Jackson, TN Drunk Driving Accidents
From 2007-2017, over 70,000 alcohol-related car accidents occurred in Tennessee. As staggering as this number is, this figure does not even include accidents on private property or accidents that resulted in less than $400 in damage. Despite constant media attention and high-profile campaigns against them, drunk driving accidents still happen, and often at the expense of others. If you or a loved one has been injured by an alcohol or drug-impaired driver in the Jackson area, call the Jackson drunk driving accident lawyers at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz to understand your rights following the car accident. Our law firm consists of 33 lawyers and over 120 support staff members that are ready and willing to take your call today. For more than 30 years, our firm has helped thousands of clients recover for their injuries and losses.
Recovering for Medical Bills and Other Damages Following a Drunk Driving Accident
Under Tennessee law, if you have been injured by a drunk driver in a car wreck, you have one year from the date of the incident to either properly file a lawsuit or settle your claim. Although one year sounds like a long time, in all actuality it is a very short time period when dealing with an auto accident claim. There are several moving pieces that must align for each auto accident claim to come together. For example, after any accident, there must be time allotted for investigating the accident, medical treatment, record review, and negotiation.
Many times, those injured by a drunk driver in Jackson sustain objective injuries that require months of treatment and result in thousands of dollars in medical bills. It is important to contact a Jackson lawyer immediately following a drunk driving accident to protect your rights before the statute of limitation expires.
To recover damages after a drunk driving accident, the innocent party will have to prove the elements of negligence under Tennessee law. To do this, the following elements must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence:
- Duty owed by defendant to plaintiff
- Breach of duty by defendant
- Causation (direct and proximate)
- Damages
If the defendant driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08% or higher and he or she is cited for drunk driving by the responding law enforcement agency, such as the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, it is likely the defendant will be considered to have breached their duty of care to the person they injured. In addition to pursuing compensatory damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and disfigurement, it may be appropriate to pursue punitive damages. In Tennessee, punitive damages serve to punish a defendant for reckless conduct and deter others in the community from acting that way in the future.
Call Our Jackson Office for a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Every year, thousands are injured by intoxicated drivers. Many times, these injuries are significant and often lead to permanent injuries or wrongful death. To document your damages, it may be necessary to retain expert witnesses. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver in the Jackson area, call Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz so you can speak to a Jackson drunk driving accident attorney about your rights. Contact our office by calling 800-529-4004 or by completing our online form to set up a free consultation with one of our auto accident lawyers. NST is the way to go.
