Experienced Lebanon Car Accident Lawyers
Representing those injured in car crashes in Mt. Juliet, Cookeville, and across Tennessee
There are countless factors that can lead to a car crash, but many of them can be traced back to human error. Even in today’s technological society with astounding advances in vehicle safety, it is important to realize that there may be aspects of an accident that constitute negligence. For example, if the other party was talking on a cell phone, text messaging, seeing to minor children in the vehicle, or playing an iPod, and a car accident resulted, this may be considered negligence.
At the Lebanon personal injury law firm of Lowery, Lowery & Cherry, PLLC, we are here to protect your right to recover compensation after you have been injured because of the negligence of someone else. You do not have to worry about whether you can afford to hire an attorney because we take cases on contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay attorney fees until we have successfully recovered compensation for you.
Tennessee car accidents and cases we handle
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 38,800 people died in traffic crashes in 2019, a two percent decline from the previous year. As federal and state transportation authorities work towards a future with zero traffic fatalities, people still continue to lose their lives and suffer serious injuries every day on our roads and highways.
Find out more about car accidents, injuries, negligence, and how our Lebanon attorneys can help you.
What are the different types of car accidents?
Anyone who has seen the aftermath of a car crash by the side of the road knows there are countless ways in which vehicles can crash into one another. Here are some examples of the more common types of car crashes:
- Rear-end crashes are not, surprisingly, the most common type of car crash. Mostly caused by driver inattention, rear-end car crashes account for about 30% of all car accidents, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III).
- Rollover crashes. There are many factors that can cause a vehicle to roll over, and there are certain types of vehicles, like SUVs, which are more prone to rollovers than other types of vehicles because of their higher center of gravity. Rollover crashes have a higher fatality rate than other types of vehicle crashes, but the severity of a rollover crash can be mitigated by technologies such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and rollover air bags.
- Head-on collision. When you see the words "head-on collision," the word "fatality" is likely soon to follow. Also referred to as a frontal crash, a head-on collision occurs when two vehicles collide with one vehicle crashing into the front end of another vehicle or something stationary such as a pole or a wall. Seat belts and airbags play a major role in making head-on crashes more survivable.
- Multi-vehicle pileup. Multi-car crashes or chain reaction car accidents occur when one vehicle (A) crashes into the vehicle in front of it (B), which pushes B into the vehicle in front of them (C) and so on. While it might seem obvious that the first car to crash into the vehicle in front of it was the culprit in causing the chain reaction, there can be many factors at play and more than one driver at fault.
- Sideswipe crashes. Sideswipe accidents involve a collision where two vehicles collide side-by-side. A sideswipe crash might occur when one driver does not look before changing lanes, one vehicle might be out of control and swerving in and out of the lane, or a driver may be so distracted by texting or something going in within the vehicle that he or she is not focusing on keeping the car in its proper lane.
- T-bone or broadside collisions. T-bone accidents occur when one vehicle crashes head-on into the side of another vehicle. T-bone crashes can be deadly, depending on the speed at which the vehicles are traveling, because the occupants of the vehicle that is being struck are only protected by the side walls of the vehicle, which lacks the crumple zones of the front and rear of most vehicles.
What are catastrophic car accident injuries?
Car accidents that cause catastrophic injury still occur despite all the high-tech advances in automotive safety technology such as electronic stability control, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning with automated braking. Car crashes will continue to occur as long as human error exists. Driver error, or negligence, is the leading cause of traffic crashes and it shows up as dialing or talking on a cell phone, text messaging, fiddling with any electronic device, grooming, or seeing to minor children in the vehicle.
Motor vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of serious injuries and death in the United States. The following are just a few examples of catastrophic injuries from a car crash:
- Traumatic brain injury. Every brain injury is different; each person will have different long-term effects of the injury. TBI may affect thinking and cognition, temperament and behavior, changes to vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch, a person may develop seizures, spasticity, severe headaches, slurred speech, poor sleep, loss of appetite or uncontrolled eating and other symptoms.
- Spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis. Long-term effects of spinal cord injury might include severe pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, osteoporosis, spasticity and numbness or weakness in the extremities.
- Burns. Depending on the degree of the burn and what percentage of the body the burn injuries cover, a person who has sustained serious burn injuries may be prone to severe pain, infections, scarring and disfigurement, and deep psychological trauma from the accident and from living with a scarred body.
- Amputation/limb loss. The loss of a limb can be a devastating injury, and it can have a negative impact on a person’s ability to work and enjoy all aspects of life.
Overall, the consequences of a car accident can be severe, resulting in exorbitant medical bills. In addition, injuries can impact your quality of life for years to come. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury because of another person’s carelessness or recklessness, please contact one of our attorneys.
What is the difference between a catastrophic injury and other kinds of accident injuries?
You can be involved in a car crash and suffer some injuries such as a broken arm, cuts and scrapes, and a bang on your head. These injuries will heal over time and you will be able to return to work and resume your regular activities as you once did before the accident. However, a catastrophic injury tends to derail every aspect of the injured person's life. A person who was strong and healthy and led an active life might be relegated to using a wheelchair to get around. A person who sustained a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for a while may need to re-learn how to do basic tasks. A catastrophic injury limits the injured person's ability to care for himself or herself, and to work to support both themselves and their family. He or she may require ongoing medical care and assistance in handling basic activities of daily living.
In pursuing compensation for injuries in the accident, a person with a catastrophic injury will need much more compensation to cover the additional and ongoing medical expenses and other costs associated with managing his or her disabilities. A Lebanon catastrophic injury attorney from Lowery, Lowery & Cherry can leverage the experience gained in helping other seriously injured clients in helping you to recover enough compensation to cover all the expenses related to your injuries. We know how to gather the right evidence to support the high amount of compensation someone with a catastrophic injury will need.
What kinds of damages are available in a car accident injury claim?
After a car crash, if you wish to pursue compensation, you may settle with the insurance company to recover compensation for your injuries and other losses. However, if you are unable to reach a settlement with the insurance company, your Lebanon car accident lawyer may file a lawsuit against the party who caused the crash. If you are successful in proving that the at-fault party’s actions caused your injuries, you may recover damages such as:
- Medical expenses (to cover current medical bills and future care)
- Lost wages from missing time at work for medical care and rest to recuperate from the injury
- Diminished earning capacity when your injury prevents you from returning to the work you did before the accident injury
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages, which are meant to serve as punishment and a deterrent because of especially reckless and egregious conduct.
When you work with a skilled Lebanon injury attorney from Lowery, Lowery & Cherry, you can be confident that you are receiving strong representation as you pursue compensation for your car crash injuries.
Lebanon car accident FAQ
You have questions about car accidents. Our attorneys provide answers.
What is my primary responsibility as a driver?
Every driver has a responsibility to be vigilant about other vehicles and pedestrians and potential dangers. Drivers must always use reasonable care to avoid an accident. In fact, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 55-8-136 states that a driver’s job is “devoting full time and attention to operating a vehicle.” Hence, all drivers must drive at a safe speed and keep proper control over the vehicle.
Most importantly, drivers must never send or read text messages and emails while driving because it is dangerous and illegal.
What information must I obtain after being in a Tennessee car accident?
Once involved in a car accident, you should gather the following information:
- The name, address, telephone number, and driver’s license number of all parties involved in the accident.
- The name, policy number, and contact information for the insurance companies of all parties involved in the accident.
- The license plate number and make and model of all vehicles involved.
- Photographs and video clips of the scene. Capture the scene from different angles and points of view. Also include close-up shots of all property damage and physical injuries such as bruises.
- The names and badge numbers of all police officers present.
- The names and contact information of any eye-witnesses.
It is also a good idea to get a journal and record how and when the accident occurred, what you saw and felt since your memory of what happened may fade as time passes.
What should I NOT do after a car accident?
Things you should keep in mind:
- Never flee from an accident scene. A hit-and-run offense carries harsher consequences.
- Never say “I’m sorry.” Do not admit fault for the accident to anyone.
- Never say “I’m not hurt.” You do not truly know the extent of your injuries until you seek professional medical help.
- Never give any statement to an insurance company without first seeking legal counsel. As an insured, you generally have a responsibility to provide your insurance company with a statement. You could be in violation of the terms of your own insurance company if you do not cooperate with them. However, consult an attorney before doing so.
- Do not sign anything that says “release,” or “in full satisfaction of all claims” without first seeking legal counsel.
How is fault determined in a car accident?
Insurance companies often defend their insureds by claiming that the injured plaintiff was to blame for causing the accident or at least contributed to it in some way. Under Tennessee law, if it is determined that an injury victim was more than 49% at fault, then the injury victim cannot recover any money from the other party.
If I rear-end someone, am I automatically at fault?
Not necessarily. For example, if a chain reaction occurred where someone rear-ends you, thereby causing you to rear-end the car in front of you, then it might not be your fault. It is best to consult an attorney to discuss the facts of the incident.
When should I file a claim?
Generally, you have one year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Yet it is not a good idea to wait until the deadline. Consult a Lebanon car crash attorney as soon as possible.
Can my case be resolved without going to court? Should I settle?
Possibly. Very few cases go all the way through trial. Most cases settle through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. Such alternative dispute resolution methods are preferable because they save time and money. Nonetheless, it is important that you do not accept a settlement for your case until all medical treatments are finalized. Also keep in mind the statute of limitations for your lawsuit. It is best to seek the advice of a car accident attorney who has negotiated and settled hundreds of cases, and we can help get you the highest amount of compensation you deserve.
Should I see a physician after my collision?
Yes. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, it is a good idea to seek professional medical attention after an accident because symptoms of a serious injury may not always be immediately apparent.
Consult a car accident lawyer in Lebanon, Tennessee for a free consultation today
After suffering a catastrophic injury, you need the support of an experienced injury law team to fight for justice on your behalf. We are here to get you the compensation you deserve. We serve injured clients in Mt. Juliet, Cookeville, Nashville, and throughout Tennessee. You may contact Lowery, Lowery & Cherry PLLC today, or call us at 615-444-7222, to ensure that you obtain total compensation for your injuries.