If you or a loved one has been hurt, injured, or killed in a car accident in Nashville, it is important that you contact an experienced law firm that is well-versed in handling these types of accident claims. At Monge & Associates, we have a history of success handling thousands of car accident cases throughout the state of Tennessee. We can help ensure that your rights are protected.
Our Nashville, TN personal injury attorneys have the experience and knowledge to obtain the very best results for you, and to help get you back on your feet. We have been successful in recovering millions of dollars in compensation on behalf of our clients. Call Monge & Associates today at 888-688-1924 for a free case evaluation.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Car Accident in Nashville?
If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s fault or negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for all of your harm and losses. In Tennessee, the law provides for compensatory compensation to attempt to put you back in the same position that you would have been in if the accident didn’t happen.
Generally, you may be entitled to compensation for damage to your vehicle, pain and suffering, loss of earnings or earning capacity, and all past and future monetary losses and expenses that you may have incurred. Some factors that must be considered when determining the amount of compensation you are owed include:
- How your injuries are affecting your quality of life
- Whether you are able to do all of the things that you previously enjoyed doing before the accident
- Whether you are able to perform everyday tasks at work or at home
- The amount of money you would have earned had you not been injured
- The amount of out-of-pocket expenses you have incurred in relation to medical treatment, as well as other money that you might have had to spend as a result of the accident
The at-fault party’s auto insurance provider will do whatever they can to limit how much they have to pay you, or deny your claim completely. An experienced car accident attorney from Monge & Associates can help you evaluate your damages and gather the evidence needed to support your claim for full compensation.
Why Work With an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
A skilled car accident attorney from our law firm can help you work out the necessary paperwork and guide you through the legal process of recovering compensation for your injuries and losses resulting from the accident. In addition, your attorney can help you identify all legal options and make the decisions that lead to the best possible outcome for your case.
Every car accident case is different, and whether you have a valid claim will depend on the specific facts of your case and how well you can prove that the other driver was at fault. This is why it is important to consult with an experienced Nashville car accident attorney to discuss the viability of a potential car accident claim. At Monge & Associates, we have experience handling all manner of collisions, including those involving large commercial trucks, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
What to Do and What Not to Do After a Car Accident
Car accident cases are a bit like concrete ─ once time goes by, they set and harden into either strong, solid cases or weak and brittle ones. What follows is a list of do’s and don’ts in the weeks following a car accident that will help you to build a strong case for compensation:
- Get medical care: This should be your number one priority. Even if you don’t feel pain at the accident scene, you should call your doctor or specialist in the first week to get checked out.
- Don’t settle your case too quickly: After a car accident, it takes time to understand the full extent of your losses. So, you don’t want to settle your case too quickly. In Tennessee, you have one year to settle your claim or file a lawsuit to recover the compensation you deserve. During this time, you and your attorney will be working with your doctors and other experts to fully evaluate your injuries and losses to determine the total value of your claim.
- Be careful what you say: When speaking to the insurance company after a car accident, keep your conversations very brief, stick to the facts, and avoid chit-chat. Above all, you should not give any recorded statement until you have talked to a qualified attorney about your case
- Beware of the insurance adjuster: The insurance adjuster has a job to do, usually with the goal of closing your claim as quickly and as cheaply as possible. They are not your enemy, but they are not your friend either. The insurance adjuster cannot advocate for you, nor can they represent you in your claim. No matter how nice the adjuster seems, be careful what you say to them, and assume that anything you say can and will be used against you.
- Don’t admit fault: When talking to law enforcement or the insurance company after the accident, don’t admit to any mistake or error in your driving. Under the law of comparative negligence, your financial recovery can be reduced by your own percentage of fault for the accident. So, never admit to any amount of fault.
- Get an attorney involved: Call an experienced Nashville car accident attorney for a free consultation about your rights and the steps that you can take to build your case. Do this before you speak to the insurance company, and never accept any offers or sign any documents before you speak to an attorney.
Call the Nashville Car Accident Attorneys at Monge & Associates Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Nashville, your best chance to receive full and fair compensation is to have legal representation that is experienced in Tennessee car accident cases. Our skilled Nashville car accident attorneys are the perfect place to start. Call Monge & Associates today at 888-688-1924 for a free case evaluation or to simply ask questions concerning your situation.
Tennessee Crash Resources: How drunk driving fatalities in Tennessee compare to the rest of the US
There were an estimated 42,795 fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes in 2022, down by 0.3% from the year prior, according to early estimates released in April 2023 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While a reduction in crash-related deaths, even one as slight as this, is generally positive, the facts remain deeply concerning: Crash-related deaths rose more than 10% in 2021 and more than 7% the year before that, marking a disturbing trend leading into and persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the most recent full year of traffic-death data available, drunken driving fatalities rose by 14% from 2020. Monge and Associates cited data from NHTSA to identify states with the highest rate of fatalities from car accidents involving at least one drunken driver. States are ranked by drunken driving fatalities per 100,000 residents. This rate is listed up to its first decimal point, but the exact ranking of states was determined from the total rate calculation, which did not result in ties.
A blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher is considered impaired. Judgment and driving abilities continue to worsen as BAC levels increase. Laws adopted between 1982 and 1997 throughout most of the U.S. successfully decreased the proportion of DUI-related motor vehicle fatalities in subsequent years.
Alternative transportation programs have also shown some promise in helping to deter drunken driving. Even in areas lacking robust transit options, recent studies suggest that alternatives such as rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can reduce drunken driving-related collisions.
Keep reading to see what percentage of car crash deaths in Tennessee involved drunken driving and how it compares to the 49 other states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. See the ranking of all 52 states and territories here.
Tennessee by the numbers
#12 highest
– Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.1 (355, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
– Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (247, 69.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
– Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 24.1% increase
Continue below to see drunk driving statistics of other states in your region.
Alabama by the numbers
#10 highest
– Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.6 (281, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
– Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (177, 63% of all drunken driving fatalities)
– Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 17.1% increase
Arkansas by the numbers
#7 highest
– Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.1 (185, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
– Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.8 per 100K (116, 62.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
– Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 28.5% increase