Distracted Driving
Drivers today are more distracted than ever. Life is fast paced and everyone is in a hurry to keep up. We’ve all seen drivers looking at their cell phones as they pass us by on the interstate. With the distractions out there for drivers, it’s not surprising that the number of wrecks is on the rise.
The Numbers
There are now more wrecks than ever in our State. According to the latest Tennessee Traffic Crash Data Report by the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, over 200,000 wrecks are occurring each year in Tennessee. Tennessee crash data can be viewed on the TDOSHS website.
Common Auto Collision Injuries
Injuries suffered as a result of automobile accidents can be severe and life altering. People involved in serious auto accidents can suffer whiplash or burns to the head or neck, nerve damage, spinal chord paralysis, brain damage, broken or dislocated bones, or cognitive problems and traumatic brain injuries. Some of the injuries we commonly see in serious auto wrecks are the following:
- Fractures of the neck and spine
- Broken wrists and fractured arms
- Rotator cuff tears
- Pelvic fractures
- Skull fractures and intracranial bleeding
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Internal abdominal bleeding
- Collapsed lungs
- Rib fractures
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken hip
- Knee and ankle fractures
- Dashboard injuries and ligament tears
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Spinal nerve injury, radiculopathy, and nerve impingement
- Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar strains and injuries
- Burns and facial injuries
- Open wounds
- Tinnitus and hearing loss
If you or loved one have suffered injury due to the negligence of someone else operating a vehicle, you may have a claim against that person or their insurance company for your injuries. In order to properly handle an automobile negligence case, a proper investigation into the wreck and your injuries should be done. Clients need and deserve a lawyer with extensive experience in these types of cases and who knows and understands the tricks and tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying fair compensation.
Damages In Auto Collision Cases
Compensation for your claim may include payment for medical bills, lost wages, physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability or scarring, and property damage. Amounts that can be recovered in these cases are more complex than in years past. Medical billing is more complicated than ever. Calculating an injured victim’s loss of wages and earnings can be complex and require the use of vocational experts and economists. Today’s insurance companies and juries demand a thorough presentation of an injured victim’s damages and a firm with experience in these cases can make all the difference.
Types of Auto Insurance Available.
Just because the person at fault does not have insurance does not necessarily mean you cannot recover compensation. Most injured drivers have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage with their automobile insurance policy, which will cover accidents in which the person at fault is uninsured or does not have enough insurance. You may have UIM insurance coverage and not realize it. Even if the careless driver that caused the wreck has insurance, you may still have a claim against your UIM insurance policy if the other driver has liability limits less than your policy.
In Tennessee, specific laws apply to handling cases that involve UIM insurance and you will need a firm that knows these laws. If proper steps are not followed, you could lose your right to seek additional compensation from your UIM insurance coverage. This is just another reason why hiring the right law firm can make all the difference.
Subrogation & Reimbursement to Your Health Insurance
In addition to hiring a firm with experience and knowledge in these cases, you need to find a firm that will properly counsel you on the obligations you owe to your health insurance company if you recover money from the auto insurance policies. If this aspect of the claim is not properly handled, you could be personally responsible to your health insurer and could potentially lose your health insurance benefits.