Nashville Car Accident Lawyers

Understanding Car Accidents

Davidson County, where Nashville is located, ranks among the top three in the state for car accidents. Several accidents with serious consequences can occur per day and dozens of accidents with injuries. Overcoming the consequences of these accidents requires many resources, such as time and knowledge of laws. Your best option in these situations may be to contact Nashville car accident lawyers. They will be able to effectively defend the interests of clients and achieve fair compensation for them.

What About Car Accidents in Nashville

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOS) 2023 report, the following car accidents occurred in Davidson County:

  • Fatal – 138
  • Injury – 8,960
  • PDO – 15,802

Victims:

  • Killed – 140
  • Suspected Serious Injury – 623
  • Suspected Minor Injury – 7,932
  • Possible Injury – 4,286
  • No Injury – 43,689

Factors in Car Accidents

The 2023 TDOS Report provides useful information for understanding the causes of car accidents:

Driver actionCrash count
Following Improperly5,087
Failure to Yield Right of Way3,976
Improper Lane Changing1,481
Failure to Obey Traffic Controls1,005
Improper Turn837
Speed Too Fast for Conditions709
Swerved or Avoided683
Careless or Erratic Driving441
Reckless or Negligent Driving436
Exceeding Posted Speed Limit304
Improper Passing295
Improper Backing282
Over Correcting253
Operator Inexperience143
Failure to Observe Warnings or Instructions129

Recent Injuries in Car Accidents

Injuries sustained in car accidents can come in many different forms. Moreover, in one accident you can get not one, but several injuries at once. Therefore, all injuries can be roughly divided to simplify their classification.

Head and neck injuries
Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries. In addition, there may be various injuries to the cervical spine. Head injuries are among the most dangerous and can even be fatal. Often these are concussions, skull fractures, and brain contusions.

Back and thoracic injuries
Rib fractures and internal organ injuries are most common for thoracic injuries. Various spinal injuries fall under the category of back injuries. These could be displaced or fractured discs or pinched nerves. Such injuries sometimes lead to disability.

Lacerations
Although they occur on all parts of the body, they still belong to a separate category of injuries. It can be in the form of regular cuts or deep ones affecting blood vessels.

Limb injuries
Different types of collisions may cause hand or leg injuries: bone fractures, joint dislocations, and even amputations.

Types of Car Accident Cases Most Frequently Handled by Lawyers in Nashville

The 2023 TDOS statistics highlight crashes involving fatalities or serious injuries in Nashville’s home county. Most accidents like these require a lawyer. Based on this, you can understand what types of cases come to the attention of car accident lawyers in Nashville:

Distracted Driver26
Drowsy Driver10
Drinking Driver83
Driver has used Drugs48
Speeding Driver88
Unbelted Occupant333
Teen Driver (13-19)31
Senior Driver (65-99)56
Pedestrian Involved134
Pedalcyclist Involved14
Large Truck Involved26
Motorcyclist Involved88

Benefits of Hiring Car Accident Lawyers in Nashville

All car accidents have consequences in the form of damages. The damage may be different in nature and amount, but there is a need to compensate for it. Several studies have estimated that, on average, compensation is 3.5 times greater for those who hire a lawyer.

Nashville car accident lawyers investigate the causes of the accident and determine the degree of guilt of each party. Collects evidence, reads police reports, and witness statements, and reviews surveillance video. Requests various reports from medical experts. Thus, he forms the case materials and prepares the claim.

Negotiations with the insurance company conducted by a lawyer on behalf of the client in many cases lead to a successful settlement and payment of decent compensation. Car accident lawyers in Nashville are familiar with many of the insurance company’s tactics for understating claims and preventing them from using such tactics.

A certain number of cases are referred to court. In court, lawyers present the evidence they have collected and try to convince the jury of the correctness of their position and the fairness of the client’s demands for compensation.

Qualities to Look for in Nashville Car Accident Lawyers

Attitude towards cases
A good lawyer in Nashville will do more than just review the police report and witness statements during a car accident investigation. He must conduct a thorough investigation, identifying all the nuances that will strengthen the client’s position. If necessary, involve various specialists, for example, accident reconstruction specialists. Must formulate the most winning tactics based on the case materials.

Negotiation style
An experienced lawyer knows how to convince his interlocutor of his point of view. First of all, he must convince the client to hire him and continue to maintain communication with the client at a good level. Convincing insurance company representatives or jurors should be a challenge for Nashville car accident lawyer, which he will certainly cope with.

Empathy for the client
A good lawyer will always listen to all the experiences and needs of the client. This way he will be able to better understand what will be a victory for the client in the case and how to show the client that he is in good hands and protected.

Tips for Finding Nashville Car Accident Lawyers

Conventionally, search tips can be divided into answers to the questions of who, where, and how to look.

Look for Nashville car accident lawyers who:

  • have experience handling car accident cases
  • are familiar with local laws and have experience presenting cases in local court
  • specialize in personal injury law
  • have a positive reputation and/or high rating.

Search for lawyers in:

  • social networks: in specialized forums and groups
  • in Internet resources: specialized directories such as Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell, websites of local companies
  • in your community: ask friends, co-workers, and family for recommendations on a good car accident lawyer.

You can obtain lists of car accident lawyers in Nashville to consider by obtaining recommendations from the various sources described above, reading the local press, or asking the bar association.

It is highly advisable to attend initial consultations with selected lawyers. In personal communication, you will be able to better understand whether a lawyer is right for you or not and make your final choice.

Recommendations for Actions After a Car Accident

After a car accident, follow these simple rules:

  • anyone who is injured or unwell should seek medical attention
  • it is necessary to move to a safe place and turn on the hazard lights on vehicles involved in the accident
  • call the police to the scene of the accident, wait for their arrival, and get a report on the accident from them
  • notify your insurance company about the incident
  • document the incident: take photos of vehicle damage, exchange information with other participants, save contacts of witnesses
  • consult a car accident lawyer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident

Agreement for a quick settlement
Very often, insurance companies offer a quick settlement immediately after an accident. They take advantage of the client’s stress and may offer compensation that does not cover the damage. Your best option is to consult with a car accident lawyer in Nashville. He will be able to assess the cost and prospects of the case.

Late seeking of medical help
Some injuries may not appear immediately after the accident, but after some time and require time and money for rehabilitation. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical help even at the slightest suspicion of injury and be sure to document this request. This will allow you to link your injury to the accident and receive compensation for it.

Guilty plea
It would be a very serious mistake to admit guilt in any way. When you communicate with the police, insurance company, or other parties involved in an accident, give them only the facts. Do not evaluate your actions, do not make assumptions. Everything said can be used against you in the future.

List of Typical Car Accident Compensations

Nashville has a comparative negligence rule. This means that the percentage of fault for each party involved in the accident is determined. If this percentage exceeds 50%, the party is not entitled to compensation. If the degree of fault is less than 50%, the party has the right to claim compensation, but the amount will be reduced by the percentage of fault.

In Nashville, you can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Here are the common types of damage:

  • repair or replacement of damaged property
  • medical expenses
  • lost wages
  • rehabilitation costs
  • other financial expenses related to the accident
  • pain and suffering
  • decreased quality of life
  • loss of consortium.

You Can Avoid a Car Accident Following Simple Recommendations

Follow traffic rules.

Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Pay close attention to the road conditions.

Avoid distractions while driving.

Adapt to weather conditions when driving.

Keep a safe distance.

Avoid aggressive driving style.

Plan your route before your trip.

FAQs

What are the minimum requirements for car insurance in Nashville?

The minimum amount of vehicle liability insurance coverage includes:
$25,000 personal injury per person
$50,000 for bodily injuries for the entire accident.
$15,000 for property damage.

When can I request compensation?

The claim must be filed no later than one year from the date of the accident.

How much do car accident lawyers cost in Nashville?

Most Nashville car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. They receive a percentage of the settlement amount if they win the case.