AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
Memphis Automobile Accidents Attorney
Like most Americans, residents of Memphis as well as people throughout Tennessee rely on passenger cars for work and pleasure. Imagine the struggles that would exist if you had to walk hours – or even days – to the nearest grocery store or if the trip to your children’s school took half a day to complete. While cars have certainly made our lives easier, they have also made them more dangerous. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, there were approximately 900 fatality accidents and over 44,000 injury car accidents in 2014 alone.
Car accidents can leave drivers and passengers alike with serious and (potentially) permanent injuries and can cause these victims thousands of dollars in damages and losses. Where your car accident was caused through the careless or reckless actions of another person, you may be entitled to obtain financial compensation through an automobile accident lawsuit.
What Causes Automobile Accidents?
Some car accidents truly are “accidents” in that they are difficult – if not impossible – to avoid and no one person can be said to be at fault. More often than not, however, one or more person’s carelessness has caused or contributed to the accident. Careless behavior includes:
- Driving while intoxicated or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
- Texting while driving or talking on a cellular phone while driving;
- Driving while distracted;
- Speeding or traveling too fast for the prevailing road conditions;
- Ignoring or failing to see traffic signs or signals; and
- Other careless behavior.
Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault rule in automobile accident and other negligence cases. Under this rule, so long as the fault of the plaintiff (expressed as a percentage) does not exceed 50 percent, then the plaintiff should be able to recover some compensation from the defendant or defendants. When this occurs and the plaintiff is found to be partially at fault for causing the car accident, then the plaintiff’s compensation award will be reduced by the percentage of the plaintiff’s fault.
What Do I Need To Do After A Tennessee Car Crash?
If you are involved in a Tennessee car crash, one of the most important things you can do right away is to seek medical attention – even if you feel okay. Not only may you have sustained latent injuries that can become worse over time, but the success of your car accident lawsuit can depend on showing that your injuries were caused by the car accident itself. Having a doctor or other medical professional examine you after a car accident and make notes regarding your injuries can make it easier to meet this burden at trial.
In addition to seeking immediate medical care for yourself and others, you should also:
- Write down your recollection of the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident as soon as possible;
- Take the names and contact information of any witnesses who may be present at the scene and who may have seen the accident occur;
- If possible, take photographs of the accident scene, tire marks, debris, and injuries before the accident scene is cleaned up; and
- Avoid making incriminating statements such as “I’m sorry!” or “I didn’t see you coming” – these statements can be used against you to prove that you were, in fact, at fault.
Contact Our Compassionate Memphis Car Accident Attorneys Today
Finally, you should seek out and retain dedicated legal representation to assist you in your lawsuit. The skilled Memphis car accident attorneys at Douglass & Runger, PLLC, Attorneys at Law, can assist you throughout your case. Our attorneys have the knowledge and experience to conduct a thorough investigation into your case, identifying all responsible parties and presenting the facts of the case in a manner designed to maximize your opportunity for success. Contact Douglass & Runger, PLLC, Attorneys at Law, today by calling (901) 388-5805.
Let Us Help
For more information about our firm and our approach to the practice of elder law, contact our office. Call (901) 388-5805 to schedule a confidential consultation and case review today. Douglass & Runger, Attorneys at Law, serve clients throughout Memphis, Shelby County, and the surrounding areas.