Automobile Accidents
Everyday, countless lives are destroyed or seriously disrupted due to car accidents caused by negligent drivers. A driver is negligent when they do not demonstrate reasonable care while they are operating a vehicle, such as driving too fast for conditions, failing to stop at a stop sign or red-light, drunk driving, speeding, talking on a cell phone, texting or anything else that distracts a driver or puts others unnecessarily at risk.
It is important to contact an attorney immediately after you are involved in an accident so that valuable time and resources are not wasted, and memories and witnesses are not lost. If you wait to contact a Tennessee car accident lawyer, it may ultimately affect your ability to receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may have the right to collect for medical bills, loss of wages and ability to earn future wages, pain and permanent injuries (including disfigurement, broken bones and scarring, etc.) and more. Contact your Memphis car accident lawyer, Susan Mackenzie, today to begin discussing what damages you are eligible for under law.
What to do After an Accident
The moments after you have a car accident can be terrifying. Your main goal should be to remain calm and think through your next steps. Suzan Mackenzie has compiled a short list of things to do after experiencing a car accident:
Stop immediately. Stay calm and do what you can within reason to avoid blocking traffic. Never leave the scene of a Memphis auto accident in which you or your car was involved, no matter how slight the collision. Pull over to the side of the road as soon as possible without endangering any other person and without obstructing traffic.
Check to see if anyone is injured. Contact 911 or any other ambulance service if there are serious injuries in order to receive medical treatment. Do not assume that a lack of an obvious injury means that a person is not hurt.
Call the police. A Tennessee auto accident should be reported to the proper authorities. The report may not only be helpful if you determine that you are injured or there is damage to your car, but it may also be helpful later if the other person tries to avoid responsibility for the accident.
Don't sign. If an insurance adjustor shows up at the scene, don't give any statements and don't sign anything. It is okay to sign a ticket presented by a police officer, as this does not act as an admission of guilt.
Gather information. If possible, get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of witnesses. Get the name and policy number of the driver’s automobile insurance.
Visit your doctor. If you are concerned about injuries, or feel any pain, it is best to be examined by a doctor at the earliest possible time or to go to the nearest emergency room. When a doctor examines you, make sure that you are specific in explaining to the physician how the accident happened and all injuries and problems you sustained as a result.
Inform your insurance company. Make sure that you call your insurance company immediately to report the Tennessee car accident. Failing to promptly report the accident could in some instances result in the insurance company not covering you for the accident.
Before signing any statements, consult a Tennessee auto accident lawyer, such as Susan Mackenzie, that focuses on helping those who have been injured in auto accidents. Mackenzie helps her clients get the money they deserve for their injuries.