500+ five star reviewsIf you have been injured in a rear-end accident in Chattanooga, TN, you may be wondering “how much money will I get?” Depending on the accident, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for any damages suffered. Common damages in rear-end accidents include medical expenses, vehicle repair bills, lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering. But how long does a rear end settlement take? And how much rear end accident compensation are you eligible for? Read on to find out.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, there were 12,145 motor vehicle crashes in Hamilton county in 2020 alone. A total of 2,520 people were injured in those accidents, and 39 were killed. Rear-end accidents result in more than 556,000 injuries every year, nationwide. Although low-impact rear-end collisions can result in little to no damage, these crashes can be fatal at high speeds.
The skilled car accident team at Dennis & Winningham Law has helped countless victims of rear-end accidents obtain the maximum compensation available to them in a timely manner. Although it is always our goal to settle rear-end collision cases outside of court, we are prepared to take your case to trial if it becomes necessary. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
But how long does a rear end accident settlement take? And how much money are you eligible for?
It really depends on the accident and how much damage was done. If there were injuries and/or property damage, it could take a while to settle because you will need to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company. They will investigate the accident and then make a decision on how much they are willing to pay.
If you were injured in the accident, you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Once you have seen a doctor, you can then get an estimate of how much your medical bills will be and contact a personal injury lawyer like Dennis & Winningham Law.
You will also need to get repair estimates for your car. If the other driver’s insurance company agrees that they are at fault, they should pay for the repairs. If your car is totaled, you will need to get an estimate of how much it would cost to replace it.
The last thing you will need to do is figure out how much money you lost because of the accident. This includes any wages that you would have earned if you had not been injured, as well as any other income that you lost because of the accident. You may also be able to get compensated for pain and suffering, which is the physical and emotional anguish that you experienced because of the accident.
Once you have all of this information, Dennis & Winningham Law will be able to negotiate a settlement with the other driver’s insurance company.
Rear End Accident Compensation
Determining who is at fault in a rear-end collision is the first step in the process of obtaining compensation. Generally speaking, the trailing car will be found at least partially at fault for the accident, as rear-end actions are frequently due to distraction of the rear driver. However, the driver of the front vehicle can also be partially or entirely at fault.
If you have been involved in a rear-end accident, it is important to call the police immediately. In addition to ensuring everyone’s safety, law enforcement will create an official police report, which may be invaluable to your case if you decide to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
Your car accident attorney will evaluate your case to determine fault, help you gather evidence to substantiate your claim, file a liability claim with the other driver’s insurance company, and negotiate for the maximum settlement possible.
If you have been in a car accident where someone hit you from behind, you may be wondering how much money you can get. This really depends on the accident. If there were injuries or damage to property, it may take a while to settle because you will need to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company. They will investigate the accident and then make a decision on how much they are willing to pay.
You will also need to get repair estimates for your car. If the other driver’s insurance company agrees that they are at fault, they should pay for the repairs. If your car is totaled, you will need to get an estimate of how much it would cost to replace it.
The last thing you will need to do is figure out how much money you lost because of the accident. This includes any wages that you would have earned if you had not been injured, as well as any other income that you lost because of the accident. You may also be able to get compensated for pain and suffering, which is the physical and emotional anguish that you experienced because of the accident.
Once you have all of this information, Dennis & Winningham Law will be able to negotiate a settlement with the other driver’s insurance company.
Comparative Negligence
It is possible for both drivers to be partially at fault for the accident. If, for example, the front vehicle’s brake lights were broken and did not light up, the rear driver may not have known that the vehicle was slowing or coming to a stop.
In TN, comparative negligence laws allow one party to seek compensation for another party, even if they are partially at fault. In most cases, any compensation awarded to the injury victim will be reduced by their share of fault. For example, if Rebecca is 20 percent at fault for the accident and her damages are calculated at $100,000, that award would be reduced by 20 percent and she would receive the remaining $80,000 as compensation.
If you are in a car accident where someone hit you from behind, it is possible that both drivers are partially at fault. This means that each driver is responsible for some of the accident. If the other driver’s insurance company agrees that they are at fault, they should pay for the repairs to your car. If your car is totaled, you will need to get an estimate of how much it would cost to replace it.
The last thing you will need to do is figure out how much money you lost because of the accident. This includes any wages that you would have earned if you had not been injured, as well as any other income that you lost because of the accident. You may also be able to get compensated for pain and suffering, which is the physical and emotional anguish that you experienced because of the accident.
Once you have all of this information, Dennis & Winningham Law will be able to negotiate a settlement with the other driver’s insurance company.
How Long Does a Rear-End Settlement Take?
In a perfect world, injury victims would wait until they have completed all medical treatment to seek compensation. This is because an early settlement may not take into account the potential for future medical bills. However, not everyone can wait months to see if their rear-end accident injuries will require more extensive treatment, such as surgery or long-term rehabilitation. In these cases, your attorney should discuss the estimated costs of future medical treatments with your doctor. Although the doctor’s estimate is not guaranteed to cover the full amount, it helps to paint a clearer picture of total costs and is a useful tool when requesting a certain settlement amount.
It can take a while to get money from a rear-end accident. Your lawyer will need to know how much your medical bills are and how much money you lost because of the accident. The insurance company will also need time to think about how much money to give you.
Once your attorney has sent a settlement demand letter to the insurance company, the adjuster will typically take two to three weeks to evaluate the claim before making an offer.
Dennis & Winningham Law has successfully represented many clients in rear-end accident cases and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
How Much Should You Settle For After Being Rear-Ended?
The amount of your settlement in a rear-end accident depends on multiple factors, including the severity of your injuries and property damage, and whether you were partially at fault. Damages sought in rear-end accident cases typically include medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repair costs, and emotional pain and suffering. If the negligent driver’s actions were particularly egregious, you may also be able to recover punitive damages.
To ensure that you receive the maximum settlement possible, it is important to document as much as possible at the time of the accident. If you can, take photographs of any resulting property damage and visible injuries, as well as anything that may have contributed to the accident, such as a stop sign blocked by a tree.
In addition to getting the other driver’s name, contact, and insurance information, ask any witnesses for their name and contact info. This documentation, along with the official police report and your medical records, will go a long way toward building a successful case against the at-fault party.
No matter what you do, never admit fault or partial fault to the other driver. Even seemingly-innocent statements, such as, “I’m so sorry, the sun was in my eyes,” can be used against you. And never, ever accept the other insurance company’s settlement offer without first speaking to a skilled TN car accident lawyer. Insurance companies are notorious for offering low settlements to injury victims without legal counsel.
Contact Dennis & Winningham Law Today
If you have been injured in a rear-end collision or any type of auto accident, the skilled legal team at Dennis & Winningham Law can help. We will thoroughly analyze the details of your case, calculate damages, and negotiate for the maximum settlement. With more than 75 years of combined experience, we know how the insurance companies think.
If you’ve been in an auto accident, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for medical bills, estimated future medical bills, property damage, lost earnings, loss of future earnings, pain, and suffering, and punitive damages. Dennis & Winningham Law has an impressive history of getting clients paid for rear-end collisions, and we want to do the same for you. Contact us today through our website for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
