Best Car Accident Lawyers Nashville, TN
A car accident can happen at any time, and unfortunately, many result in severe injuries or death. More accidents happen in Nashville and Davidson County than anywhere else in Tennessee, which is why the attorneys at the Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton have dedicated their careers to helping injured people in our community get the justice they deserve.
A car accident can lead to serious, lifelong injuries, enormous medical bills, expensive property damage, and even death. Anyone who has been hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s reckless actions deserves to have representation that can win compensation for their expenses, their lost income (present and future), and their pain and suffering.
The Nashville car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton are nationally-recognized for our experience and the results we achieve. With more than 28 years of experience protecting those who have been hurt in car accidents in Nashville, Luvell L. Glanton and his team know the impact that an accident can have on your life. We also know how the laws in Tennessee can provide the justice and compensation those accident victims deserve.
If you or someone you care about was hurt in a car accident in Nashville, TN contact the Nashville car accident attorney at the Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton at (615) 244-4511 today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.
Tennessee Law Protects Car Accident Victims
Tennessee driving laws are designed to put the needs and rights of accident victims first. As a “fault” state, accident victims have the right to hold the person at fault accountable for injuries and property damage that they cause.
Even those who were partly at fault for the accident can seek compensation, although it may be reduced, depending on the circumstances of the crash. If an accident victim is less than 50% responsible for the accident, they can file an accident claim, according to the doctrine of modified comparative negligence, which applies in Tennessee.
The Kinds of Damages You Can Recover After a Car Accident in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have been the victim of a car accident in Nashville, Tennessee, you may be eligible to secure compensation for the costs associated with the accident including:
- Medical costs: Injuries sustained in a car accident often require extensive medical treatment and care. There are immediate emergency room costs, surgical procedures, future treatments and physical therapy, which may just be the beginning. Chronic problems may require costly long-term medical care that can be difficult, if not impossible, for victims to pay for out-of-pocket.
- Repair or replacement of damaged property: Most car accidents involve at least minor property damage and may require extensive repairs or even total replacement of the vehicle. This is usually damage done to the vehicles involved in the crash, but can also include bicycles or homes and businesses that were damaged in an accident. Damages can include the cost of repairs and the loss in value, or complete replacement of lost or destroyed property.
- Lost income or lost earning capacity: If you are hurt in a car accident, it’s common to have to miss time from work. This lost income can be recovered through an injury claim, as can the loss of future earning capacity if the injuries result in a long-term inability to return to the work the victim performed before.
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering: A severe accident can result in significant pain and suffering, both physically and emotionally for the victim. A lawsuit can put a monetary value on this pain and suffering. In the case of a death or permanent injury, this can be a significant factor.
- Wrongful death: When a loved one is killed in a car accident, the death often results in a lifetime loss of income and security for the family, in addition to causing serious emotional pain and suffering. A case against the negligent driver and their insurance company may be able to recover these economic losses, as well as funeral and burial expenses.
Not every case will qualify for damages from every category, but all are viable means of receiving compensation, depending on the specifics of your accident.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Improve Your Chances of Compensation
Any individual has the right to pursue a claim for damages after an accident in which they were the victim, but doing so without the help of a personal injury lawyer can present a serious challenge. Tennessee law is complex, and in order to receive the compensation a victim is due, they need to have a thorough knowledge of it.
Car accident cases also require access to experts and the ability to pursue a thorough investigation that provides definitive context for the accident and all resulting injuries and expenses.
Pursuing a claim that requires a great deal of legal knowledge, experience, and organization during a stressful time that is simply too much to ask of most accident victims.
Those who pursue a claim with the assistance of a lawyer tend to receive significantly more compensation than those who attempt to get compensation on their own. At the same time, hiring a lawyer allows the victim to focus on their health and recovery, instead of worrying about their case.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton as Your Nashville Car Accident Law Firm
For 28 years, our Nashville car accident attorney firm has been recognized nationally multiple times. The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys named Luvell L. Glanton as a Top 10 Attorney, while the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys listed him in the 10 Best in Tennessee. The firm has also been listed in many top 100 national lists.
Our commitment to our clients can also be seen in our results. We’ve fought hard on behalf of each and every one of our clients, with a focus on making sure that they get the full and fair amount of compensation that they are owed. We never settle for less than you deserve. We know how to take on powerful insurance companies and their aggressive legal teams. We know our clients come to us at the most difficult moment in their lives, and we make it our mission never to let them down.
Common Causes of Nashville Car Accidents
Everyone knows that car accidents are common, particularly in and around a busy city like Nashville, but it is still important to highlight the common causes of accidents in order to help those on the road avoid potential risks.
With that in mind, some of the most common causes of Nashville car crashes are:
- Distracted driving: This is an increasingly common cause of car accidents everywhere. Texting, talking on the phone, using social media, taking pictures, or trying to look up directions can all lead to car accidents. However, distractions unrelated to cell phones can also cause accidents. Playing with the radio, eating, combing hair or putting on makeup, or other distractions can be just as dangerous.
- Driving under the influence: Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances impairs a driver and affects their decision-making ability behind the wheel, which could lead to a severe injury accident, or in some cases, a fatal crash.
- Drowsy driving: Almost as serious as driving under the influence, driving on a lack of sleep or failing to rest during long stretches of driving can lead to serious accidents.
- Speeding and aggressive driving: People are often in a rush to get to their destination and those who choose to speed or otherwise drive aggressively are putting everyone on the road at risk.
- Ignoring the rules of the road: Drivers who choose to ignore red lights and stop signs, fail to use turn signals, choose not to yield when required to, and otherwise break the road rules are endangering even those who follow all the rules.
- Problems with the road: Potholes, lane striping that can’t be seen or is improperly done, and lack of a shoulder can lead to accidents. It is the responsibility of cities and municipalities to make sure that roads are maintained and designed with safety in mind.
These causes are by no means the only ways an accident can happen, but it’s important to watch for them on the road and to avoid similar issues to keep the road safer for everyone.
Common Injuries and Expenses in a Car Accident
Car are powerful, heavy machines, and when they crash, they have the ability to cause severe injuries to drivers and passengers alike. Some of the most common injuries reported in car crashes include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic Brain injuries (traumatic brain injuries and concussions that can lead to long-term or permanent disability)
- Neck and spine injuries (ranging from strains to broken vertebrae that may lead to paralysis and other long-term disabilities)
- Injuries to the face that require surgery
- Internal injuries to vital organs
- Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
- Psychological injuries (such as post traumatic stress disorder)
- Death
Many of these and other injuries require months or years of physical therapy and other assistance, while others lead to permanent disability. People who are hurt should not have to struggle to pay for the assistance they need, and are legally eligible to pursue an injury claim.
How Car Accidents Harm a Community
The impact of car accidents on individuals and their families is usually understood. What is less noticeable is the impact car accidents can have on a community. Communities that lose workers to long-term injuries and community members to fatal accidents suffer significantly as a result.
While it may be a secondary consideration for the family involved in a car accident claim, the Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton want Nashville to be a city where it’s safe to be a driver or pedestrian on every street, and we consider our work an important part of reaching that goal. By holding those who cause accidents accountable for their actions, we hope that we can help keep our community safe.
What You Should Do If You’ve Been in a Car Accident
When a car accident occurs, it’s easy to forget what you need to do to ensure everyone is safe and all the necessary information has been gathered. Following an accident, make sure to take these steps:
- Examine everyone for serious injuries: Your first priority is making sure anyone who needs immediate medical assistance gets it. If someone is seriously injured, make sure that they get emergency medical attention right away.
- Contact the police: After checking for injuries, call the police. When they arrive, cooperate fully. Stick to the facts and avoid apologizing or admitting fault (more on this in the section below).
- Get all names and information: Make sure you have information on everyone involved in the accident. That includes any other drivers involved in the accident and any witnesses.
- Take photos: Use your phone and take pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident, as well as signs of the accident on the road like skid marks. Take pictures of the weather, street signs, and all your injuries. It’s always better to take too many photos than not enough.
Visit your doctor and get a full medical evaluation. Even if you don’t think your injuries are significant, it is important for your health that you are seen by a doctor, and it may be important to any future claims with insurance as well.
What You Should NOT Do If You’ve Been in a Car Accident
While your first priority has to be your health and the health of others involved in a car accident, try to also keep in mind what you SHOULD NOT do after a car accident:
- DON’T admit fault: It might feel natural to apologize after a car accident. In this case, it’s better not to be polite, though. Admitting fault can have very serious legal consequences. So, don’t apologize for anything and don’t admit fault in any way.
- DON’T sign anything: If the police ask you to sign something, do so, but don’t sign anything from anyone else. Insurance companies may show up on the scene and ask you to sign off on a certain version of events. Make sure your lawyer reviews any paperwork you are asked to sign.
- DON’T give a statement to an insurance company: Just as you shouldn’t sign anything, don’t give a written or verbal statement to an insurance company before you’ve talked to a lawyer.
If you avoid these common errors, your accident claim will be much stronger if you need to file one.
Statute of Limitations on Tennessee Car Accidents
Every state puts limits on how long a victim has to pursue compensation after an accident. The statute of limitations will vary on a state-by-state basis, as well as for the type of claim being filed.
In Tennessee, car accident victims have a one year statute of limitations from the date of the accident to file a claim. Should you attempt to file a claim after this date, with very few exceptions, the case will immediately be thrown out.
After a serious car accident, time is of the essence, and it is always best to begin the process of filing a claim for damages as soon as possible.
Contact the Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton for one of the best car accident lawyers in Nashville TN
We know car accidents are traumatic. That’s why you or anyone you know who has been hurt should contact the Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton experienced car accident Lawyer near Nashville TN Today. We’re here to fight for your rights and get you the compensation that you deserve. Contact us at (615) 244-4511 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with a knowledgeable member of our team today.