Accidents During the Colder Months in Tennessee
Stay safe when driving this winter—call our lawyer if you are in a crash. When the weather cools in Tennessee, the risk of accidents tends to increase. While accidents can seem inevitable—especially in poor weather conditions—the reality is that nearly all car crashes are preventable. At the office of Bednarz...
Read MoreIf My Uber Ride is in an Accident, Who Pays for my Injuries?
Everywhere you go in Nashville, you can notice cars with Uber or other rideshare stickers. Uber drivers provide a convenient way to get around, but the situation becomes decidedly less convenient if your Uber ride is involved in a car accident. What happens then? Who is responsible for your injuries...
Read MoreWinter Weather and Car Accidents
Driving during winter weather conditions is hardly anyone’s idea of a good time. The winter months bring heavy snowfalls, hazardous driving conditions due to low visibility, and icy roads. These severe weather conditions often cause plenty of car accidents that can and do result in injuries and, in some instances,...
Read MoreCertain Amazon Products Present Fire Hazards
Amazon is so popular that its name is nearly synonymous with online shopping. The company earned $75.5 billion in the first quarter of 2020 alone. Its third-party sellers account for over 4,000 sales a minute. And its owner, Jeff Bezos, is the richest person in the world – worth a...
Read MoreReasons to Get a PI Attorney
Not all accidents require a lawyer. Depending on the seriousness of your accident, whether you sustained injuries, and who is at fault, you may not need a lawyer. For example, if you are in a minor parking lot fender bender and sustained no injuries at all, you probably don’t need...
Read MoreCan You Sue a Drunk Driver for Punitive Damages?
Too often, serious injuries and even death are caused by an accident involving a drunk driver. If you or a loved one are suffering from an injury, you may be entitled to damages stemming from a drunk driving crash. And because impaired driving is willfully reckless, you may have the...
Read MoreHow Will Self-Driving Cars Affect Personal Injury Law?
New and old car manufacturers alike, including Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, are continually introducing self-driving and partially self-driving auto technology onto the market. It is fairly certain that one day, driver-operated vehicles will be a thing of the past. Although self-driving and partially self-driving auto technology will likely never be...
Read MoreDrive Safe and Earn Rewards
Pursuant to recent comments by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while operating a motor vehicle is the most significant distraction that a driver can engage in. Moreover, texting while driving significantly increases the chances that a driver will cause an accident that leads to the death or severe...
Read MoreTennessee Supreme Court Upholds Non-Economic Damage Cap
The Tennessee Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that shut down the challenge to our state’s law that limits the amount of non-economic damages that a plaintiff can receive in most personal injury cases. The law enacted a damage cap of $750,000 for non-economic losses, even if a jury decides...
Read MoreTake Photos After an Accident
These days, we all have cameras in our pockets and purses. After an unexpected accident – such as a traffic crash – you should not hesitate to use your smartphone to help protect your rights and interests. If someone else was to blame for the accident, you will need evidence...
Read MoreWhat Should You Do if You are the Victim of a Hit & Run in Nashville?
Have you ever been in a traffic accident where someone hit you and left the scene? Then you have been involved in a hit and run. In Nashville, there is a hit and run unit that specifically investigates leaving-the-scene accidents. When it’s a hit and run, the challenge is identifying...
Read MoreCan My PI Claim Be Impacted by the Virus Outbreak?
Whether you were injured three months ago or a year ago, your injury claim will not resolve itself or be placed on hold during the COVID-19 outbreak. There will still be deadlines to meet and negotiations to participate in. You still have medical bills to pay and perhaps are even...
Read MoreHow Vehicle Ejections Happen in an Accident
All types of auto accidents can be dangerous, and motorists can sustain serious injuries even with airbags, seat belts, and other safety features. When someone is ejected from a vehicle in a crash, they lose these safety protections and often suffer particularly severe – if not fatal – injuries. It...
Read MoreWhat to Do if You’re Injured During the COVID-19 Pandemic
While most of the nation seems to be at a standstill, there are still parts of life that continue as usual. You still drive to the store for essentials, see your doctor if you are sick, go for walks, ride your bike, use certain products in your home, and perhaps...
Read MoreThe Importance of Police Reports in an Accident
Tennessee law requires you to report a car accident to the state if the crash resulted in injuries, death, or property damage over $1,500. While you have 20 days to report the accident, it is always wise to call 911 from the scene of the crash to report what happened....
Read MoreNashville SUV Accident Attorneys
Handling Claims Arising from Serious SUV Crashes in Nashville Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are highly popular vehicles for consumers in Nashville and across the United States. SUVs are spacious and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and many families find them to be a great alternative to the...
Read MoreAre Personal Injury Settlements Classified as Income?
When you are staring at a pile of medical bills and unpaid expenses because you had to take time off work, it is easy to look forward to receiving your personal injury settlement check from the insurance company. However, once you go to cash the check, it is natural to...
Read MorePassenger Distraction Can Lead to Accidents
Generally speaking, a driver is in control of a car, and a passenger has little to no control over what the driver chooses to do. As a passenger, you trust a driver with your safety, and it can be frightening when a driver loses control or makes errors on the...
Read MoreHow Do You Approach a Witness?
Car accidents are a regular occurrence in the Nashville area. While a crash can happen in an instant, it can have lasting effects on your physical health and financial situation. If you can show that another person was to blame for your accident, you have the right to obtain compensation...
Read MoreCan You Get PTSD from a Car Accident?
When you hear about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you might first associate the disorder with active military members, assault victims, and others who have experienced traumatic events. You might not think about car accident victims, but car accidents can, in fact, be so traumatic that it triggers PTSD in victims....
Read MoreChallenges of the Non-Economic Damage Caps in Tennessee
In 2011, the Tennessee legislature passed the Tennessee Civil Justice Act, which limited the non-economic damages that plaintiffs could receive in personal injury cases in our state. Specifically, courts must reduce any award of damages regarding pain and suffering or other intangible losses to $750,000. The law was intended to...
Read MoreWhat Defines a Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death happens when a person’s death is caused by injuries received at the hands of another or by another person’s wrongful act or failure to act. In Tennessee, wrongful death claims are similar to a personal injury case in which the injured party can no longer bring the case...
Read MoreCommon Types of Compensation after an Auto Accident
Car accidents are capable of causing extremely serious injuries and damage to property. The forces involved are tremendous, even in relatively low-speed impacts. For this reason, auto accident victims are often left with substantial losses as a result of their crash. Fortunately, under Tennessee law, when car wrecks are the...
Read MoreDon’t Talk about an Accident on Social Media
In the age of social media, it’s become normal to share even the most mundane aspects of your life. Sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are extremely popular, with millions of users often sharing pictures and posts with perfect strangers. While sharing things on social media may seem relatively harmless...
Read MoreCan a Pedestrian Be at Fault in an Accident?
When we think about pedestrians being injured in traffic accidents, we generally assume that the motorist is at fault. While this is often true, it’s not always the case. Every traffic accident is fact-specific, and every pedestrian case is determined by the facts involved. If a motorist leaves you injured...
Read MoreTennessee’s Hands-Free Law
Tennessee lawmakers are hoping that distracted driving has already decreased since a new law took effect on July 1, 2019. Research indicates that Tennessee had the highest rates of deaths due to distracted drivers of any state in the United States from 2015 to 2017. In response to this data,...
Read MorePossible Effects of the Tennessee Supreme Court Decision on Noneconomic Damage Caps
The Tennessee Civil Justice Act passed in 2011, which, in part, imposed a cap on the amount of noneconomic damages a personal injury plaintiff could receive in state court. Even if a jury awards a plaintiff high compensation for their pain, suffering, and other noneconomic losses, the law requires the...
Read MoreReasons Why a Personal Injury Attorney Might Not Handle Your Case
When you call a personal injury law firm after an accidental injury, you might assume they would jump at the chance to take on your case. After all, there are many commercials, ads, and millions of attorney websites claiming they can help you! However, skilled personal injury lawyers use discretion...
Read MoreAre Pedestrian Detection Systems Accurate at Night?
Modern cars and trucks are increasingly being equipped with safety features that just a few years ago would have been considered futuristic. Among these innovations is technology that allows vehicles to detect pedestrians in the roadway. According to AAA, however, these systems are not nearly as effective regulators and car...
Read MoreWhat to Look for in a Personal Injury Attorney
Picture this: You are in a serious car accident, and you go to the emergency room and learn you have multiple injuries. As you begin treatment, you need to stay home from work, so you are losing income in addition to the costs of your medical care. You believe that...
Read MoreDistracted Driving Behaviors to Avoid
It is well established that distracted driving is dangerous driving. Many of us, however, are so connected to our phones that we fail to recognize how distracted we have become when we’re behind the wheel. Further, there are some distractions that you may not even be aware you are engaging...
Read MoreDoes Your Accident Qualify for a Personal Injury Case?
Accidental injuries send people to the emergency room on a daily basis in the Nashville area. While your priority should always be to stabilize and begin treating your injuries, it is natural to soon wonder whether you may be able to take legal action after an injury. If you’re watching...
Read MoreWho is Liable in an Accident with a Self-Driving Vehicle?
For decades, self-driving cars seemed only a thing of the future. However, there are many vehicles on the roads today that use automated driving technology that at least partially relieves the driver of operational duties. While turning the control over to the vehicle and its automated safety systems, companies claim...
Read MoreProtecting Your Rights after an Accident with a Commercial Truck in Tennessee
Large commercial trucks like semis and tankers are an every day sight on Tennessee’s roadways. While they perform an essential function in our economy by hauling goods and materials from place to place, they also are regularly involved in serious accidents that often leave victims with extremely severe injuries. Fortunately...
Read MoreRoad Construction Zones Can be Hazardous for Drivers
Many laws aim to keep road construction workers safe from speeding or distracted drivers. However, these work zones are also a hazard to drivers themselves. There are many ways that motorists can get injured when passing through a road work zone, and accident victims often have the right to hold...
Read MoreWere You in an Electric Scooter Crash?
Scooter rental companies are going into business across the United States, with more than a hundred cities participating in scooter ridesharing. In active locales, people can download an app that allows them to rent a scooter, leaving it when they reach their destinations. While this is an affordable and convenient...
Read MoreCommon Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
With spring here and summer right around the corner, you can bet many people will be taking their motorcycles out on a regular basis. Whether your motorcycle is your primary vehicle or you ride for recreation, you are always at risk of serious injuries should an accident happen. It is...
Read MoreCan You Sue in Tennessee if You Signed a Waiver?
Many companies ask clients and customers to sign waivers before they provide a service or allow admission. All too often, people sign these waivers without even reading them, and if they do read them, they may not fully understand the legal jargon included. You may sign a waiver without realizing...
Read MoreCommercial Truck Accident FAQs
When injured victims come to us after a truck accident, they understandably have many questions. Here are some answers to the questions we hear most often from truck accident victims. For more information or to discuss the specifics of your case with a Nashville truck accident attorney, call our office...
Read MoreHow to Stay Safe this 4th of July
For many people, the 4th of July is a time to get together with family, relax, and celebrate the birth of our country. Unfortunately, many 4th of July celebrations also expose people to an increased risk of injury. Below is some information that can help keep you safe this Independence...
Read MoreThe Benefits of Having a Truck Accident Lawyer
After a truck accident, you may wonder whether you need to hire an attorney. No matter what type of injuries and losses you suffered, it is always worth it to speak with a lawyer about a possible case. Case evaluations are free of charge, so you have nothing to lose...
Read MoreProtecting Your Rights after a Serious Bicycle Accident in Nashville
With spring finally here, many people in the Nashville area are dusting off their bicycles and taking to the various roads and trails available in the area. Whether you cycle for recreation, exercise, or as a means of transportation, there is no doubt that riding is a cost-efficient, healthy, and...
Read MoreAlternatives to Going to Trial in Tennessee
Many people are under the mistaken impression that taking a case to trial is a common thing in the legal world. In reality, very few civil cases end up in court, as litigation is expensive and liability is often not seriously in dispute. So, how are these cases resolved? Three...
Read MoreGovernors Highway Safety Association: Pedestrian Fatalities at a 30-Year High
According to a report issued by the Governors Highway Safety Association, 6,227 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2018, the highest number in almost three decades. The report indicates that most of these fatalities occurred in large metropolitan areas, and experts point to drivers distracted by their smartphones and...
Read MoreHow is “Pain and Suffering” Defined in a Personal Injury Case
After an unexpected injury, many accident victims have the right to seek compensation for their injury-related damages. The most obvious damages are based on economic losses, which include the costs of medical treatment for the injuries and wages lost due to missed work because of the injuries. However, in many...
Read MoreWhat Happens to Injury Settlement in Divorce?
What Happens to a Personal Injury Settlement in a Divorce? When an individual is injured in an accident, they have the right to seek compensation for their various injury-related losses. These can include economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, but also noneconomic damages for pain and suffering,...
Read MoreIs a Personal Injury Settlement Taxable?
When it comes to settling a personal injury case, one of the most common questions that arises is whether the settlement proceeds are taxable. Generally speaking, the answer to that question is no. However, there are some caveats and exceptions that you should be aware of. If you sustain injuries...
Read MoreCan I Sue a Dealer Who has Sold me a Defective Motor Vehicle in Tennessee?
When you purchase a motor vehicle in Tennessee, it seems reasonable to expect that all of the vehicle parts are in good working condition. Unfortunately, however, that is not always the case. If you have been involved in an accident or suffered other damages as a result of a defective...
Read MoreIs There a Benefit to Purchasing the Extra Rental Car Insurance?
Most people who travel on a regular basis are all too familiar with the rental car counter and the option of purchasing rental car insurance. The person at the counter will likely tell you all about the potential negative consequences associated with declining the rental car company’s insurance coverage. When...
Read MoreWho is Liable for a Dog Bite in Tennessee?
When someone else’s dog bites you, you should expect the owner to be liable for your injuries and losses, right? Unfortunately, in Tennessee, it is not always that simple. Tennessee is one of the few states that does not hold all dog owners strictly liable for bite and attack injuries....
Read MoreCar Accident Compensation for Collisions with Animals
Not every car accident involves a collision with another vehicle. Hitting a large animal can also cause serious damage to your car and injuries. With deer mating season underway from October to December, you should always be on careful watch to prevent hitting a deer. According to the National Highway...
Read MoreAre You Liable if Your Teenager Gets in an Accident?
Having a teenager can be a rollercoaster, and when your teen is old enough to get a driver’s license and start driving, you may be struck by a combination of pride, anxiety, and sadness about the fact that he or she is growing up so fast. While many teens are...
Read MoreIf I am Injured While Driving for Work, do I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
There are many jobs that require a person to drive for work. For example, perhaps you are a truck driver or a delivery person. Perhaps you have to commute to different offices around the state to meet with clients in person. Or perhaps your boss simply asks you to run...
Read MoreWhat Steps Should I Take After an Accident?
As Nashville car accident attorneys, we want you to know the steps to take to protect yourself after a crash or collision. Car accidents are complex events. They happen quickly and can leave you in shock, wondering what your next steps should be. The fact is that the actions you...
Read MoreAre Brain Injuries Linked to Dementia?
Injuries to the head are one of the most common types of personal injuries. They are also one of the most potentially severe. Even a minor bump or blow can leave you with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can impact your abilities both now and in the years to...
Read MoreDo Pedestrians Need to Get an Accident Report if Injured?
While Nashville is an excellent city to explore on foot, residents need to be aware of the risks regarding pedestrian accidents. These types of crashes can leave victims suffering serious injuries, which have the potential to impact every area of your life. To help protect your rights to compensation for...
Read MoreDo I Need a Lawyer if I am Injured in a Truck Accident?
Tractor trailers, semi trucks, and other big rigs are massive machines, comprising tens of thousands of pounds of metal. Due to their large size and bulk, when truck accidents occur, it is often other motorists on the road who suffer the most severe injuries. These accidents often occur due to...
Read MoreWho is Responsible for an Accident in a Rental Car?
Renting a car is common while you are on vacation or when traveling for business. It is also common to pass up the additional insurance rental companies offer, thinking that you are covered under your own policy, while downplaying the odds that a crash or collision could actually occur. Unfortunately,...
Read MoreWhat Should You do if You are Hit by an Uninsured Driver?
When a collision with an uninsured driver leaves you suffering serious injuries, our Nashville car accident attorneys can assist you in getting the compensation you need to recover. Even the safest and most experienced of drivers can end up in crashes and collisions that result in serious injuries. When car...
Read MoreHow do You Determine Fault in a Defective Product Case?
Experienced Nashville product liability attorneys, Bednarz Law protects you when you are injured due to a defective product. When you buy a new product, such as new furniture for your home, a new car, or toys for your children, you take it for granted the product will work as it...
Read MoreHow do I Figure Out the Worth of a Slip and Fall Claim?
As you only have one chance in seeking compensation when slip and fall accidents occur, it is important to accurately estimate both the current costs associated with your injuries and the future expenses you are likely to incur. While people are often tempted to downplay the effects of a slip...
Read MoreShould I File a Workers’ Comp or Personal Injury Claim?
In the event of on-the-job accidents and injuries, you may be entitled to additional types of compensation through a personal injury claim than is otherwise available through workers’ compensation. Personal injuries can happen anywhere, including on the job. Even in what would be considered otherwise ‘safe’ occupations, work-related accidents can...
Read MoreThe First Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Immediately After a Collision, Take the Following Steps to Protect your Ability to Recover Compensation If you are involved in a car accident, the steps you take in the moments that follow can have a drastic impact on your ability to recover compensation for your resulting damages through a personal...
Read MoreMotor Vehicle Deaths Decreased in 2017 – Is That Good?
Rate of Motor Vehicle Deaths Decreased Over Last Year, but More Work Needs to be Done According to the National Safety Council, the number of traffic fatalities in the United States in 2017 was 1 percent lower than the number of traffic fatalities in 2016. The exact figures were 40,327...
Read MoreIs There a Texting While Driving Law in Tennessee?
Tennessee Law Prohibits Sending Messages While Driving Tennessee passed its current distracted driving law in 2009. Currently, all drivers are prohibited from text messaging while driving. Additionally, all bus drivers and drivers with learner’s permits and intermediate licenses are prohibited from using cell phones in any capacity while driving, including...
Read MoreDistracted Driving Leads to Accidents
Stay Focused on Driving to Avoid Accidents and Stay Safe The National Safety Council (NSC) has designated April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This month, the Council focuses on the dangers of distracted driving by raising awareness of it and encouraging drivers to reduce the distractions they face. Distracted driving...
Read MoreDrowsy Driving Dangers
With busy lives and hectic schedules, many of us are forced to occasionally sacrifice getting a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, this can end up having a serious impact on driving abilities, increasing car accident risks. At Bednarz Law, with our combined 60 years in representing accident victims in the Nashville...
Read MoreHow Soon After I’m Injured Do I Have to File A PI Claim In TN?
Being involved in any accident that causes injury can leave you devastated. Often, it takes time to understand the nature and seriousness of your injuries. But, don’t ponder on this for too long or you will miss the opportunity to file a personal injury (PI) claim and get compensated for...
Read MoreDrivers and Winter Road Dangers
At Bednarz Law, we know that car crashes and collisions are complex events, which often involve multiple factors. For drivers in Nashville, winter weather conditions can end up presenting serious dangers on the roads, making it more likely for car accidents and injuries to occur. For over 30 years, we...
Read MoreDo I Need an Accident Report to File a Slip and Fall Claim in TN?
Slip and fall injuries can happen to anyone and when you least expect them. What most people ignore is that they can become costly if they take time to heal. From a simple negligence on your part to ill-maintained property, many things can cause slip and fall accidents. However, to...
Read MoreWhat Are the Primary Causes of Trucking Accidents?
The damage that results from a trucking accident can be severe. Indeed, when a vehicle weighing approximately 80,000 pounds and a vehicle weighing approximately 4,000 pounds collide, the smaller vehicle is often completely destroyed, and anyone within the smaller vehicle is left with severe injuries. Reducing the number of truck...
Read MoreCold Weather Impacts Construction Workers
Regardless of the time of year, construction workers are exposed to more hazards on the job than workers in other industries. From large machinery and dangerous equipment, the risk of falling from heights and the potential for other construction accidents is increased during the cold. During the winter, the hazards...
Read MoreWhat Are Considered Pain and Suffering Damages in TN?
When a person is involved in an accident and suffers an injury, the extent of the injury is often much more than just physical harm and related losses, such as medical expenses or the loss of the ability to earn an income. Often times, a person incurs a number of...
Read MoreFDA Warns of Malfunctioning EpiPens and What’s Behind EpiPen Recalls
Concerns surrounding defective EpiPens come to light in warning letter sent by FDA. Just last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Meridian Medical Technologies, a unit of Pfizer, outlining several key concerns regarding defective EpiPens and how the company seemingly continues to mishandle consumer...
Read MoreWhere Do You Sue if You Have an Accident Out of State?
If you suffer an injury, it is most common that the location of the accident that leads to the injury will be within your own state. However, people travel all of the time, and as such it is not impossible to think that a person could be involved in an...
Read MoreMore Motorists Killed in Drugged Driving Accidents
The dangers of drunk driving have been highlighted by many organizations and entities, ranging from state and municipal governments to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and more. But according to an article in The Washington Post, some of the focus should be shifted to drugged, not drunk, driving. Indeed, for...
Read MoreProtecting Your Kids on the Field this Season
Now that school is back in session, sports may once again become an activity that your child engages in on a weekly or daily basis, either competitively or just for fun. Sports like football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and other team (and individual) sports are a great way to develop sportsmanship,...
Read MoreWhat Are Your Rights as a Passenger in a Wreck?
When a car accident occurs, it is not only the drivers of vehicles involved that are at risk of sustaining injuries; passengers are often severely harmed as well. To be sure, there are thousands of passengers treated in emergency departments every year. While passengers may assume that safety relies on...
Read MoreSocial Media Can Harm Your Case
Why You Should Never Post About Your Accident on Social Media Social media is ubiquitous. To be sure, a Global Social Media Research Summary published by Smart Insights reveals that Facebook alone has more than 1,871 million active users, and another source indicates that at the end of 2016, there...
Read MoreAn Increase in Motor Vehicle Accident Deaths in 2016
Our Nashville Car Accident Attorneys Work Hard to Protect You after a Crash As supported by data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC), 2016 was the deadliest year on American roadways in nearly a decade. Consider the following statistics about car...
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