Everything can feel overwhelming when you have been injured in an accident. One of the questions that may be playing on your mind is whether or not you should be consulting with a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville regarding your injuries. You might feel like your injuries are not severe enough, but it is important to note that sometimes the true extent of the damage is not always immediately apparent. It is a good idea to speak with a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville, even if you are still determining if you have a valid lawsuit. A lawyer will be able to look at the circumstances of the accident, whether that is a car accident, a slip or fall, or some other type of accident. Once your lawyer has a better idea of what happened, they can recommend whether or not you should proceed with a lawsuit. Let’s take a look at some of the things that need to be taken into consideration.

Did Negligence Cause the Accident?

Accidents happen all the time, and often they are completely unavoidable. However, sometimes they are caused by someone else’s negligence. For example, if you were in a car accident because another driver was texting or ran a red light, they acted negligently. Similarly, the store manager could also be considered negligent if you slip on a wet floor in the grocery store and there is no warning sign indicating the floor is slippery. These are just a few examples, but there are hundreds of situations where negligence can result in an accident. If negligence has played a role in your accident, then you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, negligence can be tricky to prove; that’s why you need an experienced personal injury lawyer in Knoxville to take the reigns and guide you through the process.

Are Your Injuries Getting Worse or Failing to Improve?

One of the reasons why we always advise consulting a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville, even if your injuries seem minor at first, is that it is common for injuries to worsen over time. Lingering injuries that don’t seem to improve or get worse as time passes could mean they are more severe than you initially thought. It is important to consult with your doctor to document these injuries and seek any additional treatment that you might require. Once you have a more complete picture of your injuries and the ongoing medical care they will need, a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville can help to build a case to get you the compensation you deserve based on the extent of your injuries.

Have You Had To Miss Work?

One of the biggest concerns that most people have following a personal injury is the cost of their medical bills. Medical expenses may be covered by health insurance, but if not, your financial situation can soon become more difficult. If you add to this having to miss work, either because your injuries do not allow you to work or because you have to take time off for medical appointments, the loss of earnings can also make finances tricky. However, you could be eligible for damages to cover loss of earnings and medical expenses if a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville can prove that your accident was someone else’s fault.

Do You Have Ongoing Pain & Suffering?

Even if your health insurance can cover the cost of your medical treatment, it won’t cover your pain and suffering. A personal injury lawyer in Knoxville can help you to get damages to compensate for pain and suffering if you can document how the accident has had an overreaching effect on your life beyond just the injury. This includes physical discomfort and emotional damage, for example, psychological trauma, depression, a reduction in the quality of your life, and ongoing chronic pain, among other things. This type of compensation is known as non-economic damages.

Are You Being Pressured By The Insurance Company To Settle?

It is very common for insurance companies to push for a quick settlement on claims. They employ this tactic to minimize the damages they have to pay out. Usually, the settlement is far below what it should be. They rely on people accepting it out of desperation, especially where you must pay medical expenses out of pocket. It is important to first speak to a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville before agreeing to this type of settlement. If you accept the settlement only for your injuries to worsen at a later date, you cannot revisit the compensation amount. Once you sign that settlement, the case is closed. If the insurance company has offered you a quick settlement, we advise meeting with a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville who will be able to review the offer and give advice on the best course of action to take.

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Butler, Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville, TN, with extensive litigation experience in Medical Malpractice LawBirth Injury LawTrucking Accident LawPersonal Injury Law, and Business Law. Contact us today at www.bvblaw.com or call 865-637-3531.

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