Side-impact crashes, more popularly known as “T-Bone” crashes because the vehicles involved appear like the letter “T” when they occur, as the front of one vehicle hits another vehicle on its side at a 90-degree angle. These crashes can be deadlier to people in passenger cars than larger vehicles, according to a study shared by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that side-impact crashes caused about 23 percent of passenger deaths in 2018.
If you or a loved one is recovering from a side-impact collision, you might be able to receive financial awards from a settlement with the driver who caused the accident. If you are interested in taking legal action, contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation. We can discuss your situation and advise you on how a Nashville side-impact collisions lawyer could help your case.
Causes and Effects of Side-Impact Collisions
Many side-impact collisions happen at intersections, which are often the busiest part of a street. The scenario may involve a speeding car that runs a red light or a stop sign and crashes into someone who has the right of way and is advancing their vehicle into the intersection. Side-impact collisions can also happen during other traffic activity, including police chase pursuits.
The impact of a side-impact collision can be significant. Many passenger cars cannot hold up to the destruction such an accident can cause. In some cases, a rescue crew must cut open the car’s roof to remove the occupants.
Because drivers are less protected in side-impact collisions, injuries are often severe and cause trauma to various parts of the body, including the head, spine, neck, and back. Accident victims can also suffer internal bleeding, organ damage, broken bones, deep cuts, burns, and scratches. Soft tissue injuries that cause sprains, strains, tears, bruising, and swelling are also possible in vehicle accidents.
No matter how minor an injury appears to be, all accident victims should seek medical care. In many cases, minor injuries can develop into major problems. Whiplash, a neck injury, is an example. A person can feel fine shortly after an accident but feel increasing pain in their neck as time passes and soon find they cannot move around without feeling pain in their neck and shoulders.
Some side-impact collisions send people to the hospital, and some victims will need extensive medical treatment for months or years to come, depending on the severity of their injuries. The reality is that severe injuries can also mean medical expenses and extensive time away from work, which can reduce income.
For a free legal consultation with a side-impact collisions lawyer serving Nashville, call (844) 730-0233
Awards That Might Be Recoverable
If you receive medical care after a side-impact collision, or if you repair or replace your vehicle and anything else that was damaged or destroyed, you might be able to recover the expenses you paid out if you secure a settlement from the negligent party.
Damages of this kind are “economic,” as they have a tangible dollar amount. Other economic damages you could recover in this category include:
- Lost income (past and future)
- Reduced earning potential
- Medications
- Ongoing medical services
- Household services
- Out-of-pocket expenses
You can document all of these economic losses with medical records, receipts, invoices, and other paperwork that proves you paid for these items. If you hire an attorney to represent you, having these documents can help your lawyer build your case. If you do not know whether an expense would qualify in this category, you can ask your lawyer for guidance.
Accident victims can also seek payment for noneconomic damages for a personal injury. These damages are not countable and less tangible, making it more challenging to prove in court. An attorney can offer insight into what losses you could seek in this area and help you calculate them properly. These may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement (such as scarring)
- Loss of a limb
- Loss of life enjoyment
If you lost a loved one in the accident, Ben Crump Law, PLLC, may be able to help you pursue claims in a wrongful death lawsuit. These may include:
- Final bills for medical care and other services for the decedent before their death
- Lost income if the deceased contributed to your household expenses
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Pain and suffering
- Burial and funeral costs
We understand that side-impact accidents can be emotionally trying and difficult to manage, especially when losing a loved one unexpectedly. Schedule a free consultation with a Ben Crump Law, PLLC, team member today. We want to hear about your accident and help you explore your legal options. You can also ask us questions about how a Nashville side-impact collision attorney may be able to help you.
Nashville Side-Impact Collisions Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
How a Personal Injury Attorney May Be Able to Help
If you are spending time recovering from such a frightening accident, you may think you have no time to pursue legal action in your case. Your focus and energy are on you and your family right now, so we know how overwhelming it can be to focus on making a recovery and taking on the driver who caused the accident. Some people take on the burden of negotiating with insurance companies on their own and end up feeling frustrated amid growing piles of bills.
A personal injury attorney may be able to make life after a traumatic accident more manageable. At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we believe the person who caused your injuries and suffering should take on the cost of paying your recovery. We do not shy away from tough cases, as we believe our clients deserve to win financial awards that meet their needs.
An attorney may be able to help you hold the at-fault party accountable for the accident that caused your injuries. They will have to first establish who is liable in the accident. To do this, they will need proof, which they might obtain from police reports, witness statements, and photographs or footage of the accident scene to determine who is at fault. They can also interview expert witnesses and request surveillance from traffic cameras that could have recorded the accident.
Once an attorney completes the investigation and builds your case to prove liability, the next step is to present it to the opponent’s insurance company for review, and negotiations usually begin. This process could take some time. If talks do not end in a financial award for you, then your Nashville side-impact collisions lawyer could take your case and file a personal injury lawsuit.
Your attorney can update you on case developments, answer your questions, and take care of your case’s communications and paperwork. They also can review any settlement offers that come your way from an insurance company and advise you on how you can proceed. Insurers can offer settlements that fall short of meeting an accident victim’s needs, so having legal counsel may be beneficial in this way.
Retaining legal counsel also helps you stay on schedule. Tennessee law allows one year from the accident date to file a personal injury complaint in civil court, per Tennessee Code Annotated § 28-3-104. If this deadline expires, a court will likely dismiss your lawsuit. An attorney can look into any possible exceptions to this rule that you might qualify for, and they can file your case on time so that you do not have to worry about missing the deadline. It is better to start early, as one year can go by quickly, and an attorney needs time to work on your case.
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Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, for a Free Consultation
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, stands ready to help you pursue financial recovery from a side-impact collision that threatened to derail your health and well-being. We can help you get back on track. Call (844) 730-0233 today to schedule a free consultation where we review your case and options.
If you choose to hire a Nashville side-impact collisions lawyer from our team, we work on contingency to make it easier to put your financial concerns aside to focus on pursuing justice. You pay nothing upfront or out of your pocket. We collect payment only if we win a financial award for you.
Call or text (844) 730-0233 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
