Side-impact collisions are a special type of accident that can be highly dangerous for passengers and drivers. Although most vehicles have side-impact safety measures, they are not as effective as the safety measures that protect the front and rear of a vehicle. A serious collision could result in frame damage, which will total a car and cause serious injuries for the occupants.
The potential for serious injuries makes side-impact collisions particularly dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tennessee had more than 1,100 people killed in serious vehicle accidents in 2018. Some of the surviving victims decided to file lawsuits against the people that caused their accidents. You may be able to take legal action, too, given the right circumstances.
Consult with the office of a Memphis side-impact collisions lawyer for legal advice about your case. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation about your case.
Determining Liability
Liability in a car accident can be a relatively straight-forward process. In most cases, the person that caused your accident is held liable for the damages. If this happens, their insurance company will step in to handle the case for them. However, there are some cases where liability is more complicated.
Companies are generally responsible for the vehicles used for their services. This means that if the vehicles are not well maintained or they are operated under bad conditions created by the company, that company may be held liable for any damages that are caused. The company must show some kind of negligence in order for liability to apply. Regardless, companies have liability insurance policies, and the insurance company may try to resolve the case for them.
For a free legal consultation with a side-impact collisions lawyer serving Memphis, call (844) 730-0233
Statute of Limitations
Being injured in a side-impact collision will leave you with personal injuries and property damage. Under civil law, you can file lawsuits for personal injury and property damage claims, which can help you recover compensation to address the cost of your recovery. Many victims choose to do this, but it is important to know that you have a limited amount of time to decide.
The statute of limitations is a legal time limit that controls how long you have after the date of an incident to take legal action. If you missed the deadline, you may forfeit your chance to collect compensation. You have one year from the date of the accident to file personal injury claims. You also have three years to file property damage claims, although your lawyer will try to file them both at the same time.
Some victims take time to physically recover and then think about what your next step should be. Doing this can severely reduce the amount of time that you have to take legal action. Do not miss your opportunity to collect compensation by waiting too long to reach out to the office of a lawyer and start the legal process.
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Possible Settlements
There are two main ways that your lawsuit can be resolved. First, your case will go to trial and be resolved by a judge in the same way that criminal cases are resolved. If your case isn’t resolved by another method, this is what will happen. The other option is that your case will be resolved by a settlement agreement.
Settlement agreements are common in civil cases because of the potential benefits to both parties. For you, a settlement agreement lets you resolve your lawsuit and collect compensation sooner. If you are struggling with expenses, then this can help you get out of your financial problems. It also removes the stress of thinking about going to trial. Waiting for a trial causes a lot of stress for accident victims.
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Medical Expenses
Since side-impact collisions have a tendency to cause more severe injuries, accident victims usually have more medical expenses. Emergency medical care is a routine part of the early recovery process. Right after an accident, going to the emergency room is a standard procedure. Emergency room care, being transported by ambulance, and being treated by first responders can be expensive.
If you develop injuries to take a long time to heal, you will likely need ongoing medical care. For example, the victims to develop whiplash often need neck braces and physical therapy to fully recover. Long-term treatment options like physical therapy can be a drain on your expenses.
In extreme cases, accident victims need invasive medical care, such as surgeries to repair the damage from the accident. Fortunately, filing a civil lawsuit and collecting financial compensation can reduce the amount of time that it takes you to pay off those expenses.
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Seeking Compensation
Accident victims seek compensation because of the expenses related to recovery. Few people have enough in savings to address unexpected expenses like those they may have after an accident. Since you did not cause the accident, you should not be held entirely liable for these medical expenses.
Filing your lawsuit gives you the chance to collect financial compensation from a party that is liable for your lawsuit. Civil law recognizes that you should not be held responsible for expenses related to an accident that someone else caused.
Contact Us for a No-Risk Consultation
Getting hit by another vehicle, especially in a side-impact collision, can have a devastating impact on your life. Take back some of that control by seeking legal action against the party that is liable for your expenses.
A Memphis side-impact collisions lawyer may be able to help you through the legal process. Call the offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 to discuss your case with us.
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