Johnson City Car Accident Lawyer
A trusted Johnson City car accident lawyer from The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt knows that being hurt or badly injured in a car accident can be devastating. Accidents can happen out of nowhere, and when they do, it can be hard to know what to do next. A car accident injury can impact many aspects of your life, affecting your physical and mental health as well as your ability to work. The expenses can pile up and become unaffordable, and our recovery may take longer than expected. Not all car accidents are minor fender benders. If you have suffered from an injury after someone else’s negligence caused you to get in a car accident, you should not hesitate any longer to reach out to an attorney you can trust. A car accident lawyer has experience handling cases for accident victims, helping them recover compensation for their damages.
Hiring a lawyer is recommended, especially if you have severe injuries, complex cases, or considerable expenses. Recovering from a severe accident can come with many uncertainties, and you don’t know what your future may hold. Depending on your injuries, it can take weeks to months to fully recover. On top of your physical and emotional pain, you might be dealing with how to deal with expenses like medical bills, lost wages, and other types of losses. Without the help and support of a lawyer, it can feel like you are on your own. Fortunately, it is possible to receive legal help following a car accident. To learn more about filing a personal injury claim after an accident and seeing what kinds of compensation you can get, reach out to our trusted team now. We care about bringing you the legal help you need after an automobile accident.
Common types of car accidents
A lawyer who has years of experience helping victims of car accidents recover their compensation is familiar with the many types of accident scenarios. Accidents can happen in rural areas to more populated ones. Drivers who are not paying attention or engage in reckless driving are more likely to cause an accident that can harm innocent drivers and pedestrians. However, some car accidents are triggered by sudden road rage events spurred by aggressive driving. Some of the accident scenarios that a skilled lawyer often sees includes:
- Front-end collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents
- Wrong-way accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Accidents caused by fatigue or sleepiness
- Road rage incidents
- Freeway accidents
- Hit and run accidents
Many car accident victims are not given the compensation that they deserve. A car accident lawyer will evaluate your case to identify the at-fault parties involved. They will pursue them to hold them accountable and ensure that you can recover your total losses.
How do I know who is at fault for the car accident?
When you want to file a claim or a lawsuit, you will want to know who was at fault for the accident that caused your injuries. Determining who is at fault in an accident is not always straightforward, so it’s recommended that you go to a lawyer to work on it. First, it is crucial to find a car accident lawyer in Johnson City, Tennessee, who will look over the details of your case and determine if you have a legitimate claim. If they believe that your claim is not valid, they will tell you so. They will be up-front with you and give you an honest assessment of your case. If they believe that they can help you obtain compensation, they can inform you of the facts of your case and possible strategies that can be used. Your lawyer will have years of experience fighting on behalf of car accident victims and will work with medical experts to go over your injuries after the accident. They will collect information, speak to eyewitnesses and gather evidence to see who is at fault in the accident. There may be more than one party at fault. In these cases, navigating a case can take more time. It may be necessary for your attorney to hire outside professionals to help provide information. Preparing a case will take time, especially if your accident happened a while ago, making evidence collection more challenging. Your attorney will want to know the details of the accident and which parties were involved. They need to have as much information as possible to prepare a solid argument and advocate for you.
States have different laws that dictate how fault in a car accident is determined. In Tennessee, the state has a system known as modified comparative negligence. Individuals with partial fault can be held up to 50% liable in an accident but can still recover compensation. If you are worried that being partially at fault will negatively affect you, rest assured that it is still possible to recover at least some compensation. However, since it is a more complex situation than one at-fault party, you are advised to have a lawyer assist you. If you have a partial fault in an accident, it is recommended that you hire a lawyer because it may be more challenging for you to recover compensation. There are certain conditions that you have to meet since you are partially at fault. If you are found to be over 50% liable, you cannot recover compensation at all. A skilled car accident lawyer can investigate to obtain evidence so that you can get the highest amount possible.
How do you determine negligence?
In legal terms, negligence is defined as the failure to exercise a level of care for an individual that another person would provide under the same circumstances. In a car accident case, to prove negligence, a lawyer must provide the case with compelling evidence that the following elements were present: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
As your attorney gathers evidence from the accident scene (this can be photographs, eyewitness testimonies, traffic cameras, and statements from both drivers), they can begin piecing together what happened to cause the crash and who was at fault. This process can take weeks or even months, and every piece of information must be evaluated carefully. To establish that the other driver was responsible for the accident and show negligence, your attorney will be working to prove that they were not acting with a reasonable degree of care while on the road. They will be linking their actions to the accident that caused your injuries. Common examples of this are:
- Texting and driving
- Drinking and driving
- Eating and driving
- Talking on the phone while driving
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Speeding or street racing
- Being impaired while driving
- Reaching for something in the backseat while driving
In addition to dealing with injuries, there are other issues that car accident victims have to deal with. Getting into a car accident can not only mean that your car is damaged. In many cases, accident victims struggle with emotional pain and financial instability. It can mean that you are missing weeks or months off of work, and it could mean that you have medical bills for hospital stays and surgeries. Dealing with all of these issues on top of physical healing and recovery can take a heavy toll on victims. These are not only inconvenient, but they can result in long-lasting consequences. These issues are a burden that accident victims should not have to pay for out of pocket.
Seek Legal Help Now
Are you interested in filing a claim or a lawsuit after you have been in a car accident? Don’t wait until the last minute to learn about the legal options available. Learn about the claims process now. As experienced car accident lawyers who have assisted many victims over the years, we understand that deciding to file a claim is not easy. You may have doubts about the success of your case or want to avoid the hassle of going through legal action. However, after everything you have been through, it is worth finding out more information to see if you are entitled to receive financial compensation. If you can obtain compensation for your accident expenses, it is beneficial to explore your legal options. You may find that you are entitled to more compensation than you expected. Work with a highly skilled and experienced car accident lawyer who is dedicated to advocating for your rights as a car accident victim. Schedule a risk-free consultation and obtain more information about your rights and the actions you can take.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible to receive compensation, discuss your case with an experienced lawyer so they can evaluate your case. You are not obligated to make a decision right away. The initial consultation is your opportunity to receive information and develop a stronger understanding of your case. A lawyer can answer any questions you have and clear up any points you are confused about. They will be able to accurately assess your case and answer any questions you may have. Reach out to our reliable Johnson City, TN, car accident lawyer today.
Why Do I Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
Any car accident has the potential to flip your life upside-down, but a car accident lawyer can help you make sense of your next steps. If your accident has caused serious enough injuries, you could find yourself in an unexpected financial battle, and your lawyer may be an important lifeline when you try to get the money you need to stay afloat. There may be issues with your claim that are particularly difficult to settle. After an accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company may reach out to you and offer a settlement. However, you cannot depend on an insurance company to negotiate fairly with you. They will use tactics that are designed to have them pay the lowest compensation, regardless of what injuries you sustained. Insurance companies are not interested in whether or not you receive the compensation you deserve; they are only invested in how much they can profit or save. With a lawyer to advocate on your behalf, you will be assured that you have someone who has your best interests in mind. A lawyer will look out for you and work to ensure that your final settlement offer is fair and that you receive the highest compensation that you can. Hire a lawyer who can pursue the negligent person responsible so that you can recover financial compensation to cover the full costs.
It would be easy to handle your car accident if there was a one-size-fits-all guide. Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward solution when your medical bills are stacking up, you’re unable to clock in for work, and your insurance still hasn’t paid up. Every car accident case is different, so each approach varies depending on the circumstances. But after your accident, you’re most likely only focused on your recovery, and for good reason: Even if you experienced a minor fender-bender, you could be dealing with major (and expensive) injuries.
Common Car Accident Injuries
- Burns: We’ve all seen those dramatic car crashes on movies and TV: Something catches on fire, and the main characters escape in the nick of time. While car fires are a possibility after unavoidable severe accidents, you’re much more likely to burn yourself in a less dramatic fashion. You might accidentally put your hand on a piece of exposed, hot metal or shock yourself on some electronic equipment while you exit your vehicle. In any case, a burn still calls for medical attention, which can be surprisingly expensive. The more severe your burn is, the longer your recovery period is likely to be.
- Whiplash: This is one of the most common injuries people get from car accidents. Victims who suffer injuries after rear-end collisions typically sustain whiplash. Whiplash is easily ignored – but it shouldn’t be. It might seem like a minor enough injury, but it can still cause a considerable amount of pain. It can be difficult and excruciating to move your neck even slightly. You might be shaking from adrenaline after a nasty car crash, but once the adrenaline wears off and you’re carrying on with your day, you’ll probably notice an uncomfortable twinge in your neck or shoulders. By the next day, it’s turned into a major ache, and you aren’t able to turn your head more than a few degrees either way. Your movement might be restricted for several days. Though whiplash usually goes away on its own within a week, it prevents you from doing activities or completing work. That’ll be an expensive doctor’s visit.
- Broken bones: Unlike whiplash, you’ll notice a broken bone. A broken bone can leave you disfigured, and it is one of the most severe car accident injuries you can suffer. A severe enough car accident can result in broken bones and a lengthy recovery period, not to mention those ever-present medical bills. You will likely have to miss weeks or months off of work. Recovering from a broken bone is also extremely painful. Your movement is restricted, leaving you confined to days in bed rest. While you might expect your insurance to foot the bill, it’s up to your Johnson City car accident lawyer to ensure you get the payment you need in a timely fashion.
Reach Out to The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt
Your car accident can put your life on hold, and chances are you’ll be battling with a frustrating recovery period that is always just a bit too long for comfort. It can be challenging to move forward after a traumatic car accident. As those bills start stacking up, you might find yourself wondering if you’ll ever be able to pay them off – especially if you aren’t able to start working as soon as possible. Sudden expenses after a life-changing accident are something you should not have to resolve on your own. If you are struggling with car accident expenses, there is help available.
Fortunately, with the help of a car accident lawyer, you can make sure you get the financial compensation you deserve so you can move on from your car accident with ease. A lawyer can help make the claims process easier to go through. In addition, they can lend you the support you need and minimize any stress or anxiety that you might be feeling. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted and highly experienced car accident lawyer. Those medical bills and your other financial obligations (rent, mortgage, bills, and car payments) won’t wait for you to get better. Still, a lawyer can thoroughly investigate your case to determine who is responsible for your injuries – and who should pay up.
Contact The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt today, and see how a Johnson City Car Accident Lawyer can help you get the money you need for a full recovery.
Emotional Damages After a Car Accident
Our car accident lawyer in Johnson City has witnessed firsthand the emotional toll an accident can take on a victim. Feeling overwhelmed and stressed with physical injuries, medical care, medical expenses, and pending legal claims may be apparent. However, it’s also important to note that victims of car accidents stand to experience mental health challenges and trauma as a result of the accident. Accidents can severely impact your mental health, and at times, it may be appropriate to seek damages for the emotional impact the accident has had on you. Seeking therapeutic support will be imperative to the recovery process, and while you take care of your mental health, The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt can play a crucial role in proving pain and suffering.
The Impact Car Accidents Have on Mental Health
Physical injuries are often apparent to the outside world, and the physical pain you are in is likely evident to those in your life. It’s important to note that physical injuries aren’t the only pain that victims are left to face. Car accidents can take an emotional toll on a victim as well. While your mental health can impair your functioning, others may not realize how the accident has impacted you internally. Victims may suffer from:
- PTSD
- Depression
- Irritability
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Mood Swings
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- +More
At times, the emotional impact of a car accident may not become evident until the dust has settled. However, if you are experiencing challenges, it’s critical to take action. The long-term impact of not taking care of your mental health can be devastating and impact nearly all aspects of a person’s life.
Proving Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering are a form of non-economic damages that victims may seek for the physical pain and emotional distress experienced from an accident. Pain and suffering can impact a person’s life, and as a result, victims may need lifelong rehabilitation. It will be essential to ensure that present and future expenses are accounted for when taking legal action. Working with a Johnson City, Virginia, car accident lawyer will be imperative when seeking damages for pain and suffering. A legal professional can navigate through the process of helping to prove that you have experienced pain and suffering from the accident by:
- Proof of Medical Expenses
- Evidence of how the injury has impacted your ability to work
- Medical records outlining your condition which could include:
- Prescriptions for medication
- Documentation from your therapist
- Eyewitness Statements
- Photographs of Injuries
The more evidence you can gather, the better. Anything you have that may assist with your case will be essential to disclose to your lawyer; they will be able to decipher the evidence that should be presented for your case.
If you are experiencing mental health issues, you must seek treatment from a mental health provider. With their assistance, you can discover new ways of coping and managing the car accident’s emotional impact on you. In addition to taking care of yourself, you will need the services provided by The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt to ensure your rights are kept at the forefront. Get started with our Johnson City car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
