Jackson, TN Highway Accidents
Jackson serves as the midpoint between Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee’s two largest cities. Due to its location in West Tennessee, several highways and interstates pass through the city, such as Interstate 40 and Highways 45, 70, and 412. As a result, highway accidents are extremely common in Jackson. Since these roads usually have higher speed limits than others, these wrecks can result in serious injuries. If you have been injured in a highway car crash, you should promptly seek the advice of a competent attorney who can protect your interests and obtain fair compensation for you through negotiation or litigation. The Jackson car accident attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz may be able to assist you with your bodily injury claim, and we will work diligently to get you the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We are the largest plaintiff’s personal injury firm based in Tennessee.
Highway Accidents in Madison County
Highways usually have speed limits of 55 miles per hour or higher. Collisions between vehicles at high speeds can cause neck and back injuries, concussions, broken bones, and other disabling conditions. In Tennessee, an injured party typically has just one year to settle his or her bodily injury claim or to file suit with the appropriate court. If you do not resolve your case or file a lawsuit within that time, your right to recover compensation may be barred forever.
As with any other auto accident, a person injured in a highway accident must prove that his or her injuries were caused by the other driver’s negligence. If the other driver was cited for speeding, illegal passing, or another driving offense, it is much easier to meet this legal burden. In fact, the accident victim may seek recovery under the theory of negligence per se, where an act is presumed to be negligent if it violates a safety law, such as a traffic ordinance. The defendant being convicted of a driving offense in criminal court is not required in order to succeed in a personal injury action in civil court.
If another car hits you, you should call the police to the scene. The Jackson Police Department can be reached at 731-425-8400. In certain situations, the responding law enforcement officer will decline to issue any citations if the other driver’s description of the accident conflicts with your version. In those cases, it is especially important to seek the assistance of a qualified attorney in the Jackson area who can investigate the claim, interview eyewitnesses, and take steps to preserve evidence that helps to prove the other driver’s fault. Otherwise, the at-fault driver may point the finger at you for the accident, causing the liability insurance carrier to deny or contest your bodily injury claim.
Even if you are partly at fault for the accident, you may be able to recover damages through Tennessee’s comparative fault system under which a percentage of fault may be attributed to each vehicle in a highway accident. If your portion of fault exceeds 50%, however, you may be barred from recovery and thus unable to collect any damages from the other driver or his insurance carrier. If your portion of fault is considered less than 50%, your damages award will be reduced by that percentage. In other words, you must not be equally or more at fault for the accident than the other driver, or there could be no recovery for you.
Seek the Advice of a Car Accident Attorney in Your Area
Highways are frequently traveled and the site of many car crashes each day in Jackson and Madison County. If you have been the victim of a highway collision, you should call our Jackson lawyers today. Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz employs a dedicated team of more than 30 attorneys and 120 support staff members, and we have recovered more than $1.5 billion in compensation on behalf of injured clients in Tennessee. Contact us by calling 800-529-4004 or by completing our online form for a free consultation. Let us show you why NST is the way to go if you need a motor vehicle accident lawyer in Jackson, Tennessee.
