Motor vehicle accidents have many causes: inattentive drivers, intoxicated drivers, dangerous weather conditions and even poor road maintenance. No matter what the cause, the impact can be devastating. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation and case evaluation with an attorney.
Chattanooga Accident Injury Attorneys
A car accident can change your life in a second, and even a low-speed collision can leave you and your family facing serious physical, emotional and financial challenges. When you are trying to decide how to move forward, it is important that you have all the information you need to make the right decision.
At the law office of Stulce & Yantis our attorneys offer more than 60 years of combined legal experience and a proven record of service. Our lawyers work with clients throughout Southeastern Tennessee and North Georgia, to make sure people have the counsel, guidance and advice they need to successfully pursue full and fair compensation.
Below you will find some basic information about motor vehicle accidents and personal injury claims. To get specific advice on your case, contact our office today.
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Our attorneys are Board Certified Trial Specialists — a title given only to legal professionals that have consistently produced significant results for clients in the courtroom over a career of legal practice. It means that we have the knowledge, resources and ability to fight for you.
Contact the Chattanooga office of Stulce & Yantis to schedule a free initial consultation and case review. Call us locally at 423-933-1504, toll-free at 888-820-7541 or contact us online to set up an appointment.
Auto Accident Injuries and Compensation
An individual who has been injured in an automobile accident may be able to seek monetary compensation for injuries and damages. Cases are fact specific, typically with complex issues of proof and fault in dispute. Working with an experienced attorney from Stulce & Yantis in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will help you sort out your legal options.
Compensation for Your Losses
The injured party in a motor vehicle accident may be able to recover damages from the party or parties who caused the accident. Damages are monetary compensation for the victim’s injuries or losses. Compensable injuries include physical injuries like broken bones, spinal cord injuries and head injuries; the pain and suffering caused by physical injuries may also be compensable.
Damages may also be sought to pay for the victim’s medical bills — bills that arose directly after the accident, in addition to reasonable future medical bills. If the victim requires rehabilitative services or accommodations, such as physical therapy or a ramp leading to the home, these costs may be recovered. The accident victim also may recover lost past and future wages. Compensation for damage to personal property may also be recoverable.
Other damages that are more difficult to quantify may also be sought. Mental pain and suffering may be compensable, as may permanent impairment or disfigurement. Loss of enjoyment of life is also compensable in certain situations.
If the injured person was already suffering from a previous injury, that does not necessarily bar monetary recovery. The accident may have aggravated or worsened the victim’s existing injury, and the new injury can be treated as a separate matter from the underlying injury.
If you have been injured in an auto accident, it is a good idea to keep a daily diary documenting how the injury is affecting you, both emotionally and physically. This can be of great assistance when it comes time to show the effects of the accident.
Spouse’s Damages: Loss of Consortium
Even if the spouse of the motor vehicle accident victim was not in the car at the time of the crash, the spouse may also be experiencing a loss. Almost every state recognizes the claim of loss of consortium. Loss of consortium refers to the negative effect the accident has had on the marital relationship. The marital relationship generally comes with certain benefits, such as companionship, comfort, assistance, sexual relations and affection; the loss of consortium can be temporary or permanent.
Auto Insurance
It is most often the case that auto accident victims who recover in court or via a settlement are paid by the other driver’s insurance company. If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, however, the accident victim must pursue other means of recovery.
The insurance policy of the victim may have an uninsured-motorist or underinsured-motorist provision that will compensate the victim. Other types of insurance policies, available through the victim’s spouse or employer, may also provide benefits. How significant a benefit and whether it is available depends, of course, on the specifics of the policy itself.
Amount of Financial Recovery
The level of damages to which the auto accident victim may be entitled depends on numerous factors. State law, the victim’s injuries, proving the facts of the case and even the victim’s own actions can come into play. So can the type and length of medical treatment, the insurance coverage of each party, the effect of the accident on the victim’s income and the permanence of the injuries. This is why an experienced attorney can be such a strong ally in planning the case and assessing damages.
Contact an Attorney
A motor vehicle accident can have catastrophic consequences, both for the victim and the victim’s family. Contact an attorney at Stulce & Yantis in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to discuss your legal options.
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