Car accidents are a daily occurrence in Knoxville. Unfortunately, many of them result in serious injuries and property damage. Some of the most severe accidents can have a life-altering impact on the car accident victims. A Knoxville car crash lawyer can help you recover compensation for your suffering. If you want to recover damages for a car accident that was someone else’s fault, we welcome you to get in touch with us at Meyers Injury Law. We focus on car accident cases in Knoxville, TN, and have helped accident victims recover maximum compensation.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents In Knoxville
The causes of car crashes in Knoxville are not too different from other cities in the region. However, there are some unique causes. For example, tourist traffic, inclement weather, wildlife encounters, and the hilly terrains of the city are common causes of catastrophic car accidents in Knoxville.
Distracted driving is another common cause. Even a few seconds of distraction can be enough to cause catastrophic accidents. Other causes include failure to yield, tailgating, and failure to stay in a lane. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol also results in a high number of car collisions in the city. The poor road maintenance and the aging infrastructure of roadways in Knoxville can also be a contributing factor in car crashes.
Determining Liability In A Car Accident Case
One of the most important, and often the most disputed element of a car accident case is establishing liability. As the state of Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault system, establishing liability is important for accident-related cases.
According to the Tennessee law for determining fault, the injured party can receive compensation for their damages, but their share will be reduced by their percentage of fault in the accident. In addition, if they are found to be more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, then they may be barred from recovering compensatory damages. For example, if you are determined to be 30 percent at fault for the car collision, then your compensation will be reduced by 30 percent.
To establish liability, you will need to prove that the defendant owed you a duty of care and breached this duty, either through carelessness or intentional wrongdoing, resulting in your damages. You will need to gather evidence to establish liability in a car accident case. This can include photos of the crash site, showing the damage to the vehicle, road conditions, skid marks, and anything else that can support your personal injury claim. Other useful evidence includes police reports, eyewitness testimony, and medical records.
Accessing and gathering evidence is often challenging. You should hire a car accident attorney in Knoxville to help you through the process. Not only can they access and gather evidence, they can help you with all the legal aspects of your case.
Process For Filing A Car Accident Lawsuit
The process for filing a car accident lawsuit in Knoxville, TN, includes several steps. Your first legal step should be to have an initial consultation with an attorney to determine if you have legal grounds to file a car accident lawsuit. There could potentially be multiple legal options for you to recover compensation; at this stage you need careful analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your case to pick the most suitable legal strategy.
If you proceed with the car accident lawsuit, your attorney will assist you in gathering evidence to build a strong case. This can include gathering evidence such as a police report, eyewitness testimony, medical records, and anything else that can strengthen your case.
Before you file a lawsuit, your attorney may send a demand letter to the at-fault party to outline the damages you are seeking, such as lost wages, property damage, and medical expenses.
The at-fault party may want to engage in negotiations with you to settle the case out of court. Most car accident cases are settled out of court but if the dispute cannot be resolved, your attorney can file an official complaint. The opposing party must be served with a copy of the complaint and summons to notify them of the lawsuit against them.
The defendant has a limited time to respond to the complaint. They have the option of admitting or denying the allegations. The case will then proceed to the discovery phase and pretrial motions. The parties involved in the case can settle the case at any time during the legal proceedings. If no settlement is reached, the case goes to trial.
In the trial, the opposing parties present legal arguments and evidence to support their claim to the judge or jury, who render a verdict on the case.
Damages Available In Car Accident Cases
If you are successful in your auto accident case, you can get compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Economic expenses include medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. Non-economic damages include the mental distress and emotional trauma caused by the accident. For a more in-depth understanding of what damages you could receive, you would need to consult an attorney to assess your case and guide you on what compensation to expect.
Role Of An Auto Accident Lawyer Knoxville
The primary role of an auto accident attorney is to provide legal guidance and representation for all legal matters related to the car accident claim or lawsuit. This can include investigating the case, gathering evidence, negotiating with the legal team or insurance company of the opposing side, and representing their clients in court.
You can consult one of our Knoxville car accident lawyers at Meyers Injury Law. With our extensive experience in auto accident cases, we can get you maximum compensation for your suffering. While we work on your case, you can focus on recovering from the injuries and getting your life back on track after the accident.
We encourage you to learn more about our team of experienced injury attorneys in Knoxville and discover how our law firm has successfully handled car accident cases in the past. We also have a FAQs section for car accident claims and wrongful death claims. When you are ready to consult our attorney, you can contact us to schedule a consultation.
