Types of Car Accidents in Tennessee

According to data from the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, there are hundreds of injury-causing car accidents in Grainger County every year, which cause injuries ranging from relatively minor to fatal. Some types of car accidents are more common than others, but all are serious occurrences that can cause lasting injuries and medical complications.

Regardless of the type of car accident you have been in, you need personal injury representation. Evan M. Newman, an experienced Grainger County car accident lawyer from Daniel, Daniel, & Newman, can help you balance the scales of justice and recover compensation for the losses you have suffered.

Daniel, Daniel, & Newman has been serving the Grainger County community for over 80 years with our characteristic brand of personalized and fierce legal advocacy. Evan Newman seeks to continue the legacy of his predecessors, Creed Daniel and the late Dirk Daniel, with a Christ-centered legal representation that respects the values, ideals, and traditions of Grainger County residents.

Contact us online or call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and case review.

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents in Tennessee?

Some of the most common types of car accidents in Tennessee include:

• Head-On Collisions – Head-on collisions are among the deadliest, as they involve high speeds and directly opposing crash forces.
• Rear-End Collisions – Rapid deceleration from rear-end collisions can cause neck injury and muscle strains even at slower speeds.
• Sideswipe Accidents – Sideswipe injuries can cause injuries and cause the driver to lose control and collide with other vehicles on the road.
• Left-Turn Accidents – Left-turning cars must cross over oncoming lanes of traffic, which increases the risk of head-on and T-bone collisions.
• T-Bone Accidents – Perpendicular forces from a T-bone collision can throw the victim around the car cabin and damage their head, legs, arms, and back.
• Intersection Accidents – Intersections are common spots for accidents because of heavy traffic and drivers ignoring traffic signals.
• Rollover Accidents – Rollover accidents can cause severe injuries due to violent twisting forces as the car rolls under its own momentum.
• Multi-Vehicle Accidents and Pileups – Accidents on highways or interstates frequently involve multiple vehicles traveling at high speeds.
• Single-Vehicle Accidents – Accidents involving single vehicles can occur when drivers are distracted or fall asleep and run off the road, potentially colliding with a stationary object.
• Uber/Lyft Accidents – Rideshare accidents raise complex questions about liability due to rideshare companies’ employment structure.
• Uninsured Accidents – If the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage, you can file a claim through your uninsured motorist policy.
• Hit-and-Run Accidents – Recovering compensation in a hit-and-run accident can be complicated because the at-fault party is unknown.
• Merging Accidents – Drivers may cause accidents while merging by failing to check blind spots or yield the right-of-way.
• Low-Speed Accidents – Despite what many think, accidents at low speeds can still cause severe injuries that carry long-lasting medical complications.
• Blind Spot Accidents – Driving in the blind spot of another vehicle can increase the risk of an accident when changing lanes or slowing down.

What Are Common Injuries Caused in Car Accidents?

The heavy machinery and violent forces in car accidents can cause both minor and severe injuries. Some of the most common car accident injury cases that Evan handles include:

Car crashes are also one of the leading causes of PTSD in the general population, with incidence rates in victims ranging from 8 percent to 46 percent, according to some studies.

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

An injury from a car accident can take an enormous toll on your finances and affect your ability to earn a living or function in daily life. By filing a personal injury claim, you can recover compensation for any losses you suffered as a direct result of the accident, including the following:

• Medical Expenses – A settlement will cover the cost of emergency medical treatment and recurring medical costs, such as prescription drugs, necessary medical equipment, routine testing, and rehabilitative services.
• Lost Income – You can also receive compensation for any money you lost on account of missing work. Lost income includes not only wages and salaries but also bonuses, commissions, tips, vacations, work perks, and any other benefits you cannot access.
• Reduced Lifetime Earning Capacity – A debilitating injury can remove your ability to work or require you to change to a lower-paying career. A car accident settlement can reflect the differences in your lifetime earning capacity before and after a disabling injury.
• Out-of-Pocket Expenses – A settlement will also cover any out-of-pocket expenses you incurred from your injuries, such as housekeeping fees, increased childcare costs, home or vehicle modifications, in-home monitoring/care, travel expenses, legal fees, witness fees, etc.
• Pain and Suffering – Severe injuries may cause intense acute and chronic pain and suffering for extended periods. A settlement can compensate you for the intense traumatic experience you underwent.
• Loss of Life Enjoyment – Injuries may render you unable to perform recreational activities or engage in hobbies you enjoy. A financial settlement from a personal injury case can compensate for this loss of quality of life.
• Loss of Financial Support – If you live in a household where the primary income earner has died due to another’s negligence, you may be able to recover money for any loss of financial support you suffered.
• Property Damage – If the accident damaged your car, you could seek reimbursement for vehicle repair or, if the car got totaled, replacement.

Tennessee doesn’t limit the amount of economic compensation one can recover, but it does place restrictions on noneconomic compensation. Tennessee Code 29-39-102 limits the amount of compensation one can recover for noneconomic damages to $750,000 per occurrence, except in the case of catastrophic injury. The noneconomic damages cap is $1 million for catastrophic injuries, which the law defines as an injury involving:

• Spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia
• Amputation of both hands or feet or one of each
• Third-degree burns covering more than 40 percent of the body or face
• Wrongful death leaving a surviving minor child

These caps on noneconomic damages do not apply to civil actions where the defendant intentionally hurt the victim, tried to conceal evidence of their wrongdoing, was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or was convicted of a felony for their actions.

In cases where the at-fault party displayed exceptionally reckless or egregiously wanton behavior, courts may also levy punitive damages to punish the offender. Tennessee Code 29-39-104 limits the amount of punitive damages victims may receive to twice the amount of their economic damages or $500,000.

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

Tennessee’s statute of limitations on car accident injury lawsuits establishes a tighter deadline than many other states, at only one year. This means you have one year from the accident date to file a lawsuit; if you miss the deadline, you cannot recover compensation for your injuries.

Tennessee courts are very strict about this statutory deadline, but a few exceptions exist. For example, if the injury victim is a minor, the deadline for filing is not until one year after their 18th birthday. Also, if the victim’s injuries were not initially detectable, the deadline will be one year after they discovered their injuries, not after the accident date. Lastly, victims must file a wrongful death claim within one year of the victim’s death instead of the accident date, which could be different.

When you hire Evan to take on your case, he can identify all relevant deadlines and file all paperwork on time. Additionally, having him as your attorney means he’ll have more time to gather evidence, speak to witnesses, and build a strong case for you.

How a Lawyer in Grainger County Can Help with Car Accident Claims

Car accidents can happen in an instant for a number of reasons, and it’s not always obvious who was responsible. An attorney can thoroughly investigate the accident scene and procure evidence demonstrating the at-fault party’s financial liability. Evan has extensive experience managing car accident claims, understands how to build your case, and can present evidence that minimizes the liability you share.

To that end, Evan can complete an exhaustive investigation of your car accident, gathering photos and video recordings, eyewitness statements, police accident reports, and expert testimony. He will also work closely with medical experts and providers to accurately and thoroughly demonstrate the extent and scope of your injuries and losses. Evan can also negotiate with the insurance companies if they dispute your events or try to reduce your settlement. If need be, he will pursue the at-fault party in a formal lawsuit to recover as much compensation as possible.

Insurers and lawsuits are the last things you want to deal with after a serious car wreck. Trust in Daniel, Daniel, & Newman to handle every aspect of your claim for you, letting you focus on recovering from your injuries and rebuilding your life.

Contact an Experienced Grainger County Car Accident Attorney Today

At Daniel, Daniel, & Newman, we provide a client-centered approach that meets you where you are with compassion and personal attention. We have an established track record of many satisfied clients who trusted us to put their interests and needs first. When you are suffering from the aftermath of a bad car accident, you need an attorney unafraid to stand up to the insurers and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.

Contact our firm online or reach out by phone today to receive a free, no-obligation case consultation with Evan, a reputable car accident attorney in Grainger County, Tennessee. You pay nothing unless we win your case.