Martinson & Beason, P.C.
If you have suffered injury following a Johnson City, Tennessee auto accident, the most important thing you can do is to call an experienced personal injury attorney with a solid record of positive client outcomes. In 2014, there were four fatalities resulting from car accidents, with one of those accidents involving an impaired driver. Knob Creek Dock Road, Carroll Creek Road and East Oakland Avenue and East Lakeview Drive are the areas where these fatal accidents occurred. The area around I-26, James H. Quillen Pkwy is another area where auto accidents frequently occur.
Washington County ranked 9th in the number of automobile accidents as compared to other counties across the state of Tennessee, 91st for fatal crashes and 67th for injury crashes. The alcohol-impaired fatality ranking for car accidents in Washington County is 88th in the state, while the speeding rank (the number of auto accidents which were caused by excessive speed) is 9th. Since Johnson City was rated the #14th Best Small Place for Business and Careers by Forbes, it is likely the city will continue to grow, making it likely there will be more and more auto accidents.
You, like most people, may have been very shaken up following your auto accident. Perhaps you were seriously injured, or perhaps you only had minor injuries, but you still had to deal with the damages to your vehicle. In some instances, even injuries which seemed relatively minor at the time can cause you to make less-than-rational decisions. This is why having a legal advocate by your side from the time of your accident is so important. Your attorney will work hard to ensure your rights are protected from start to finish, and to give you time to heal from your injuries without worrying about your future. For additional information regarding your auto accident, click here to read our Car Accident Guide. Below you will find important answers to questions about auto accidents.
When the Police Arrive at the Scene of the Accident Should I Talk to Them?
While you should refrain from talking to the other driver (other than to give them your contact information) and you should definitely refrain from posting on social media about the accident, you can answer the questions asked by the police officer. It is important to note that while you should answer the officer’s questions, you should avoid taking responsibility for the accident—even if you think it might be your fault—and you should avoid making accusations against the other driver.
How Quickly Should I Contact a Lawyer Following My Accident?
The quicker you contact an attorney after your accident, the better, particularly if you have severe injuries, or a death resulted from the accident. Valuable evidence can disappear as time passes, witnesses can move, and memories can grow dim. This makes it much more difficult for your attorney to prove your case and get you the compensation you need and deserve. Your personal injury attorney will also be able to offer guidance regarding your medical treatments and your unpaid medical bills.
Should I Notify My Insurance Company if the Accident Wasn’t My Fault?
You have a duty to cooperate with your own insurance company, and most insurance carriers do require that you contact them as soon as possible after an accident, even if you were not at fault. Just as you should avoid taking blame with the police officer, you should do the same with your insurance company. Try to avoid making a statement about who was at fault altogether, and do your best to simply relate the facts of the accident. Before you do any more than this, you should definitely contact a knowledgeable Tennessee personal injury attorney for guidance.
Should I Call the Other Driver’s Insurance Company if He or She Was at Fault?
If you were not the at-fault driver, you may think you should contact the other driver’s insurance company. This is really not a good idea until you have spoken to a personal injury attorney. The most innocent comment you make to the other driver’s insurance company can be twisted in ways you would not recognize, and you could end up severely jeopardizing your case. It is much better to let your personal injury attorney contact the other driver’s insurance company so you can get the compensation you deserve.
What if the Other Driver Has No Insurance?
Unfortunately, as the price of auto insurance has continued to increase, more and more drivers are on the roadways with no insurance. If you are involved in an accident with an at-fault, uninsured driver, you may think you have no recourse as far as collecting damages for repairing your car and your medical expenses, but this is not true. You can collect from your own insurance company under your underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. If you don’t have this coverage, you will have no choice but to file a lawsuit against the uninsured driver.
You may have many more questions you need solid legal answers to following your Johnson City Car accident. If you suffered injury due to the negligence of another driver, it is extremely important to have a personal injury attorney from Martinson & Beason, P.C. by your side. Our attorneys have compassion for your current situation and will work hard to get you the compensation you need and deserve. Our attorneys have been protecting those injured in auto accidents since 1937. Call Martinson & Beason, P.C. today for a free consultation to find out how we can help you.
