Nashville’s Most Common Personal Injury Claims
Posted in Personal Injury on December 5, 2023
Personal injury claims in our area arise in a wide variety of ways, almost too many to count. However, there are specific types of injury claims that occur more often than others in and around Nashville, Tennessee. Here, we want to review the five most common personal injury claims individuals are likely to encounter in our area.
Vehicle Accidents
Data provided by the Tennessee Department of Transportation indicates that there were more than 24,000 total vehicle accidents were reported in Davidson County in 2022. Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injuries throughout Nashville every year. These incidents can occur as a result of collisions between two passenger vehicles but also as a result of the following:
Vehicle accidents regularly lead to various types of injuries for individuals, including broken or dislocated bones, spinal cord trauma, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding or organ damage, and more. Those harmed due to the negligence of other drivers are often able to recover compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier, but it may be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court to recover necessary damages.
Slip and Fall Incidents
Slip and fall incidents result in more than one million emergency room visits each year, which is 12% of overall fall injuries that land people in the hospital. Unfortunately, slip and fall incidents in Nashville can occur in a wide variety of ways. Often, these incidents happen due to the negligent actions of property owners.
All property owners in Nashville owe a duty of care to individuals who have a legal right to be on their premises. This includes business owners, commercial property owners, and even private property and private homeowners. This duty of care typically extends to ensuring that the premises are free from known hazards or that any guest is warned about potential hazards when they get to the premises. Property owners can cause injuries by allowing slip and fall hazards to persist, including standing water, objects in pedestrian pathways, poorly maintained walkways or stairways, and more.
Dog Bite Incidents
Unfortunately, dog bite incidents often lead to severe injuries. When a dog bite occurs in Nashville, victims may be able to recover compensation for their losses. However, the dog bite laws in Tennessee can be complicated to understand, and we strongly encourage any dog bite victim to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible.
Under Tennessee law, individuals can recover compensation, but this state follows what is considered a “one bite rule.” Under this type of law, homeowners are not automatically held responsible for a dog bite like they are in other states. Instead, individuals have to show that the dog owner knew or should have known about the vicious nature of the animal, Which usually only occurs if a dog has previously bitten somebody before.
Defective Products
We count on the products we purchase to be safe. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for faulty products to make it onto store shelves or into our homes. This can include defective foods or beverages, medications, appliances, electronics, furniture, building materials, automobiles, auto parts, and more.
Faulty products can result in major injuries and illnesses for those affected. This can include broken bones, lacerations or puncture wounds, amputations, burn injuries, and internal illnesses, depending on the type of product that was defective. Claims against companies and manufacturers for defective products are typically handled differently than a normal personal injury claim. An attorney can help you understand the process of a strict liability claim and determine whether or not this applies to your particular case.
Workplace Accidents
Workplace injuries are not uncommon, and most individuals are able to receive workers’ compensation benefits after an on-the-job injury occurs. However, there are times when individuals can file third-party personal injury lawsuits against another entity in order to recover additional compensation. If a workplace injury or illness was caused by the negligent actions of a third party aside from the employer or by the intentionally negligent actions of an employer, victims can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation beyond what they would typically receive through workers’ comp benefits.
If you have any questions about your ability to file a third-party injury lawsuit in Nashville after a work injury occurs, an attorney can help you.
Tennessee Personal Injury Questions
If you have a personal injury question, we encourage you to contact an attorney for assistance as soon as possible. Some of the most commonly asked questions related to personal injury claims include the following:
How Much Compensation is Available?
There is no set amount of compensation paid for a successful personal injury claim in Nashville. The total amount of compensation an injury victim receives will depend on several factors related to their particular claim, and we encourage you to ask your attorney about how much to expect for your case. Some of the factors that affect compensation amounts can include the severity of the injury and how long it takes a person to recover. Additional factors affecting compensation could include insurance policy limitations, shared fault implications, and whether or not a person sustained a disability as a result of the incident.
Do You Need an Attorney?
Individuals do not necessarily need an attorney to file a personal injury claim, but these cases become very complicated, particularly when dealing with insurance carriers and legal teams for the at-fault party. We strongly encourage you to work with an attorney who understands the personal injury claims process in Tennessee so you have the best chance of recovering compensation for your losses.
Can You Afford an Attorney?
Most Nashville personal injury lawyers will handle claims on a contingency fee basis, which means they cover all of the upfront costs related to the case. Under a contingency fee, injury victims will pay no legal fees until after their attorney successfully recovers the compensation they are entitled to. If an attorney does not win the case, the client pays absolutely nothing.