Chattanooga Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
NST Wrongful Death Attorneys Fighting for Grieving Families in Chattanooga
Most of us have seen variable-message signs – the electronic traffic signs often used on roadways to notify travelers of accidents, roadwork zones, congested traffic, special events, and more – while driving on interstate highways. You may have even seen one advising motorists to share the road with motorcyclists. Suggestions like that are important because accidents involving motorcycles often result in the motorcyclist being fatally injured or killed upon impact. Fatal motorcycle accidents can leave families devastated – both emotionally and financially. If your loved one died in a motorcycle accident in Chattanooga, you should contact one of the Chattanooga motorcycle accident lawyers of the largest plaintiff’s personal injury law firm based in Tennessee: Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz. With over 30 attorneys, more than 120 support staff members, and upwards of 30 years of experience, our firm has the necessary resources and experience to assist you in bringing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Recovering Damages After a Fatal Motorcycle Accident
One of the first things you should do after a loved one has died in a motorcycle crash that happened in Hamilton County is retain an experienced attorney. This is mainly due to the fact that Tennessee’s statute of limitations to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against a negligent driver is one year from the date of the collision. A lawyer will want to investigate all potentially-liable parties and insurance coverage that could cover the loss.
In a fatal motorcycle collision lawsuit, you can establish liability by showing the other driver’s negligence. Establishing the defendant’s negligence can be done by proving that the other driver breached a duty of reasonable care that he or she owed the motorcyclist, which fatally injured or killed the motorcyclist as a result. Common forms of negligence include drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, and disregarding traffic rules. In recent years, fatal motorcycle wrecks have occurred on Chattanooga roadways such as Rossville Boulevard, Bonny Oaks Drive, and Highway 58.
Often after a fatal motorcycle crash, a decedent’s surviving family members are unaware of who has the right to file a wrongful death claim. In Tennessee, there is a line of succession regarding who has the right to file. Initially, the filing right belongs to the decedent’s surviving spouse, but if there is no surviving spouse, the claim belongs to the surviving children or next of kin. Other parties that could have the right to file include the decedent’s surviving parents or administrator of the estate. If the decedent passed away without a will, damages will be awarded to beneficiaries pursuant to intestate succession laws.
A wrongful death case in Tennessee can award damages to surviving family members for harm caused to them by their loved one’s untimely passing. They can be compensated for losses like funeral and burial expenses; loss of the decedent’s society, love, and companionship; and loss of time, mental and physical suffering, and necessary expenses incurred by family members as a result of their loved one’s death. Depending on the decedent’s age, occupation, work experience, and earning history, future lost wages may be recovered. It may be necessary to consult with a vocational economist to calculate this figure.
Consult a Skilled Motorcycle Collision Lawyer to Explore Your Options
Fatal motorcycle accidents tend to leave surviving family members grief-stricken. To make matters worse, they usually are the ones who are left paying for funeral expenses, burial expenses, medical bills, and more. At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, we are dedicated to fighting for the damages our clients deserve. We represent clients in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Jackson, Meridian, Tupelo, Columbus, Grenada, Starkville, Oxford, Hayti, Caruthersville, and throughout other communities in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Kentucky. Contact our office by calling us toll-free at 800-529-4004 or by completing our online form to set up a free appointment. For people seeking an auto accident lawyer, NST is the way to go.