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If you were involved in a motor vehicle collision due to another person’s careless or reckless actions, you have a right to pursue comprehensive compensation for any losses you suffered. Recoverable damages in a Chattanooga side-impact car crash include repair costs or replacement for a damaged vehicle, as well as financial recovery for any physical injuries sustained.
A dedicated side-impact car accident attorney could help the victim of a T-bone wreck throughout the entire legal process to ensure they receive the fair financial awards they deserve.
Following a T-bone accident in Chattanooga, an injured individual has a right to file a claim to seek recoverable damages from the responsible party. Fault in Tennessee, however, may be assigned on a percentage basis to both drivers. It is possible that both drivers contributed to the wreck, and if so, each would bear a portion of the fault. Tennessee’s comparative fault system will bar recovery if the injured person is found to be more than 50 percent to blame for the crash.
In more straightforward situations where one driver has failed to yield, was speeding, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 100 percent liability will be assigned to that person. The innocent party may then seek compensation from the negligent individual to pay for damage to their property and their own bodily harm. Most often, this is handled through the at-fault driver’s automobile insurance.
A property damage adjuster whose job is exclusively to evaluate damage to vehicles will make a determination about the cost to repair or replace the car. If the car is salvageable, the negligent party—or more likely their insurance company—will be responsible for paying for the entirety of the repair bill. If the vehicle is determined to be a total loss, then the at-fault driver will be financially liable for the cost of a new car for the injured party.
For a vehicle that can undergo repairs, a person may also recover damages for depreciation in the car’s value. Following an accident, automobiles are practically guaranteed to decrease in value, since the wreck history is made public on websites online, such as CARFAX. A vehicle with a clean accident history will almost always be worth more than the exact same car that has been in a collision.
For certain types of vehicles, this depreciation of value can be worth thousands of dollars. Thus, it is important to make sure that, in addition to the cost of repairs, one recovers for any additional vehicle depreciation. An experienced lawyer could help ensure that all losses related to the automobile are covered in a comprehensive claim following a T-bone accident in Chattanooga.
Often, the largest financial recovery comes from the physical injuries sustained in these dangerous collisions. This consists of all the medical bills and treatment costs incurred for treating injuries caused by the other driver’s negligence. Recoverable damages for physical injuries, include, but are not limited to:
Some of these losses may be covered by the responsible party’s insurance company; however, based on the level of coverage, they may not pay for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. Fortunately, these types of losses could be recovered in a civil injury lawsuit. A knowledgeable attorney could review all of an injured individual’s viable legal options during an initial consultation.
Recoverable damages in a Chattanooga side-impact car crash can vary greatly based on the specific circumstances of the wreck. The first step is always gathering evidence to prove that another person bears complete responsibility, or at least the majority of the blame for the collision. Once fault is established, then a seasoned legal professional can put together a complete claim for fair compensation that includes all present and future losses a person may experience.
Learn more about what damages you may be able to recover following a T-bone accident by contacting the committed team of attorneys at Yates & Wheland today.