What Are Common Roadway Hazards? 

With so many fatalities each year, it is easy to see that roadway hazards can be the main cause. Not everything is caused by other people but there are some hazards that are. Below are the most common hazards people can face while in a vehicle. 

Bad Traffic 

No matter where you are in the state there is going to be traffic. When traffic biomes bumper-to-bumper during commutes it can lead to drivers only paying some attention to the road while taking advantage of the slow speeds to check their phones. Because of this, there is a good opportunity for a collision to happen. Typically this ends in a rear-end accident which then can turn into a pileup if other drivers aren’t paying attention. 

Reckless Drivers 

Sadly, other drivers are common roadway hazards. This happens when a driver isn’t watching the road, obeying traffic rules, or even following the speed limit. A reckless driver is also someone that could be speeding, driving under the influence, driving the wrong way, or simply running a red light. These collisions can be hard to avoid as you can’t predict other drivers. 

Wet or Oily Roads 

Things like rainwater, ice, sleepy, snow, oil, and grease can present a risk to a vehicle as it means the vehicle can start to slide. The most dangerous time to be on a road is the first few minutes of a storm, as the rain can mix with the motor oil on the road and make things even slicker. Hydroplaning is a risk during any time the roads are slick and it doubles when there is reckless driving happening. To prevent it the easiest thing to do is drive slowly and gently apply breaks rather than hitting them. 

Potholes or Cracks 

It is likely you’ve come across a pothole on your travels. Striking a bad pothole could easily burst a tire, causing a rollover or another car accident. Just like uneven shoulders can pull at the tires of a vehicle and force it off the road. It is the city’s duty to make sure that the roads are maintained as it prevents major potholes or cracks from forming and causing accidents to happen. 

No matter what is on the road, a roadway hazard can have consequences. That is why if you or a loved one have been injured while on the road you should talk to Memphis car accident lawyer to see what they can do for you. Call Patterson Bray today to learn more.

5 Things to Look for When Selecting a Memphis Car Accident Attorney

Discovering a trustworthy vehicle mishap legal representative to deal with is more crucial than you may think. If you have actually recently been hurt in a car mishap, you’ll desire a car accident legal representative who can represent your best interests, so you can concentrate on healing. A good accident legal representative will have the ability to make certain all the best documents are submitted, supply basic legal guidance, identify an accurate settlement price quote, gather proof to reinforce your injury case, work out with insurance adjusters, and represent you in court if needed. Reach out to Patterson Bray to learn more. 

To ensure you discover a reputable car and truck mishap lawyer you can depend manage your case to the best of their abilities, look for the following things when talking to potential legal representatives:

Clear Communication

A great legal representative will make it simple for you to comprehend what they will do to assist you with your case. They will provide you with clear information about their process, costs, worths, and more. If you have any questions, they ought to be direct and to the point. You must not leave their office with more questions than answers. If they are not able to offer clear insight into their practice throughout your initial conversation, there’s a likelihood you’ll have concerns with interaction further along the line if you employ them.

An engaged discussion

An excellent attorney should have an interest in your case. A lawyer that’s not engaged will just put in the minimum quantity of required effort. You can end up getting a smaller settlement than you could have gotten because of this. How can you tell if a legal representative is engaged? They ought to ask you many in-depth concerns about your case and what your legal goals are.

Desire to offer recommendations

The desire to offer recommendations is important when selecting a Memphis car accident attorney. Always ask an attorney for a list of references you can call and speak to. These references should talk to the credibility of the legal representative. Even if you do not contact their referrals, you can believe in the truth that they provided them to you. An attorney that does not have references or will not supply you with any need to be avoided. Contact Patterson Bray for more information. 

An arranged office

The more organized their office looks, the more organized they most likely are. Keep an eye on how their staff does their work and how tidy the legal representative’s desk is. If they have to shuffle through stacks of paper in order to find what they’re looking for while their personal struggles to manage inbound calls, they’re probably not really arranged, which doesn’t show well on their ability to manage your case.

Experience

Ask the legal representative about their experience. Make certain they have specific experience managing car mishap cases. You will likewise want to make certain they have experience arguing cases in court and have a winning track record.

These are five things you must search for when meeting a Memphis car accident lawyer. We’re positive that you will discover all five of these things when you speak with a car accident legal representative at Patterson Bray. To arrange a complimentary consultation, call us at Patterson Bray., today.

Relying on Witnesses For Your Car Accident Claim

Often, people assume they have a car accident claim nailed down because they believe it is obvious that the other party caused the accident. Even if you believe that it is clear you were the victim in the car accident, you cannot rely on this when you are filing a claim. Instead, your attorney will want to make sure you have solid evidence that proves the other party was responsible for the accident and that you deserve to receive damages. One way you can provide good evidence for this is if you have witnesses who are willing to give their statements. 

Can witnesses really help your claim

When you have witnesses to your accident, this can provide much-needed, third-party information that you may never have been able to provide. In fact, it is possible that a witness may have seen the other driver talking on the phone or texting when the accident occurred and you may have no idea that was why the accident happened. Witnesses can help:

• Provide a better, fuller picture when it comes to the circumstances surrounding the accident
• When you and the other party are both saying that different things happened during the accident
• Can confirm what you are saying is true or not

These are all incredibly valuable when it comes to arguing your claim and we cannot stress enough how important it is to get witnesses’ contact information if they are there during and after the accident. 

Are there times when a witness will not help with the accident claim 

Absolutely. Even if you were not responsible for the accident at all, a witness may not be helpful to your claim. This can happen if the witness is not credible. For example, most people do not go out searching for accidents to happen. This means that they may not have been fully paying attention when the accident occurred. If a witness offers to help but did not see the accident before it occurred or while it occurred, this may not be helpful to your claim. Further, if the witness is known for being dishonest, for making false claims to the police, or was intoxicated at the time of the accident, these will likely not help you when you make your claim. 

When you work with one of our attorneys, you know they will examine any witnesses you may have and determine if they will hurt or help your claim. Give our office a call if you want to learn more about how a witness could help your accident case. 

Common Brain Injuries After an Accident

Unfortunately, brain injuries are not uncommon after car accidents and you may be experiencing some of the following.

• A Concussion. This is a very common brain injury and one that many people can recover from quickly. That said, if you don’t realize you have a concussion and do not monitor it, you may find your symptoms are severe and the damage done gets worse. Common symptoms of a concussion include vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, loss of consciousness, tinnitus, and difficulty concentrating.
• Penetration. Another way your brain can become damaged is by penetration. If an external object is forced into your skull during a car accident, it can cause severe brain injuries. If the wound is not fatal, you may experience temporary or permanent bleeding, seizures, paralysis, or loss of consciousness.
• Contusion. It is possible for your brain to become bruised. This is known as a contusion. When you get into a car accident your brain may knock into your head, often caused by the driver of the car hitting the steering wheel or side window. You may experience slurred speech, migraines, coordination problems, or difficulty concentrating.

Determining The Cause

When you are the victim of a brain injury because of a car accident, you may be wondering how you can afford such expensive medical bills. However, if the other driver involved in the accident is the one who caused the car accident to happen, you should not hesitate to speak with one of the Memphis car accident lawyers about filing a lawsuit so that you can receive compensation for your injuries. Likewise, if a loved one was in a car accident and has sustained brain injuries that leave them unable to file a lawsuit, you should speak with us about how you can file a lawsuit on their behalf to cover their medical expenses.

The stress of an automobile accident can be compounded when bills start showing up. Explore your options with car accident attorneys Memphis trusts from Patterson Bray.

Determining Fault

If you’ve been in a serious car accident, Memphis car accident attorneys can help you investigate your case and determine who else can be held accountable for your injuries and your accident. Every car accident is different, and every recovery is different too. There are a number of different circumstances that can contribute to a car accident, and by investigating everything about your accident, your attorney can determine if there were multiple parties responsible for the accident in the first place.

Tracing responsibility from an accident is important if you hope to receive any financial compensation, so it’s essential to get in touch with a qualified car accident attorney right away. The following examples are by no means an exhaustive list, but they are generally a good starting point if you’re considering whether or not your accident was caused by more than one party, or whether the other party in your accident was completely negligent and should bear full responsibility for your injuries.

• Drunk drivers: If you were involved in an accident and it was proven that the other driver was operating his or her vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you can trace fault back to them. As drivers, we have an obligation to ensure the safety of ourselves and everyone else on the road, and if a driver is under the influence while behind the wheel they’re not only dangerous but also completely neglecting their responsibilities as a safe driver. If you were injured because of a drunk driver, determining fault is pretty straightforward.
• Poor road planning: Sometimes it’s easy to determine fault, and sometimes it takes a bit more thinking and investigating. If your vehicle rolled down a steep ravine as a result of your accident, your Memphis car accident attorney may investigate the road conditions to determine whether the city or county could be held accountable for your injuries. While another driver could be held responsible, it’s possible to trace responsibility back to a city or county because of unsafe road conditions or improper planning.

These are not the only instances in which your legal team may need to investigate further. However, they’re examples of how fault can be determined: Sometimes it’s straightforward, and sometimes it takes a bit of investigation to see if any other parties can be held accountable for your injuries. This is especially important if you are seeking damages – and if your accident was bad enough, your financial compensation is a matter of life or death.

Can You Sue Another Driver for A Car Accident That Occurs in Bad Weather

It should come as no surprise that car accidents tend to increase in the winter months, including the transition from fall into winter. In addition to roads made slippery by snow and ice, there are fewer daylight hours and more people traveling by car who might seek different transportation during warmer months.

Of course, the bulk of winter accidents occur during and just after major storms, when roads are treacherous and everyone seems to have forgotten how to drive defensively. If you were recently involved in a car accident that occurred during inclement weather, you may be wondering if you have many options for bringing a legal claim against another driver. Can you file a personal injury lawsuit if bad weather and poor road conditions were a factor in the crash? The answer to this question is accident-specific and dependent on a number of factors. There are general rules you can keep in mind when considering whether you can file a claim, but it’s generally a good idea to speak with the Memphis car accident lawyers at Patterson Bray before making any assumptions about your legal options. There tend to be exceptions to all major “rules” when it comes to car accidents. Speaking with our Memphis car accident attorneys about your specific circumstances will give your legal situation clarity so that you can make an informed decision concerning filing legal action.

Was bad weather solely to blame

If your accident was caused solely by slippery roads, poor visibility, or other factors beyond anyone’s control, you would have an insurance claim to file but not a personal injury claim. However, many accidents occurring in bad weather are not fully caused by bad weather. Memphis car accident attorneys may be able to help you file a legal claim against another responsible party if the weather was only partially to blame for your crash. Drivers may also bear responsibility. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Each driver needs to adjust for road conditions: If roads are slippery, it is not enough to simply obey the speed limit. You likely need to slow down, give yourself more time to stop, and keep a greater distance between your vehicle and others on the road. If another driver fails to take weather-related precautions, he or she could be held liable for a resulting accident.

Each driver needs to have a fully operational vehicle: In colder parts of the country, it is, unfortunately, common to see drivers cruising down the road while peering through just a few clear inches of the windshield. The rest is covered in ice and snow. This is, of course, terrible for visibility. Some drivers also put off repairs/replacement of bald tires, worn brakes, and other critical parts that could increase the risk of an accident (especially when road conditions are poor).

Each driver needs to obey traffic laws in any kind of weather: Distracted driving, drunk driving and other dangerous behaviors behind the wheel are unacceptable even under ideal driving conditions. But during inclement weather, they almost guarantee a crash.

Why You Should Always Call Police After a Crash

When a victim has been involved in a car accident, they often aren’t sure what steps they should take immediately following the accident. The first step should be attending to anyone who is injured and moving the vehicles out of the way of traffic and further harm. If the crash was a minor one, the drivers often choose to just exchange insurance information without contacting law enforcement. However, by not notifying the police, a victim may be doing more harm to their case than they realize.

As a leading Memphis car accident lawyer might tell you, the following steps should be taken as soon as possible after an accident. If you don’t understand these steps or failed to take them, call Patterson Bray, to speak with a car accident attorney in Memphis, Tennessee.

One of the most common occurrences after a crash is that there is a delay of symptoms of any injuries the victim may have. This is due to the adrenaline rush that many people involved in accidents have. Adrenaline is a hormone that is released into the bloodstream whenever we experience a stressful or frightening event – like a car crash. Adrenaline causes the pupils to dilate and the heart rate to increase, however, it also can reduce any pain that injuries cause.

It isn’t until a few hours later, once the victim has calmed down and the adrenaline has subsided that the symptoms of the injury begin to present themselves. If the victim didn’t call the police to the accident site, how do they prove they were injured in the accident? The police report – had there been one – would have confirmed all the details of the accident and would have been a very strong piece of evidence that your Memphis car accident attorney could use.

Written Account of the Crash

When a police officer arrives at the scene of the crash, they provide a formal and objective account of the accident that none of the drivers involved in the accident can do. The report will document the details, as well as witness statements, and often offers a determination of which driver is at fault. Without the police report, both drivers will give their own versions of events to their insurance companies, likely each driver blaming the other for the crash. These differences in accident versions could really put a roadblock up into enabling the rightful victim from collecting all the medical expenses, loss of income, compensation for pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and more that they may be legally entitled to.

Vehicle Damage

Just like injuries to victims, not all vehicle damage is evident immediately following an accident. It might appear that there are only a few dents here and there, but the impact of the crash could damage electronic systems in the vehicle, cause a crack in the frame, or other internal damage that can’t be seen but could result in thousands in repairs. However, if the victim does not have a police report, how do they, or their Memphis, Tennessee car accident attorneys prove that the damage was caused by the accident

Call the Police

As you can see, it is critical to any car accident case that there is a formal police report of the crash issued. If you have been involved in an accident, call the police to the scene right away. After you have called the police, and sought medical attention, make sure you call a Memphis car accident attorney from Patterson Bray to see what your legal options may be.