If you were injured during a car crash in Shelbyville, our lawyers can help you get the damages you need from the negligent driver.
In Shelbyville, top causes of accidents include failure to yield to the right of way, failure to obey traffic controls, and following improperly. In 2023, there were 15 traffic accident fatalities and hundreds of injuries reported in and around Shelbyville. Because of the short statute of limitations for filing car accident lawsuits in Tennessee, victims hurt in crashes should start preparing their claims right away. Throughout your case, allow our lawyers to focus on your financial recovery so that you can prioritize your physical health. We can handle communications with negligent drivers and other parties and engage in settlement negotiations on your behalf, all in an effort to get you the damages you deserve following a car accident.
To get your case reviewed for free by Howe Law’s Shelbyville, TN car accident lawyers, call us today at (844) 876-4357.
Car Accident Data for Shelbyville, TN
While car accidents might happen for any number of reasons in Shelbyville, there are a few common causes that tend to top the list. That said, as long as someone else’s negligent act caused your auto accident, you can most likely sue for compensatory damages.
Primary and Contributing Causes of Accidents
As the county seat of Bedford County, Shelbyville sees its fair share of auto accidents. According to the most recent crash data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, intoxication was a contributing or primary cause of 83 car accidents in Bedford County in 2023. According to the same agency, about 103 reported car accidents were caused by distracted driving in Bedford County in 2023 as well.
Failure to yield to the right of way was the top cause of auto accidents in the area in 2023, resulting in 246 collisions. Other common causes of crashes in Shelbyville for the year were following improperly, failure to obey traffic controls, and careless or erratic driving.
Fatalities and Injuries
In the same year, there were 15 car accident fatalities in the area. There were 86 instances of suspected serious injury, 235 instances of suspected minor injury, 112 instances of possible injury, and 2,207 instances of no injury at the accident scene in Bedford County in 2023. Furthermore, there were a total of eight pedestrians and one bicyclist involved in auto accidents in Shelbyville and the surrounding area in 2023. While it is useful to have this information, it does not mean that these are exact numbers relating to car accident injuries in Shelbyville, as not all accidents and injuries are reported to law enforcement. This might be for several reasons, such as the victim being unaware of their injuries until several days after a crash takes place.
Common Times and Locations of Accidents
According to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the majority of accidents in 2023 happened on Fridays, between the hours of three in the afternoon and six in the evening. Furthermore, the most common months for car accidents in Shelbyville and the rest of Bedford County were June, July, October, November, and December.
Accidents tend to happen at certain locations more frequently than others. For example, collisions often take place at intersections or on highways. Drivers might be more likely to be in an accident when merging, driving at high speeds, or driving at night.
When to Sue for Car Accident Injuries in Shelbyville, TN
Sometimes, car accidents do not appear serious, and victims think that their injuries are not severe enough to warrant compensation. In reality, if you incurred damages as a result of another person’s negligence, you can file a lawsuit.
Doing so as soon as possible following your accident will be important for several reasons. First, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit for a motor vehicle accident in Shelbyville is only one year, according to T.C.A. § 28-3-104(a)(1)(A). That is a very short period of time for victims to organize their damages, understand their injuries, and prepare a claim. Because of this, notifying our car accident lawyers of your incident and case immediately will be crucial. That way, we will have sufficient time to investigate the crash and build your compensation case.
Some victims are not immediately aware of their injuries. For example, whiplash, which victims of rear-end accidents often sustain, might take days or weeks to appear. Other soft tissue injuries or internal injuries might take a similar amount of time to become apparent. Fortunately, there is a discovery rule that could toll the statute of limitations for victims who discovered their injuries at a later date, but this exception does not apply to every case.
What to Keep in Mind When Suing for a Car Accident in Shelbyville, TN
During the course of your auto accident lawsuit in Shelbyville, it will be important for you to keep several things in mind, namely the fact that you are entitled to compensatory damages.
Lawsuits might be challenging for victims for various reasons, especially if they are dealing with serious injuries. Our attorneys can focus on preparing and filing your claim, as well as handling all necessary conversations with the defendant and their counsel so that you can focus on getting the medical care you need.
This might include managing settlement negotiations, which are part of many accident and injury cases in Shelbyville. During settlement negotiations, our lawyers will represent your best interests and advocate on your behalf for a higher settlement. We can evaluate settlement offers as they come in based on our calculation of your damages. We may proceed with a trial if a settlement cannot fairly compensate you for your losses. This will be your opportunity to present your evidence in front of a jury. The jury will then award you your damages, which is why keeping proof of all losses related to your injuries is important. A jury award will likely include compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Compensation for pain and suffering is currently capped at $750,000, according to T.C.A. § 29-39-102(a)(2).
Call Our Lawyers to Discuss Your Shelbyville, TN Car Accident Case
To get a free case assessment from Howe Law, call our car accident lawyers now at (844) 876-4357.
