Causes of Car Accidents in Tennessee

Every year in Tennessee, over 1,000 people die and thousands more sustain injuries in car accidents, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security. When a negligent driver harms another person, the victim can seek financial compensation. However, to make a successful claim, you must identify the cause of the accident and show the other driver was at fault.

Tennessee injury victims have relied on the Daniel name for personal injury representation for over 80 years, and attorney Evan M. Newman seeks to continue the legal legacy of founders Creed and Dirk Daniel. As a Christ-centered firm, Daniel, Daniel, & Newman seek to provide legal services that align with the values and ideals of our community. To that end, we prioritize a personalized approach that meets clients with empathy and compassion for their difficult circumstances. A serious car wreck can throw your life into chaos, so let us help you retain order and stability in your life.

If you have sustained an injury in a car accident, call the Grainger County law offices of Daniel, Daniel, & Newman today. Evan M. Newman, a Tennessee car accident attorney, has extensive experience working with car accident claims and will work to identify the causes of your accident and trace it back to liable parties. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your legal options.

Benefits of Hiring an Attorney for Your Car Accident Claim

You are not required to use an attorney when filing a personal injury claim, but it is usually the best course of action. The following are primary reasons why you should hire Evan Newman, a Grainger County personal injury attorney, for your car accident claim:

• More Compensation – Most importantly, you can get more money with an attorney on your side. Injury victims with a lawyer are far more likely to receive a settlement than those without one. Parties with legal representation also receive higher settlements on average.
• Faster Resolution – The time it takes to resolve your case will vary depending on the specifics. All other things being equal, an attorney can help resolve your case faster as they are very familiar with the injury claim process.
• No Mistakes – Without a lawyer, it’s very easy to make mistakes that could negatively affect your claim. An attorney can ensure you have sufficient medical documentation, meet all deadlines, and avoid saying or doing anything that could weaken the strength of your claim.
• Peace of Mind – Dealing with insurance companies and potential litigation when you are recovering from a serious injury seems like a nightmare scenario. A car accident attorney like Evan will handle every aspect of your claim, from initial accident investigations to negotiating with insurers for your settlement. You can have peace of mind knowing you have an experienced professional on your side who will represent your interests and well-being.

What Compensation Could I Be Entitled to in an Auto Accident?

Car accidents can cause catastrophic physical and personal losses with far-reaching financial consequences. Injuries are expensive to treat, and you may no longer be able to work to earn a living. As your personal injury attorney, Evan can calculate the full extent of your losses to pursue adequate compensation.

Depending on your circumstances, we can recover money for your:

• Medical bills, including emergency treatment and continuing medical expenses
• Lost work income, including salary/wages, bonuses, commissions, perks, vacations, and other monetary benefits
• Diminished lifetime earning capacity due to disability
• The extent of your conscious pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life and lack of life enjoyment
• Loss of financial support
• Out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries
• Property damage, such as vehicle repair/replacement

In some cases, both parties can share fault for a car crash. For instance, if you were texting and driving but the other driver ran a stop sign, you both may share liability for the accident. Fortunately, Tennessee follows the doctrine of comparative negligence, which means you can still recover damages in a personal injury lawsuit even if you are partially at fault. You can recover partial compensation if you are less than 50 percent liable.

However, your compensation is reduced proportionally to your percentage of fault. If you were 40 percent at fault, for example, and your total losses were $100,000, you could recover $60,000. You could avoid this situation and protect your rights to compensation by having Evan as your car accident attorney. He can maximize your compensation payout by protecting your rights and minimizing your percentage of fault.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit in Tennessee?

You don’t have unlimited time to file a car accident claim, so you must work quickly. In Tennessee, the time limit for filing a car accident injury claim is one year from the accident. Tennessee’s statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits is much shorter than in many other states, so time is of the essence.

Typically, the deadline starts counting from the day the cause of action accrued, but there are some exceptions.

• Minors – If the injury occurred while the victim was a minor, they have until their 18th birthday to file a claim for damages, regardless of how young they were when the injury occurred.
• Hidden Injury – Some injuries may lie hidden and undetectable for months or even years. In these cases, the statute starts counting from when the victim discovered the injury or could have discovered it through reasonable diligence.
• Wrongful Death – In the case of wrongful death, the deceased’s surviving family members must file a claim within a year of the date of death, which may differ from the accident date.
• Criminal Charges – If the negligent party who harmed the victim is charged with a crime for their conduct, the statute of limitations on civil action against them is two years rather than one.

What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents in Tennessee?

Virtually any activity that takes the driver’s attention off the road or ignores traffic rules can cause a serious accident. Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Tennessee that we at Daniel, Daniel, & Newman encounter include:

• Distracted Driving – According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, distracted drivers cause a wreck approximately every 40 minutes. Most distracted drivers are young, and distracted drivers are more likely to cause accidents in urban areas.
• Driving Under the Influence – About 1 in 3 crashes in Tennessee involves a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Intoxicating substances reduce reaction times and impair judgment, making accidents more likely.
• Reckless Driving – Reckless drivers operate their vehicles with wanton disregard for the safety of others, vastly increasing the chances of getting into a car wreck.
• Road Rage/Aggressive Driving – Some drivers lose their tempers after altercations with other drivers and may drive in an aggressive or threatening manner in frustration. Road rage behaviors may include swerving and cutting off other drivers.
• Fatigue or Drowsy Driving – When drivers are sleep-deprived, their reaction time drastically slows, and they may fall asleep behind the wheel.
• Speeding – Speeding drivers are much more likely to cause an accident because their effective reaction time is slower the faster they go. Crashes at high speeds are also more likely to cause serious or fatal injuries.
• Elderly Drivers – Elderly drivers often have lower reaction times and impaired senses, so they are at a higher risk of causing accidents than younger drivers.
• Teen or New Drivers – Young or inexperienced drivers do not understand the rules of the road yet, so they can cause accidents by ignoring traffic signals or making illegal maneuvers.
• Tailgating or Following Too Closely – Tailgating is a common behavior from inattentive or aggressive drivers. It increases the chances of rear-end collisions, where the following driver can’t stop in time to avoid a crash.
• Poor Weather – Heavy rain, sleet, snow, and ice can all affect vehicle handling and maneuverability and contribute to accidents.
• Poor Road Conditions – Potholes, road debris, uneven shoulders, unclear road signage, and steep slopes can all contribute to an accident by making vehicle handling more difficult.
• Failure to Yield – Tennessee has specific rules governing right of way. For example, if a driver fails to yield at a stop sign or a left turn, they could cause an accident.
• Failure to Stop – Drivers who fail to stop at stop signs and traffic lights are at risk of colliding with oncoming traffic.
• Inexperienced Drivers – Drivers who are unfamiliar with the area’s roads might make wrong turns or navigate traffic incorrectly.
• Unsafe Lane Changes – Changing lanes too quickly or erratically can cause confusion and make other drivers lose control.
• Dangerous Turns – Dangerous and illegal turns, such as those attempted across multiple lanes of traffic, can lead to large accidents.
• Vehicle Defects – Defective vehicle parts, such as brakes, steering columns, and gas tanks, can cause accidents if they fail. Auto manufacturers are generally liable for accidents that occur due to defective products.

Contact an Experience Tennessee Car Accident Lawyer Today

Knowing which factors are the most common causes of car accidents in Tennessee can help you narrow your search and strengthen your personal injury claim. When your money and well-being are at stake, you need Evan Newman, an attorney who won’t back down. If you would like to arrange a free consultation with a Tennessee car accident lawyer, contact Daniel, Daniel, & Newman online or reach out by phone today. You pay nothing unless we recover money in your auto accident case.