If you get injured in an auto accident, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit if the accident was caused due to the negligence of the other driver. Tennessee being a fault state, you can recover the damages caused due to the fault of a third-party driver and also from the insurance company by filing a lawsuit.
What is Comparative Negligence?
Comparative negligence is a common fault law in the state of Tennessee to determine who is actually at fault in a car accident. A certain percentage of fault is assigned to each driver involved in the accident based on their comparative negligence. According to the law in Tennessee, if a driver is found to have more than 50 percent fault in an accident, he/she is legally not permitted to recover damages in case of an injury lawsuit.
For receiving compensation for damages caused due to a car accident, you need to prove that the other driver was the one at fault due to negligence and his/her actions were more than 51% responsible for the accident. An auto accident lawyer in Knoxville can help you prove the third-party’s negligence to claim compensation for car repairs and damages, medical expenses, emotional and mental pain, etc.
MISTAKES TO AVOID AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT:
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Giving Statements at the Accident Site
Giving any statement at the accident site in a hurry without thinking can land you in trouble. The recorded statement may be used against you as a piece of evidence in court. Admitting any fault may result in irreversible loss to the case if you are planning to file a personal injury claim against a third-party driver. Before giving any statement to an insurance company, it is best to seek professional help from an auto accident lawyer in Knoxville.
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Refusing Medical Assistance
Even after experiencing an accident, some people are often reluctant to take any medical treatment. You may feel that there is no injury and everything is well. However, many internal injuries may not show any signs at the time. You may think that it is just a bruise or a scar on the skin. An auto accident lawyer in Knoxville will advise you to seek medical assistance immediately. Getting a check-up done once from a medical practitioner or a hospital will help evaluate the nature of the injury.
Not going to a doctor or refusing medical treatment may work against you. The insurance company will make a note of this and try to use this as evidence to prove that you sustained no injury.
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Talking with the Insurance Company
Most insurance companies give a call to the accident victim within 24 hours. Some companies even send a check directly to the accident victim. As a victim of the accident, you need to read what is written on the paper before cashing the cheque. If you accept a full and final settlement from an insurance company, it may be difficult to claim any additional compensation for medical expenses.
Hiring a professional auto accident lawyer in Knoxville from the start of the case will ensure that your rights are protected and you receive adequate compensation for your injuries. Contact Butler Vines and Babb for a free consultation.
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Butler, Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville, TN, with extensive litigation experience in Medical Malpractice Law, Birth Injury Law, Trucking Accident Law, Personal Injury Law, and Business Law. Contact us today at www.bvblaw.com or call 865-637-3531.
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