—Rideshare passengers face risks even when their drivers are safety-conscious. That’s because other drivers may be careless and cause serious crashes involving rideshare vehicles and other cars, trucks, and SUVs.
At Ponce Law, we believe that all innocent auto accident victims deserve maximum compensation for their crash-related expenses, regardless of who caused the accidents. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | May 8th, 2019
Despite spending millions of dollars every year on advertising campaigns that are designed to convince people that they have their best interests in mind, insurance companies have one goal—protecting their own profits. Unfortunately, raking in big profits and paying out fair settlements to victims don’t go hand in hand, and that means people who need compensation after accidents often face uphill battles.
Insurance companies protect their profits via large teams of adjusters who get in contact with victims soon after their accidents. Their job is to either deny victims’ settlements or get them to accept lowball settlements that don’t pay nearly enough to cover their medical bills and lost wages.
If you were recently injured in an auto accident, it’s important to know that the insurance company will go to great lengths to avoid paying you the money you deserve. Here are a few pitfalls to keep in mind when talking to the insurance company:
- Stick to the facts of what happened—Insurance adjusters often get victims to talk candidly about their accidents in an effort to extract more information from them, including admissions of guilt. Sticking to the facts can help you protect your claim.
- Don’t accept a settlement without speaking to a lawyer—Insurance companies know that victims need money right away after their accidents. That’s why they offer lowball settlements in the days or weeks after crashes. When victims accept those settlements, they may be unable to pursue additional compensation.
The Nashville auto accident attorneys at Ponce Law are here for you after your crash. Let us handle the insurance company while you focus on getting better. Call today.
by Staff Blogger | April 24th, 2019
Auto accidents are often confusing. They can happen in the blink of an eye and can leave drivers and passengers in a state of shock and wondering what just happened. Because of their traumatic nature, it’s common for victims to be unsure of who was at fault or even what occurred in the moments leading up to impact.
However, proving fault for auto accidents is crucial when it comes to building compensation claims. That’s because insurance companies are often skeptical of victims by default, and they frequently assume that victims are responsible for their own crashes unless there’s overwhelming evidence to suggest otherwise.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers build claims for victims like you by determining who caused the crashes and by collecting evidence to support our findings. We do that by:
- Reviewing accident reports—Police create crash reports when they respond to accident scenes. Those reports often either outright indicate who was at fault or contain valuable clues to point us in the right direction.
- Interviewing witnesses and victims—There are often multiple points of view of a single auto accident, including people inside affected vehicles, pedestrians, and other motorists. The more people we can talk to, the more complete of a picture we can build.
- Reconstructing accident scenes—Sometimes determining who was at fault can be difficult with existing evidence. When that happens, we’ll utilize industry experts to rebuild accident scenes to get a clearer picture of what happened.
If you or someone you love was recently hurt in a crash, you deserve dedicated and experienced legal representation. We’re here for you—call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | April 17th, 2019
Getting compensation after an auto accident is a big priority for most victims. Medical bills can be financially devastating, especially when you’re too hurt to work. But it’s important to understand that the upfront costs you see don’t always tell the entire story when it comes to how the crash will affect you financially.
Hidden costs after accidents include things like:
- Physical rehabilitation costs—Auto accidents often involve bone, muscle, and nerve injuries. Those injuries often require immediate medical attention, but they can be slow to heal. Fully recovering often involves physical rehabilitation, an expensive process that can take months or even years to complete.
- Career opportunity costs—Car accident injuries can be disabling, putting victims out of work for long periods of time. But even if victims are able to return to work, they may be limited in what they can do. That can hurt their ability to grow in their careers, putting their advancement on hold.
- Life satisfaction costs—Many victims deal with the aftermath of serious car accidents for the rest of their lives. They may experience chronic pain and disability, making it difficult to enjoy physical activities. They also may develop psychological issues, including depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder after accidents.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville car accident attorneys believe that victims should be compensated for all the ways that crashes affect their lives. If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash that wasn’t your fault, we want to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | April 10th, 2019
At Ponce Law, we’ve helped many people throughout Middle Tennessee who were seriously injured in car accidents that were caused by other’s negligence. Over the years, we’ve found that many victims are unsure of how to proceed with their claims and what steps to take—and that’s often due to myths and misconceptions about the legal system and filing a claim.
Clearing up the following myths can help us better serve our clients and give victims peace of mind when it comes to pursuing the compensation they deserve:
- The insurance company will offer a fair settlement—While it’s true that insurance companies occasionally reach out to victims with settlement offers soon after crashes, their offers are rarely sufficient to cover all of their expenses. Instead, insurance companies offer victims “lowball” settlements to protect their own profits.
- Filing a compensation claim is stressful and difficult—Building a strong auto accident claim isn’t easy, but that’s your attorney’s job. You’re already dealing with injuries and time away from work, and the last thing you need to worry about is talking to the insurance company and filling out paperwork. Let a lawyer handle that for you while you focus on getting better.
- You have plenty of time to contact a lawyer—Evidence is key to most successful auto accident claims, and it can quickly disappear after a crash. In addition, Tennessee’s statute of limitations is only one year. Once it expires, you may lose your chance to pursue compensation.
Our Nashville car accident attorneys are here to separate facts from fiction and myths from reality. Call us today for a free consultation.
