A rear-end collision accident can devastate your life by causing physical injuries, debilitating pain, and even the death of a loved one. The medical bills alone can drain your finances, while the costs to repair or replace your vehicle can sink you further into debt.
The Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, understands what you are going through and can offer help. If another driver caused your accident, we can help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, repair costs, lost wages, and other damages. Call us today at 865-546-1111 to schedule a free legal consultation with a rear-end collision accident lawyer in Nashville. We can let you know if you have a case and discuss the legal options available to you.
How Will the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, Help Me?
Our proficient legal team will investigate your accident and file a claim to help you recover monetary compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other expenses.
We investigate your accident to show how negligence contributed to the crash. In Tennessee, the party whose negligence causes an accident pays for the injuries and damages resulting from the crash. Our investigation might show that the rear driver caused the collision by:
- Following too closely;
- Speeding;
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- Driving while fatigued or drowsy; or
- Ignoring deteriorating road conditions in poor weather.
Driver inattention is a primary cause of rear-end collision accidents, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nearly half of all two-vehicle crashes are rear-end crashes. Nine times out of 10, the rear driver was not paying attention to the traffic ahead prior to the collision.
The Rear Driver Is Not Always at Fault for the Crash.
While many rear-end crashes are the fault of the rear driver, this is not always the case. Rear drivers and their auto insurers sometimes lay partial fault on the front vehicle drivers. For instance, a rear driver may say the other motorist did not have working brake lights or did not use their turn signal. In some accidents, rear drivers claim another vehicle hit them from behind, which caused them to hit the vehicle in front of them.
Front drivers who make improper lane changes or engage in other reckless driving behaviors may be partially responsible for a rear-end collision. However, most of the fault lies with the rear driver for failing to maintain a safe distance to avoid colliding into a stopped vehicle ahead.
What If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Because of Tennessee’s comparative negligence law, your compensation amount decreases based on the percentage of fault you have in the crash. For instance, if you had $50,000 in damages and you were 10 percent at fault for the accident, you would receive $45,000 in compensation.
Even if you are partially to blame for the crash, contact us today. Our lawyers will fight for the maximum compensation available in your case. You still deserve a settlement for your bodily injuries and property damage.
Do Rear-End Collision Accidents Cause Serious Injuries?
Rear-end crashes can not only cause serious bodily injuries, these collisions can also be fatal for vehicle occupants. In cases where large commercial trucks rear-end passenger vehicles, occupants may suffer devastating consequences. Infants and other vulnerable passengers are especially at risk for severe injuries.
Occupants in a rear-ended vehicle can suffer such bodily injuries as:
- Head injuries;
- Spinal injuries;
- Facial disfigurement;
- Broken bones;
- Brain injuries;
- Paralysis; and
If you suffered injuries in the crash, we will present your medical records or your doctor’s statement showing the extent of your injuries and how the crash has affected your quality of life. We will also provide a police report of the rear-end collision accident, eyewitness statements, and surveillance camera video of the accident, if available, to further support your compensation claim.
Why Do I Need This Additional Information?
To prevail in a claim, we must use this information to prove negligence and causation. We must prove the rear driver had a duty to drive carefully and not follow too closely behind you. We must also show the driver breached that duty by rear-ending your vehicle. As a result of the driver’s negligence, you sustained bodily injuries, property damage, and financial losses.
What Type of Financial Losses Can I Recover?
You may pursue reimbursement for a variety of damages related to the accident. Your compensation may pay for:
- Medical expenses;
- Hospital costs;
- Ambulance costs;
- In-patient rehabilitation;
- Physical therapy;
- Lost wages; and
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs.
Rear-end collision injuries can also cause pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. You may seek monetary compensation for these and other types of non-economic damages, as well.
How Do I File a Claim for Compensation?
We will file a claim on your behalf with the rear driver’s insurance company and negotiate a settlement. We know the tricks insurers pull during negotiations and can protect you from any attempt to unjustly reduce or deny your claim.
Insurance companies often prefer to delay a settlement, deny a claim, or offer a low payout. We continue pushing for a fair settlement and do not back down until we resolve the claim. Depending on the circumstances of your case or if the insurer refuses to cooperate, we are not afraid to take your case to court.
Tennessee’s statute of limitations limits the time you have to act after a crash. Under this law, you only have one year to claim injury. If we do not take action on your behalf within that time, you may lose your right to pursue compensation. That is why it is essential you contact us as soon as possible.
Contact the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, Now.
After a rear-end accident in Nashville, the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, can help you pursue compensation for your losses.
We do not take an upfront fee, and you do not pay for our services unless we recover compensation for you. Call us today at 865-546-1111 to schedule a free consultation with our knowledgeable attorneys.