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 if drivers are distracted or rushed. If you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle that’s involved in a collision, make sure to follow these steps to protect your health and rights to compensation.
4 Steps to Take After a Accident with an Uber or Lyft
1. Make sure the police are called to the scene.
2. Request contact information for the driver’s personal insurance carrier and the rideshare services’ insurance carrier.
3. Contact your insurance carrier and notify them of the collision.
4. Seek immediate medical care.
We Want to Help
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 | May 1st, 2019
Despite insurance companies spending big money every year on marketing campaigns that showcase their kindness and compassion for injured victims, the reality is that they frequently reduce or deny claims for people who need money after crashes. They’re often able to score “wins” over victims because they go to work right away after they find out about their auto accidents and injuries.
At Ponce Law, we know the value of acting fast after accidents. Our Nashville auto accident lawyers don’t waste any time after hearing from new car accident clients, because we know that time is of the essence—especially when the insurance company is fighting to protect its profits.
Calling a lawyer as soon as possible after an auto accident helps prevent the following outcomes:
- The statute of limitations expiring—Tennessee’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is just one year. That’s among the shortest in the nation.
- Evidence disappearing—Getting compensation often requires providing plenty of proof that you weren’t at fault for your crash. The longer you wait, the less evidence we may be able to collect.
- Your injuries appearing suspicious to the insurance company—The insurance company is suspicious of injury claims by default. If you wait too long to file a compensation claim, it may believe your injuries are pre-existing.
Our legal team is here to answer your call 24/7. Don’t wait another minute to get the experienced legal help you need. Call us today for a free consultation.
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.
by Staff Blogger | April 8th, 2019
Your phone is one of the most powerful and important tools at your disposal after an auto accident. Using it to contact the right parties can help you protect your health and your rights to compensation.
The three numbers you should dial right away after a crash include:
- 911—Calling 911 is the most important step you can take after a car accident. When you call 911 to report a crash, emergency responders will be dispatched to the accident scene to treat you and other victims. In addition, police officers will arrive to evaluate the scene and create an official record of what happened, including determining who was at fault.
- Your auto insurance provider—Even though filing a compensation claim often involves getting money from the at-fault driver’s insurance plan, you’re still required to report the crash to your own insurance company. In fact, you may have only a matter of days to do so, so call as soon as possible.
- An experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer—The other driver’s insurance company may begin building its claim against you as soon as it finds out about the crash. The best way to level the playing field is to get a lawyer right away. The sooner you call, the easier it will be for an attorney to collect evidence and build a strong claim on your behalf.
Don’t be afraid to call for help after a crash. You don’t have to deal with the aftermath of an accident on your own. Contact Ponce Law today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | April 3rd, 2019
If you were recently injured in an auto accident, you have a lot on your mind. Your biggest priority is making sure you and your loved ones get the medical treatment you need, but you also need money to cover your accident-related expenses. Insurance companies know that victims like you often face financial difficulties after crashes, and that’s why they sometimes offer settlements right away.
And while accepting a settlement can help you begin paying your medical bills and living expenses, it can also lead to serious financial difficulties in the months or years ahead depending on the severity of your injuries. That’s because insurance companies are in business to make big profits—not to pay victims the money they deserve. That means most settlements are “lowball” offers that sound promising on paper, but ultimately come up well short of taking care of your accident-related expenses.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys are dedicated to helping victims like you get maximum compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. When you choose us, we’ll calculate how the crash affected your life and your finances, and we’ll fight to help you get every penny you deserve for both current and future expenses.
Don’t trust the insurance company to have your best interests in mind. Get an experienced legal team on your side today to get the peace of mind you and your loved ones deserve. Call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | March 27th, 2019
Most people are familiar with the most common factors associated with car accidents, including speeding, driving under the influence, and driving while distracted. But there are many other behaviors that can contribute to or directly cause crashes.
They include:
- Drowsy driving—A significant percentage of Americans are sleep deprived. Driving while exhausted poses many of the same risks as driving while intoxicated, including delayed reaction times, poor judgment, and impaired focus.
- Driving too fast for weather conditions—Driving at or below the speed limit doesn’t always mean safe driving. That’s because weather conditions, including snow, heavy rain, fog, and ice can necessitate reducing speed far below posted speed limits.
- Rubbernecking—It’s common for drivers to look at accident scenes or to check out what’s going on when they see flashing blue lights on the side of the road. But rubbernecking is a form of distracted driving that can lead to serious accidents, as it results in drivers taking their eyes and minds off the road ahead.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers have helped victims who were injured in crashes that were caused by a variety of circumstances. We know that no two crashes are the same or have the same causes, but they can all have devastating impacts on victims’ lives.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash that wasn’t your fault, we want to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.
