Chattanooga Reckless Driving Car Accidents
Attorneys Fighting for Motor Vehicle Wreck Victims in Chattanooga
Reckless driving car accidents come in many forms. Drag racing, speeding through school zones, driving while impaired or just completely disregarding the safety of others all can all be classified as reckless driving. Under Tennessee law, reckless driving is defined as the willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property and is classified as a misdemeanor with punishment up to six months in jail. If you have been injured by a reckless driver in the Chattanooga area, the Chattanooga car accident lawyers of Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz are ready to speak with you today. As the largest personal injury law firm based in Tennessee, NST is comprised of more than 30 attorneys and 120 support staff members.
I Was Hit by a Reckless Driver – Now What?
Reckless driving can have deadly consequences. Serious injuries or death often occur after a reckless driving incident because of the high speeds that are often involved. In order to recover from the injuries you sustained, you will need to prove that the defendant’s reckless or aggressive driving caused the accident to happen. This can be accomplished through witness accounts, police investigations, photographs and videos, and expert testimonies. For example, if the defendant was driving at a reckless speed through a school zone Goodwin Road in front of East Brainerd Elementary School and hit a pedestrian, witness accounts from students who saw that person driving recklessly over the speed limit could solidify a claim of reckless driving against him.
Two main types of recovery are available after a reckless driving car accident – compensatory and punitive. Compensatory damages include your tangible damages – medical bills and lost wages – and your intangible damages – pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, etc. Compensatory damages are designed to make the car accident victim whole. That means putting that individual in the position he or she would have been in had the wreck not occurred.
Punitive damages, on the other hand, have an entirely different purpose when compared to compensatory damages. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant’s actions. Per Tennessee law, punitive damages are only awarded if you can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted maliciously, intentionally, fraudulently, or recklessly.
Retain a Reckless Driving Accident Attorney in Chattanooga Today
Reckless driving car accidents account for nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities each year. Often those affected by the reckless driving of others are intimidated by insurance adjusters who try to avoid paying what victims are rightfully entitled to recover under the law. The Chattanooga attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz have fought back against the insurance companies and represented clients throughout Tennessee for over 30 years as well as victims throughout Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas, including in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Caruthersville, Hayti, Oxford, Starkville, Grenada, Columbus, Tupelo, Meridian, Jackson, Little Rock, and Jonesboro. Contact us by calling 800-529-4004 or by completing our online form for a free consultation with a car wreck lawyer. With all of our resources and experience at your disposal, NST is the way to go.