Intersections may be dangerous places. Cars and other motor vehicles may be coming from all directions, and a driver's failure to follow the rules of the road or a moment of distraction may result in an intersection crash that causes serious injuries. If you have been involved in a car wreck in East Tennessee, you may be contacted by an insurance adjustor who is hoping to squeeze an admission of fault out of you. It is important not to provide a statement to the adjustor. In most cases, they are trying to find a way to protect profits and avoid paying you the compensation that you deserve. Maryville car crash attorney Mark Hartsoe is ready to provide advice and representation to victims who have suffered devastating harm.
Seeking Compensation for an Intersection CrashAfter an accident, you should take down the other driver's insurance and contact information and take photographs of property damage, debris, skid marks, and injuries. You should also note the time of the accident. Often, traffic signals at an intersection are on a timer, and taking note of the time may help prove that you had a green light or the right of way at the time of the accident. In many cases, drivers' accounts of what happened differ, and any objective evidence that tends to show that your account is more likely than not to be true will be useful.
In most cases, to establish your right to compensation, you will need to show that another party is liable for negligence. All drivers are required to drive safely to avoid causing injuries to others. If you can prove by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) that another driver failed to drive safely, and this failure was the cause of your injuries, you may be able to recover damages. If the defendant violated a safety ordinance or statute, the violation may give rise to a claim for negligence per se or negligence as a matter of law. For this doctrine to be applied, the defendant must have committed a violation of a safety law that caused the accident, and the safety statute must have been enacted to protect against the type of accident that actually occurred.
Whether you establish negligence or negligence per se, you will also need to prove what your actual damages are. These may include past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and loss of consortium.
Often, drivers defend themselves in intersection crash cases by claiming comparative fault. This means that a defendant may try to show that your negligence, rather than their own negligence, was the cause of your injuries. Car wreck lawyer Mark Hartsoe is ready to protect you against efforts by defendants to prevent or reduce your compensation award.
Discuss Your Car Crash Case with Maryville Attorney Mark HartsoeMaryville car crash lawyer Mark Hartsoe has the extensive experience and resources to represent you after an intersection collision. He can develop an appropriate strategy to pursue fair and just compensation. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form for a free consultation with a motor vehicle accident attorney. Mark Hartsoe represents victims throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.