Common 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 result of someone else’s negligence, victims are able to recover compensation for all of their accident-related losses. Here are some of the most common types of compensation that victims often recover after a serious car crash in the Nashville area.
Medical Expenses
Many auto accident victims suffer extremely serious physical injuries that require extensive medical treatment. In the most severe cases, victims sustain injuries like spinal cord injuries, severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or traumatic amputations from which they will never fully recover and require ongoing medical care. In cases such as these, victims often incur millions of dollars in medical expenses due to their accident over the course of their lifetime. Fortunately, medical expenses are a recoverable loss under Tennessee law.
Lost Income
Lost income is another type of loss for which many car accident victims recover compensation. When accident victims are severely injured, they are often unable to work for months or years after an accident. In cases where car accident injuries are career-ending, victims should take care to ensure that any settlement they accept takes into account their future earning potential, not just the amount of money they would have earned at their current salary at the time of the accident.
Property Damage
The overwhelming majority of car accidents result in damage to the vehicles involved, and even relatively minor accidents can result in thousands of dollars of damage. Furthermore, in many cases, the damage to a vehicle can exceed its value, leaving victims in need of a completely new vehicle.
Physical and Emotional Pain and Suffering
Non-economic damages like pain and suffering can often account for the most significant category of compensable losses sought by victims after a car accident. In many cases, the injuries victims sustain result in significant physical pain, both initially and during the recovery process. In addition, people who are severely hurt in an accident often experience significant psychological and emotional pain and suffering as a result of being bedridden or unable to engage in activities they enjoyed before their accident.
Remember that the Insurance Company is Not on Your Side
Determining the value of a car accident claim is a complicated legal process, and you may be tempted to rely on the insurance company to help you determine how much yours is worth. This is invariably a mistake, as the insurance company does not have your best interests in mind. They make money by collecting premiums each month and paying out as little as they can on each claim they receive. If you are willing to settle for less than your claim is actually worth, they will gladly let you sign on the dotted line. For this reason, if you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you should retain an attorney as soon as you can to protect your legal rights.
Injured in a Crash? Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Nashville Car Accident Lawyer
Car accident victims are often entitled to significant compensation under Tennessee law. At Bednarz Law, we are dedicated to helping victims get the full and fair value of their car accident claims and know how to get insurance companies to payout. To schedule a free case evaluation with a car accident attorney in Nashville, call our office today at 615-590-7276 or contact us online.