What Can You Get Compensation for After an Auto Accident?

Posted in Car Accident on May 2, 2019

If you were recently hurt in a car crash, you know the physical and emotional toll that it can have on you and your loved ones. Your family may be dealing with serious injuries, and you may still be in shock due to what happened. Moving forward with your life while you try to recover can be difficult—and it’s even more of an uphill battle when the accident puts your family’s finances in a bind.

It’s no secret that auto accidents are expensive. Tennessee state law requires drivers to carry valid auto insurance to help offset the costs of injuries when they cause crashes, but the minimum coverage is rarely enough to pay victims’ bills. In addition, a large percentage of Tennessee drivers carry no insurance at all, which means some victims have to pay for their own expenses out of pocket or through their own insurance policies.

Getting compensation after a crash isn’t easy, whether you’re pursuing damages from the other driver’s insurance company or your own insurance provider. However, having a lawyer on your side can help level the playing field and improve your chances of getting the money you deserve. At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville auto accident lawyers will collect evidence that proves you weren’t at fault, determine how much compensation you’re owed, and negotiate with the insurance company to help you get it. Contact us today for a free consultation.

3 Common Types of Post-Auto Accident Compensation

When we build claims for auto accident victims, we typically pursue three types of compensation for them:

1. Medical bills—Auto accidents often cause victims to suffer painful, debilitating, and even life-threatening injuries. Serious injuries require serious medical treatment that include an ambulance ride to the hospital, emergency surgery, days or weeks of treatment, and prolonged physical rehabilitation. The costs of those treatments can be enormous and too much for many victims to bear, even if they have adequate health insurance. In addition, victims often require ongoing treatments for years to come. That’s why we strive to help victims get the compensation they need for their health-related expenses.
2. Lost income—Many auto accident victims are unable to work for long periods of time due to the severity of their injuries. Some may even become permanently disabled, putting them out of the workforce indefinitely. Losing a primary source of income can be devastating for individuals and families, especially when it’s combined with ongoing medical treatments and their associated expenses. Our legal team works hard to help auto accident victims get enough money to compensate them for their current and future lost wages.
3. Pain and suffering—This type of compensation is awarded to victims for their noneconomic damages. It can refer to psychological damages, including accident-related depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. It can also refer to reduced quality of life due to disfigurement, inability to take part in hobbies and activities, and inability to enjoy a normal relationship with a spouse. We know that the impact that auto accidents can have on victims can last much longer than the initial pain and shock, and that’s why we do everything in our power to help victims get compensation for all the ways they were affected.

Surviving family members can also pursue compensation for things like funeral costs and pain and suffering if an auto accident resulted in the death of their loved one.

Don’t Accept a Settlement Without Speaking to a Lawyer

After your accident, you may be contacted by the insurance company, and you may even be offered a settlement. While the amount the insurance company is offering may seem substantial, it’s important to remember that insurance companies are in business to make big profits, not to pay fair settlements to victims like you. That means the settlement offer you receive may seem impressive initially, but it’s unlikely to pay for all of your accident-related expenses.

At Matt Hardin Law, we have decades of experience working hard on behalf of injured auto accident victims, and we know what claims are worth. We can review your accident, your injuries, and your time away from work, and we’ll determine exactly how much money you’re owed. And if the insurance company’s offer doesn’t come close, we’ll negotiate until you get an offer that’s fair for what you’ve been through. Contact us today at (615) 200-1111. We’re ready to put our experience to work for you.