When Should I Speak With A Personal Injury Attorney?

If you have recently lost a loved one or been injured as a result of another’s conduct, you may benefit from speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney at Patterson Bray PLLC. Depending on the “ins and outs” of your situation, you may be entitled to significant compensation. You won’t know for sure, either way, until your case is assessed by an experienced local lawyer.

Memphis Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury is the area of U.S. law concerned with those who have been physically and financially harmed as a result of another’s intentionally hurtful, reckless, or negligent conduct. Even if you were partially to blame for your injurious circumstances, you may still be entitled to significant compensation from insurers and/or others who may be held legally and financially liable for the harm that you have suffered. Speaking with an attorney is the best way to gain clarity and perspective about your rights and legal options in the wake of sustaining an injury or losing a loved one due to another’s actions or inactions.

When Should I Speak With a Personal

What Is a Psychological Injury? 

No matter the type of accident that happens it may be in your best interest to talk to a Memphis personal injury lawyer from Patterson Bray. Accidents can cause different kinds of injuries and they aren’t all physical. Psychological injuries are just as real as physical ones and they can have long-lasting consequences on your health and how you live your life. The downside is proving a psychological injury is harder than a physical one and that is why talking to a qualified lawyer is key. 

Understanding that psychological injuries can impact you just as badly as a physical one is important. If you want to know more read on to find out why. 

What Is a Psychological Injury? 

A psychological injury is a non-physical injury sustained due to someone else’s negligence. It is important to know that you can’t claim to have suffered a psychological injury just because an accident or event scared you. For an injury to qualify it has to be persistent and it has to occur due to another party’s negligence. 

It is important to … Read the rest

What Happens If A Pet Bites A Person?

For many of us, pets are considered another member of the family. While pet owners love their pets, they may end up costing their owners money if they bite another person through personal injury lawsuits. Though dogs and cats are the typical animals involved, Tennessee law is applicable to all living creatures, other than human beings, which may be affected by rabies. If you have been bitten by a pet, a Memphis personal injury lawyer can help you navigate through your legal options.  

What is an owner’s responsibility regarding protecting their pet and the public from rabies?

 Under the law, pet owners are required to make sure that all dogs and cats three months of age and older are vaccinated against rabies. Vaccinations should be kept up to date throughout the pet’s life.

What happens if a pet bites a person?

Each county in the state has its own division that is in charge of controlling the spread of rabies and the overpopulation of dogs and cats, using humane education, rabies vaccines, impoundment, and any other means deemed necessary to … Read the rest

What Types Of Damages Can I recover In My Car Accident Claim?

If somebody else’s negligence caused your accident and injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. In order to get that compensation, you will probably have to negotiate with an insurance company. Insurance companies are notorious for trying to minimize what they pay out to injury victims. They may even try to claim that the accident was your fault or that your injuries aren’t as bad as you say they are.

Experienced Memphis Car Accident Attorneys from Patterson Bray PLLC can guide you through this process and fight for the full amount of compensation you deserve.

What types of damages can I recover in my car accident claim?

When you are injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible to recover compensation for the following damages:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages (past and future)
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage (car repairs)
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages (in cases involving drunk driving)

When should I hire a lawyer?

If you have … Read the rest

What If My Accident Was Partially My Fault?

It remains important to explore your legal rights and options—even if you may have been partially to blame for what happened to you—because Tennessee broadly protects the rights of car accident injury victims. Unlike some other states, that bar victims from seeking compensation if they were partially at fault for a crash, Tennessee recognizes a comparative negligence standard in personal injury cases. This means that as long as the fault attributed to you is not 50 percent or greater (when compared to the percentage of fault attributed to others), you remain entitled to seek compensation from others involved in the crash. If another’s reckless, intentionally harmful, or negligent actions or inactions may have directly contributed to the cause(s) of your harm, exploring your legal options is an effort worth your time.

Legal Assistance Is Available

If you have not yet explored your legal options with the assistance of a reputable attorney, please connect with the experienced Tennessee team at Patterson Bray PLLC today. Although it isn’t always easy to know whether an accident victim has strong grounds upon which to … Read the rest

Who Pays For Damages In A Car Accident?

If you have been injured in a car accident in Tennessee, it is critical to determine the clear fault of the accident in order to collect the financial damages you may be entitled to. One of the Memphis car accident attorneys from our firm can assist you in pursuing those damages, either through a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or through a personal injury lawsuit.

There are many firms that have been helping victims obtain the damages they deserve and will work diligently to get you the best results based on the circumstances of your case.

Who pays for damages in a car accident?

The majority of car accidents have factors that the insurance company may try to use against the victim in order to reduce the financial compensation of the claim or reject it entirely. Before settlement negotiations can really begin between your attorney and the insurance company, fault for the accident must be established.

How is fault determined?

Car accident attorneys in Memphis examine different aspects of the crash to prove that fault. One way is … Read the rest

Am I required To Call The Police After A Car Accident?

If you are involved in a car accident that has resulted in death, injury, or significant property damage, you are required by law to report the accident to the local authorities. Failing to report such accidents to the police is illegal. Whether there was an injury or not however, you should report car accidents anyway so that the police can file an official report.  

What should I not do after an accident?

After an accident, you should be cautious about the actions that you take. Saying or doing the wrong thing can weaken your case, forcing you to lose compensation that you otherwise could have been awarded. Common mistakes made by car accident victims include admitting blame, sharing sensitive or private details about their case with others, and accepting the first initial settlement offer.

What damages are often awarded to car accident victims?

A car accident victim can receive many types of economic and non-economic damages. Missed wages, medical expenses, reduced income capacity, emotional anguish, pain and suffering and loss of consortium are just several damages often given to accident … Read the rest

What Is The Difference Between Divorce And Legal Separation?

When a marriage is coming to an end it is often in your best interest to contact a divorce lawyer in Memphis, TN to help you understand everything you are going to need through this process. There are many steps to ending a marriage and in Tennesse, there are three different ways that it can go. You have the traditional divorce, then legal separation, and then annulment. No matter the method that is right for you, having a lawyer can make the process smoother and help you get from point A to point B quicker and with as few hiccups as possible. 

If you want to know more about the three options keep reading. 

What is the Difference Between Divorce and Legal Separation? 

Before you can even go through the process you have to know which separation method is the best for you ad your spouse. Each method has its own special requirements and rules, which means knowing the difference can save you time. 

Legal Separation 

This is typically not a method that is chosen but it is a valid … Read the rest

Tips For Hiring A Divorce Lawyer

A divorce can be a very stressful time for everyone involved. It can be an emotionally draining and difficult process. The things that you say and do during the divorce process may have an effect on your future relationships with your children and ex-spouse. There are some things to keep in mind when going through a divorce. It is important, to be honest, but do not gossip or badmouth your spouse. Be as clear and concise as possible when communicating about finances or custody arrangements.

One of the best ways to reduce stress is by hiring a divorce lawyer Memphis, TN who specializes in family law such as a divorce lawyer in Memphis, TN. Hiring an experienced family divorce lawyer in Memphis, TN from Patterson Bray PLLC will help you understand how the law works and what you need to do in order to reach a successful settlement.

The following are some tips for hiring a divorce lawyer:

Be Prepared For The Proceedings

Know your rights. Take some time to learn about the laws in your state so you know … Read the rest

Preparing To Divide Your Marital Assets

If you are ready to embrace the challenge of attending to your divorce situation proactively, one of the first things you’ll want to do is to make a list of all of your marital assets. Marital assets—including physical property, financial accounts, and intellectual property—generally consist of all assets acquired during the length of a couple’s marriage.

Once you’ve created this list, spend some time thoughtfully considering which—if any—of your assets you’d be inclined to fight for, which you’d desire but are not worth fighting for, and which you’d be willing to part with. Keep in mind that an equitable divorce settlement will likely result in something close to a 50/50 split of your total asset value. For example, if you opt to keep the house, your spouse may opt to keep the value of your retirement assets that mirrors the value of your home. Making this list thoughtfully now will help our team to assess your needs, wants, and priorities concerning asset division. This exercise will help us to advise you and to build a strong divorce strategy that advances … Read the rest