Jackson, TN Car Accidents at Intersections and Stoplights
Auto Collision Lawyers Serving Jackson and the Surrounding Area
Car accidents at intersections and stoplights occur each day, and fault can be heavily disputed among the parties involved. When intersection crashes occur, the drivers involved often point fingers at each other, claiming they each had the green light or right-of-way. If you have been injured in a car wreck in Jackson or Madison County, you should promptly seek the advice of a qualified attorney who can help you gather the evidence needed to assert your case. The Jackson car accident attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz may be able to represent you, and we will work diligently to prove the defendant’s negligence and fight for the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. We are the largest plaintiff’s personal injury firm based in Tennessee.
Seeking Compensation After a Car Crash
As with any other auto accident claim in Tennessee, a person injured in a collision at an intersection or stoplight must first prove that his or her injuries were caused by the other driver’s negligence. If the other driver was cited for disobeying a traffic signal or running a stop sign due to texting while driving, it can be much easier to prove negligence. In fact, you may be able to seek recovery under a theory of negligence per se, where an act is presumed to be negligent if it violates a safety law designed to protect you as well as members of the public, such as a traffic law. In Tennessee, it is illegal to text while driving. The defendant is not required to be found guilty in traffic court for you to proceed under this theory of negligence.
In many car accidents at intersections and stoplights, the responding law enforcement officer will decline to issue any citations since the other driver’s description of the accident may conflict with your story of how the accident occurred. Often times, a swearing match will ensue, with each driver blaming the other. Tennessee follows a comparative fault system under which a percentage of fault may be attributed to each vehicle. However, in order to recover compensation against the other driver, you must not be equally or more at fault for the accident than the other driver. If your portion of fault is less than 50%, then your damages award will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. If you and the other driver are both deemed to be 50% at fault for the accident, which is the case in many intersection cases where it is one person’s word against another’s, then your fault is not less than 50% and you may not be able to recover. A Jackson attorney can discuss how comparative fault could affect the outcome of your case.
For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault and the other driver is determined to be 51% at fault, then you will be able to recover for your losses caused by the collision, but your damages award will be reduced by 20% for your percentage of fault. Thus, an award of $100,000.00 award will be reduced to $80,000.00 in this scenario. If you and the other driver are each deemed to be 50% at fault for the accident, you may not receive anything at all. This is why it is important to discuss your case with an experienced car accident lawyer in Jackson early in the process.
In cases where liability may be disputed, it is important to immediately seek the assistance of an attorney who can investigate the claim and preserve any evidence that helps to prove the other driver’s fault. There may be a traffic camera nearby that captured the collision, or perhaps a local business caught the accident on its security surveillance footage. An attorney can request this footage before it is recorded over and file a subpoena if necessary to obtain it. Your attorney can also interview eyewitnesses who may be able to state that it was your vehicle that had the green light or right-of-way. Independent evidence can go a long way in ensuring that you recover compensation sufficient to cover your medical bills and other losses.
Seek the Advice of Our Local Car Wreck Attorneys
Car accidents at intersections and stoplights can result in serious injuries. If you have been the victim of this type of collision, call Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz today to speak with one of our Jackson lawyers who can advise you of your legal rights. We employ a dedicated team of more than 30 attorneys and 100 staff members, and we have recovered more than $1.5 billion in compensation for our injured clients. 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 collision lawyer in Jackson.
