Seldom do you see a side-impact accident coming. Unlike a head-on collision, where you see the oncoming vehicle and can try to avoid it, there is not much you can do when another car T-bones the side of your vehicle. A side-impact crash can cause you and your passengers severe injuries and even death.

If you or your loved one has suffered severe injuries in a side-impact accident due to another driver’s negligence, call the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, today. We can help you get compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, property damage, and any other losses you endured. Contact us at 865-546-1111 to schedule a no-obligation case evaluation with a side-impact accident lawyer in Knoxville.

Side-Impact Accidents Cause Catastrophic Injuries.

Side-impact accidents account for about 25 percent of all deaths that occur in passenger vehicle crashes in the U.S., according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Because many vehicles lack side airbags, occupants only have the vehicle’s side panel to separate them from another car or truck. The side panel has relatively little space to absorb energy and protect occupants, unlike the front or rear of your vehicle, which have substantial crumple zones to protect you in the event of a collision.

Typically, side-impact accidents occur in an intersection where a driver ignores a stops sign or runs a red light. The T-boned vehicle may then collide with a third car. In cases involving a vehicle rollover, the violent wreck may even throw occupants out of the vehicle, increasing the likelihood of severe injury or death.

Even if the vehicle occupants are wearing seat belts and the car’s front air bags deploy, serious injuries may still occur depending on the severity of the impact from the other vehicle. After a side-impact wreck, you and your passengers may be facing:

Brain injuries;
Chest injuries;
Spinal cord injuries;
Femur fractures;
Lung contusions;
Pelvic fractures;
Rib fractures; or
Skull fractures.

These injuries have the potential to become permanent, cause disfigurement, or lead to death. That is why it is essential you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries.

What Kind of Reimbursement Can I Receive?

Our attorneys can help you purse compensatory damages to cover all of your accident-related losses, including:

Medical expenses;
Ambulance transportation costs;
Physical therapy;
In-home medical care;
In-patient rehabilitation;
Lost wages;
Vehicle repair;
Pain and suffering;
Mental anguish; and
Emotional distress.

If the details of your case warrant it, we may also seek punitive damages. Punitive damages are only possible if we can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the driver acted maliciously, intentionally, fraudulently, or recklessly. If so, a judge will issue these additional damages to punish the driver and deter them from repeating their reckless behavior in the future. State law caps punitive damages at two times the total amount of compensatory damages awarded or $500,000—whichever is greater.

How Can I Receive Compensation After a Side-Impact Crash?

We can help you pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. We have an excellent team of specialists who help us build strong cases for victims of side-impact accidents.

Our attorneys can access reports from the police agencies that investigated your accident scene. After reviewing your medical records, our medical professionals can provide an opinion on the severity of your injuries and their long-term impact on your quality of life. Our firm also works accident reconstruction specialists so we can better understand how your crash occurred.

How Will a Lawyer Prove Fault in a Side-Impact Accident Claim?

We use this information to find the driver or drivers responsible for causing the accident. Tennessee is a fault state, which means the driver who caused the accident is liable for all of your damages and personal losses that occurred as a result of the crash.

Even after we find the at-fault driver, we must prove the four elements of negligence to receive compensation. We must offer evidence showing:

The at-fault driver owed a duty to other motorists to drive carefully;
The driver breached that duty;
The driver’s negligent behavior caused the crash and your injuries; and
You suffered damages as a result of the accident.

Our law firm has helped many injury accident victims prevail in insurance claims by successfully proving these elements in their case.

Do I Need a Lawyer?

Our skilled side-impact accident lawyers understand the complexities involved in this type of collision. Side-impact accidents can involve two or more drivers, multiple passengers, and an untold number of injuries. We know how to determine who caused the accident and can give you options on how to seek reimbursement for your injuries and damages to you vehicle. We have the resources to investigate every aspect of these dangerous accidents so that you will have the best chance possible of getting maximum compensation.

We also deal directly with the insurance company so you do not have to. Insurance companies often try to minimize your ability to get reimbursed for your losses after a side-impact crash. They may try to reject your claim if you were partially responsible for the accident. If you did share some of the blame for your wreck, we can still help you seek partial compensation based on your percentage of fault.

Our lawyers stand up to insurance companies by challenging low settlement offers and claim rejections to get you the full compensation you deserve. In addition, we serve as your legal representative in negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the insurance company refuses to settle, we can represent you in a personal injury lawsuit.

Start Developing Your Case Strategy Today.

Contact the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, today so we can begin collecting information we need to develop a solid strategy for your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

We work on a contingency fee basis. That means our law firm does not get paid for our services unless we achieve a favorable outcome for your claim. Let us get started on your case today. Call us at 865-546-1111 to arrange to meet with a side-impact accident lawyer in Knoxville.