Chattanooga Car Accident Lawyer
Helping You Recover After A Car Accident Injury in Chattanooga
After a car crash, the last thing you need is the headache of insurance forms and claim deadlines while you’re trying to recover.
Let us take care of the paperwork and legal hurdles so you can focus on what matters – getting better and being with your loved ones.
Have questions about your accident? We’ll sit down with you, at no cost, and walk through your options together.
England Injury Law is Located in Downtown Chattanooga
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Dial 423-713-9225 or connect online.
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The 7 Steps of Chattanooga Car Accident Claims
The following is a general overview of steps involved in Chattanooga car accident claims, although the amount of time for each step can vary significantly from case to case.
1. Accident
As soon as the accident occurs, ensure everyone’s safety first. If necessary, dial 911 and report the accident to the authorities. Seek medical attention right away, and make sure you report all injuries you sustained to your doctor.
2. Legal Consultation
Call England Injury Law as soon as possible to talk about your car accident injury.
3. Taking A Closer Look
After you sign an agreement of representation, we begin to gather evidence like police reports, witness statements, and photographs of the scene of the accident. We will also start to gather all of the medical documentation.
4. Opposing Insurance Company
We’ll initiate negotiations with the insurance company to try to reach a reasonable settlement for you. We’ll keep you updated as to how the negotiations are going.
5. Filing a Lawsuit (If Necessary)
If the matter cannot be settled outside of court, England Injury Law can file a lawsuit for you.
6. Going to Court (If Necessary)
If needed, we’ll go to court with you if your case goes to trial.
7. Obtaining a Settlement or Judgment
If we settle or if the court decides in your favor, this will be the conclusion to the legal actions of your car accident claim.
2 Common Mistakes People Make After A Car Accident Injury
Here are the two most common mistakes we see individuals make after they’ve been injured in a Chattanooga car accident.
1. Failing to See a Doctor Right Away or to Follow the Doctor’s Advice
See a doctor right away after the accident, even if you think you’re fine. Little pains can escalate into gigantic problems later on.
If you put off treatment, insurance companies might challenge how badly you’re injured and wonder why you didn’t get treated sooner.
Follow your doctor’s instructions and go to all of your appointments.
The truth is always the best when it comes to your injuries and sticking with your treatment plan.
2. Failing to Consult With a Lawyer Soon After Your Accident
If you are injured in an accident, the other driver’s insurance company will probably contact you.
Keep in mind that their goal is to pay you as little as possible, not to do what’s best for you. They have attorneys on staff, and you should have access to an attorney too.
Although it’s not necessary to retain an attorney for a car accident injury claim, it’s a good idea to take advantage of a free consultation.
Before you deal with the insurance company, sit down with an experienced Chattanooga car accident lawyer and review your case.
Taking a moment of your time can provide you with solid information that gives you peace of mind.
Chattanooga Car Accident Injury Claim FAQs
How can England Injury Law assist my car accident injury claim?
This is what England Injury Law can do for you if you are injured in a car accident:
- Collect evidence so that we can make a solid case for you.
- Deal with all of the interactions with the insurance company, so you don’t have to.
- We’ll work to make sure that you receive the medical attention that you require to get better.
- We’ll negotiate with medical providers to manage healthcare bills.
- We will fight for every last dollar of fair compensation for you and your family.
- If necessary, we’ll represent you in court, fighting for your rights.
We will be acting in your best interests at every stage of your car accident injury claim.
What immediate actions should I consider after being involved in a car accident?
In the moments following a car accident, try to determine whether anyone requires immediate medical attention if you’re able.
Call the police regardless of whether you think the collision was serious – their report will be helpful to the insurance company.
If your injuries do not require emergency care, get your license, registration, and insurance card ready to provide.
Be polite when you speak with other involved parties but refrain from discussing fault or blame.
If you’re able, document all by photographing the scene, such as any vehicle damage and any injuries you can see.
While providing your statement to law enforcement, state what occurred in fact without speculating or accepting blame. If you could not provide your statement at the scene because you were receiving emergency medical attention, call when you’re able and have them include your statement in the report. Be sure to inquire how you may get a copy of the police report for your records.
Even if you didn’t need emergency treatment, visit a doctor immediately to have any injuries officially documented and to make sure no significant detail was missed in the heat of the moment.
Don’t sign releases or settle your bodily injury claim without advice, and don’t make unnecessary concessions to the other driver’s insurance company.
How much will it cost for your firm to get started on my auto accident case?
At England Injury Law, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees for us to start working on your case.
Our fee structure is simple: we only get paid if we get a settlement for you.
Our compensation depends on the success of your case, so our goals are the same as yours. We’re highly motivated to get you the best possible result.
How much will I get for my injuries from the auto accident?
This is a very difficult question to answer in general terms. There are so many factors which include how badly you were injured, the medical providers opinions on your future need for medical treatment, the other driver’s insurance policy, your own insurance policy and the assingment of fault for the accident.
It’s very important to remember that no two cases are the same. Even cases that seem like they are similar can have wildly different settlements, judgements or verdicts as their end result.
Do I have to talk to the other driver's insurance company?
You will probably be contacted by the insurance company of the other driver within a day or two following the accident.
You are not obligated to talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
They usually want to deny your claim or pay as little as possible.
They might ask to record your statement in an effort to have you say something on which they can base a denial or reduction of your claim.
They might also try to make you a quick settlement for your injuries and pressure you into signing documents.
Do not sign anything.
There is no need to be rude with the other insurance company. You can simply politely decline to speak with them.
Always remember, the person calling you is motivated to save their employer (the insurance company) money. They are not contacting you with your best interests in mind.
Do I have to talk to the other driver's insurance company?
You will probably be contacted by the insurance company of the other driver within a day or two following the accident.
You are not obligated to talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
They usually want to deny your claim or pay as little as possible.
They might ask to record your statement in an effort to have you say something on which they can base a denial or reduction of your claim.
They might also try to make you a quick settlement for your injuries and pressure you into signing documents.
Do not sign anything.
There is no need to be rude with the other insurance company. You can simply politely decline to speak with them.
Always remember, the person calling you is motivated to save their employer (the insurance company) money. They are not contacting you with your best interests in mind.
How soon should I see a medical provider after a car accident?
Right after a car accident, your body gets a surge of adrenaline – which reduces pain.
That’s the reason some individuals think they’re okay and walk away, only to wake up stiff and sore a day or two later.
Even worse, some injuries aren’t obvious and only medical examinations can identify them before they get worse.
Getting checked out right away does two things: it may find internal injuries earlier allowing for more effective treatment, and it leaves a record that insurance providers can’t ignore.
They’re not going to believe you when you tell them you were hurt – you need proof from the start.
The bottom line is: Get to a doctor as soon as you can. It’s the best bet for a smooth as possible recovery and unknown injury detection and provides documentation in case your decide to go forward with a bodily injury claim.
Why is it important to tell my medical provider about all injuries?
When you’re hurt after a car crash, you might only mention your worst pain to the doctor.
If your shoulder is really hurting but your knee just aches, you might talk about your shoulder and skip mentioning the knee.
This can backfire. While you get treatment for your shoulder and it starts getting better, that untreated knee pain might get worse.
A month later, your knee could be the bigger problem – all because your doctor never knew about it in the first place.
So tell your doctor about every injury, even the small ones because in the long run it will help your recovery.
Can I recover damages if the other driver is uninsured?
Learning that the other driver in your accident is not insured is always worrisome.
Your own Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage comes in handy in this situation.
This coverage shields you in case you’re hit by an uninsured driver.
If you’re in a car accident with an uninsured driver, you’ll want to explore all your legal options. Looking into your own insurance in this type of situation may be an option.
Can I recover damages as a passenger?
If you are injured as a passenger in a car accident, there are different ways to seek compensation for your injuries.
First, you can file a claim with the insurance of the driver who caused the accident.
Second, you can file a claim with the insurance of the driver of the car you were in.
Sometimes, filing claims with both insurance policies might be the best plan of action.
