Knoxville Car Accident Lawyers
Car, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, motorcycle, and all types of motor vehicle accidents happen nearly every day in Knoxville, Tennessee. The attorneys at NST Law fight for our client’s rights to receive compensation after another driver causes them harm.
If you or a loved one experienced a car accident in Tennessee, you don’t have to go through the complex legal processes alone. A personal injury lawyer can provide you with the legal services you need to seek compensation for your injuries and damages.
Our legal team is not just your average group of car accident lawyers. We will walk you through your legal rights, help you evaluate your claim based on your medical expenses and other damages, and handle all communications with insurance companies. We look out for our client’s best interests and can take on many types of personal injury cases.
Do I have a valid case?
If you’re an accident victim that experienced severe injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. To determine whether you have a valid case, you must be able to prove that the other driver was negligent. To prove negligence in Tennessee, you must be able to demonstrate the following elements:
- The other driver owed you a duty of care
- The other driver breached that duty of care
- The breach of that duty of care caused your injuries or damages
- You actually experienced injuries or damages
Tennessee law also recognizes a modified comparative negligence rule. Under comparative negligence, you must be able to prove that you were not entirely or partially at fault. Tennessee uses the 50% rule, meaning you can recover for your damages only if you are 49% or less at fault for the crash.
This analysis can be tricky. Our team of Knoxville car accident attorneys at NST Law can provide you with the legal advice you need to determine whether you have a case and the best way to file your insurance claim to receive the compensation you deserve.
How common are car accidents in Knoxville?
The number of car accidents in Knoxville has increased over the years. In 2016, Knox County had 14,149 total accidents, with 2,881 leading to injuries and 70 fatalities. In 2018, Knox County had 14,569 total accidents, leading to 2,935 injuries and 62 deaths. In 2020, Knox County’s accident numbers actually decreased likely due to the COVID restrictions, which led to fewer cars on the road, with only 11,497 total accidents, 2,587 injuries, and 56 deaths. The number of injuries and deaths in 2020 did not decrease significantly despite the noticeable decrease in car accidents.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Knox County has seen the most accidents on Fridays consistently from 2010 through May 31, 2021, with the most common time for an accident occurring during rush hour between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
A recent car accident case in North Knoxville left one dead and another hospitalized after a car traveling northbound on Bruhin Road collided with a truck traveling southbound.
It can be overwhelming attempting to deal with the aftermath of an accident. The personal injury attorneys of Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz help victims with all types of accident-related injuries navigate the legal process to get the compensation they need to aid in their recovery.
Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Knoxville
Some of the more dangerous roads in Knox County include:
- Chapman Highway: A major highway linking Sevierville to downtown Knoxville, Chapman Highway has seen 77 fatal car crashes between 2005 to 2019.
- Canton Hollow Road: Owing to its steep and uneven bends, Canton Hollow Road has reduced visibility points. Moreover, it serves as a link to many key neighborhoods and is a hub of heavy traffic. An average of roughly 50 accidents occur on this road in a two-year period.
- Joe Hinton Road: With many motor vehicles using this short stretch of less than a mile, Joe Hinton Road is simply unable to bear the congestion of traffic that it faces. Within a time period of two years, 33 accidents were reported.
Some of the more dangerous intersections in the area include:
- Canton Hollow Road between Kingston Pike and Fox Road
- Fox Lonas Road between Walker Springs and Crest Forrest Road
- S. Gallahe View between Gleason Avenue and Westland Drive
- Sevierville Pike between Helix Lane and E. Norton Road
- Brown Gap Road between Maynardville Pike and Carter Road
- Gray Hendrix Road between Beaver Ridge and Byington Solway Road
- Andersonville Pike between McCloud Road and Hill Road
- Gleason Drive between Ebenezer Road and South Gallaher View
Below is a map of the traffic hotspots around Knoxville. The majority of the traffic and more serious accidents fall along I-40 going through the city. The most congested and dangerous section is in the city center, where the I-40 connects to I-640 and I-275.
Common Types of Car Accidents In Knoxville
The most common types of accidents include:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Side-impact collisions
- Vehicle and SUV rollovers
- Left-turn accidents and intersection accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Uber accidents
- Lyft accidents
- Hit and run accidents
- Highway accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Semi-truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
Knoxville residents can experience fatal injuries in traffic accidents. Legal representation can help you with your financial recovery.
What causes car accidents in Knoxville?
There are many common causes of car accidents in the Knoxville area, including:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving, such as cell phone use or texting and driving
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of substances, including prescription and non-prescription drugs
- Driver fatigue
- Failure to maintain lanes
- Unsafe lane change
- Tailgating
This list of causes is not exhaustive. When people fail to take reasonable care when driving, it can lead to dangerous situations and catastrophic injuries, putting many lives at risk.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Injuries can vary depending on the severity of the car wreck, but many injured victims experience the following physical injuries:
- Crush injuries
- Bruising and cuts, scrapes, puncture wounds, or lacerations
- Chronic pain
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries and concussions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Broken bones
The medical costs associated with these injuries, including hospital bills, doctor’s office visits for follow-ups and ongoing treatment or medical care, specialist visits, rehabilitation, and therapy, can add up quickly. These injuries can also prevent victims from returning to work, either temporarily (short- or long-term) or permanently, leading to lost wages or future loss of income. Personal injury lawyers help car accident victims seek compensation to pay for these costs.
Besides physical injuries, you might also have property damage or experience emotional harm, including pain and suffering. Many of our clients have loved ones they lost in a car accident. In these cases, we use our years of experience to fight for their financial security with wrongful death claims.
How Our Lawyers at NST Can Help You
Our lawyers at NST Law can provide you with legal advice and representation. We can:
- Provide you with an introductory phone call or free initial consultation to discuss the facts of your personal injury claim and how we can help you reach a favorable outcome
- Conduct a thorough investigation and gather all the evidence you need to support your car accident claim. A Knoxville injury lawyer knows who to speak to, including medical providers, witnesses, experts, and your peers, and where to look to get the necessary evidence.
- Handle all communications with insurance adjusters, ensuring you receive a fair settlement offer. If the other party has a lawyer, our Knoxville attorneys will handle all communications with them too.
- Negotiate with all other parties and explore all options to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve
- Proceed to trial if negotiations fail, compiling all documents needed to prepare and file a complaint against the other party. We will handle the discovery process and all trial preparation efforts to effectively advocate your rights to a judge or jury.
Our legal team has extensive experience in all types of personal injury and auto accident cases to fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve to help pay for your recovery.
How do Tennessee car insurance laws affect my claim?
Tennessee law follows a “fault” system, meaning if a negligent driver causes an accident, that driver is responsible for injuries resulting from that accident. Tennessee’s car insurance laws require that all drivers have the following minimum amounts in coverage for liability:
- $25,000 for each death or injury per accident
- $50,000 for deaths or total injuries per accident
- $15,000 for any property damage per accident
What if I was partially at fault for the car accident?
Per the at-fault system, if you’re partially responsible for an accident, then the amount of damages you can recover as compensation will be reduced by your total percentage of fault. For example, if you were driving slightly over the speed limit when another driver ran a stop sign, and you collided, the judge or jury might find you’re 10% at fault for the accident, thereby reducing your compensation award by 10%.
Tennessee’s modified comparative negligence system states that if a judge or jury finds you to be more than 50% at fault for an accident, then you cannot collect any compensation. If both parties are equally at fault, then neither party can receive payment.
What steps should I take after a car accident?
After a car accident, your adrenaline and emotions might be high, understandably. It’s important to stay calm and take the following steps to keep yourself safe and ensure you can file a compensation claim at a later date:
- Never leave the accident scene. Don’t leave the scene of an accident, especially if someone is injured, there’s property damage, or someone died. In many accidents, Tennessee Code Section 55-12-104 requires drivers to report the incident.
- Call 911 immediately if you, any of your passengers, or the other driver or their passengers suffered injuries. Doing so ensures the appropriate medical personnel is present at the scene to provide injured individuals with immediate medical attention and treatment.
- Move your car to the side of the road, if you can, to prevent additional vehicles from colliding with you or the other driver.
- Get a police report. You must have the police document the accident in an official statement. Don’t leave until the police report is complete, and request a copy. This piece of evidence is vital to support your claim.
- Gather evidence from the accident scene. This evidence should include the other driver’s information, such as their name, phone number, and insurance carrier, and photos of property damage, injuries, and the accident location.
- Contact a Knoxville car accident attorney at NST. Our lawyers understand the legalities involved in car accident claims and lawsuits. We can help evaluate your claim and determine its worth, your legal options, and anticipated outcomes.
- Don’t accept any settlement offers from insurance companies without consulting with an attorney. Insurance companies are for-profit organizations, and to protect the bottom line, they often try to get accident victims to accept the lowest settlement amount possible. Allow our legal team to handle communications with the insurance companies to ensure you receive a fair offer.
- Bring your case to trial. Most cases settle, but some claims end up proceeding to trial when the parties disagree on the facts of the case, the amount of damages, and fair compensation.
Contacting an attorney after a car accident is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your legal rights and help ensure fair compensation to pay for your injuries and other damages. Our offices provide a free initial consultation to learn the facts of your case, determine the validity of your claim, discuss your legal options, and allow you to decide if we’re the right fit for you.
What evidence do I need to support my claim?
Besides the evidence gathered at the accident scene, you might need to support your claim with multiple other sources of evidence our legal team can help you collect, including:
- Medical records from before and after the accident
- Medical bills and hospital bills resulting from the accident
- Witness statements
- Expert testimonies
- Proof of lost wages
- Evidence of future medical expenses
- Proof of future lost income
- Statements from peers describing the pain and suffering you experienced due to the accident
- Photographs from the accident
- Video footage (if available)
- Police report
Collecting the pieces of evidence included in this non-exhaustive list can take time and involve sensitive information. Our trustworthy team at NST Law has experience gathering each of these items and can do so in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
How much compensation can I receive after a car accident?
The exact amount of compensation you’re entitled to will depend on the facts of your specific case. The insurance company will evaluate your claim based on a variety of factors, including:
- The extent of your injuries
- How long your injures will last
- How much your injuries have affected your day-to-day life
- Whether you can return to work
- Whether you had property damage
- The extent of your pain and suffering after the accident
We understand the complexities of evaluating your car accident claim and can help you determine if you have a valid case and an estimation of the amount of compensation you can potentially receive.
Should I contact a Knoxville car accident lawyer?
Yes. The legal team at NST Law is here to help you establish your case after a car accident. Studies show that car accident victims that obtain legal representation are more likely to receive favorable outcomes.
We take the time to ensure our clients understand their legal rights so they can make informed decisions. Whether you were injured in a car accident, had property damage, or lost a loved one, we can explain every facet of the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn about your legal rights.
Knoxville Office
Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz Personal Injury Attorneys
408 N. Cedar Bluff Road Suite 450
Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: 865-684-1000
Car Accident Compensation
- $1.8 Million: Woman Suffers Catastrophic Injuries
- $1.5 Million: Auto Accident While on the Job
- $1.4 Million: Couple Injured in Head-On Collision
- $500,000: Passenger Injured by Drunk Driver
- $255,000: Passenger Injured in Rollover Accident
- View More Verdicts & Settlements