After a car accident, bills can come at you fast, so you may need the help of Memphis car accident attorneys from Patterson Bray. From an ambulance ride to physical therapy, it can all add up to a big expense quickly. How are you supposed to pay for all of it? This is a common question that can invoke major anxiety, but it doesn’t have to. There are a variety of options available to handle your bills so you can focus on healing. If you’re coping with the aftermath of an accident and aren’t sure what steps to take, our car accident attorneys in Memphis recommend reading the article below.
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 attorney 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.
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.
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
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.
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 attorneys 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.
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.
The good news is that in most states, Personal Injury Protection – or PIP – no-fault insurance can help. Depending on your state’s rules, this type of policy can help cover your expenses even if you are at fault, providing:
For many people, this will be enough. However, Memphis car accident attorneys know that for others with more severe injuries or damage to their vehicle, there can be a shortfall. This is where standard health insurance comes in. Health insurance may be able to cover what PIP won’t. When your health insurance is exhausted, however, you still have other options.
Another option is something called an attorney lien. Many times medical providers will trade treatment for access to funds from a future settlement. To do this, you will have to present a document from your car accident attorney in Memphis whose signature will give specialists enough peace of mind to provide care.
An attorney lien is built on the premise that you will pursue a settlement against the person responsible for your accident. This is not always your first choice but may be the best choice if, for instance, their insurer is trying to give you a low settlement. You should speak with your Memphis, Tennessee car accident attorneys to see if they are willing to work on contingency. That means you can get good legal representation in the present and pay from your settlement in the future. Just about every personal injury attorney is amenable to this type of arrangement, which benefits you twofold: You don’t have to pay upfront and your attorney is motivated to get you the biggest settlement possible.
Many things can go wrong when you get into a car accident. You may have broken bones, bruises or lacerations, other injuries, and even property damage. At the least, your injuries are an annoyance but at the worst, your injuries could be life-threatening. However, one of the worst types of injuries you can get is a head injury which can cause severe brain damage. When this happens, you will need a doctor to look at your injuries and provide you with the proper treatment. Because brain injuries can be so serious, you may be living with permanent damage that could cause you not to talk, walk, or move ever again. If you have been in a car accident that caused brain damage, you should speak with our Memphis, TN car accident attorneys to see how we can help you. For more information on brain injuries after car accidents and filing a lawsuit, call us now.
Unfortunately, brain injuries are not uncommon after car accidents and you may be experiencing some of the following.
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 attorneys 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.
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.
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.
There are many different problems that ensue after a car accident. Anxiety on the road in the future, the headache of contacting insurance and figuring out all the details of your exact case, and, of course, the many bills associated with the accident. A skilled attorney can help you get compensation for all of these things. Some of the most common things to try to get in court include compensation for:
When you are involved in a car accident, it is important to remember that you are entitled to compensation to try to make your life as close to normal as possible. This includes money to assist in healing anything that was injured and fixing your vehicle to be in the same condition it was before getting in an accident. It can also include reimbursing you for wages that were lost due to missed work, whether you were unable to work because you were still in the hospital recovering, or the accident made you unable to physically do your job for a period of time. There are countless expenses that come with getting in a car accident, but if it wasn’t your fault, you should not have to pay the price.
Car accident attorneys have many different jobs when they take on your case. They will do the obvious, like speak to insurance and help figure out whether or not you want to settle or go to court, but they also have to investigate and learn more about the accident itself. Your attorney may send an investigator to the scene to see if any information was missed when you recounted the accident in your statement to the police or the law firm. An attorney may also hire expert witnesses to appear in court to help boost your case, and will do all of the research necessary before your day in court. Your lawyer will make sure you meet all of the required deadlines, and that you know exactly what you are getting into if you choose to take a settlement or have your day in court. Car accident lawyers are a wealth of information and are experienced in dealing with all different kinds of accidents, so you can have peace of mind when you hire someone to help you get compensation.
Don’t hesitate to contact an attorney from Patterson Bray to take on your case. We will get to work immediately to try to get you the compensation you absolutely deserve. Being in a car accident is stressful enough without having to deal with anything after the fact — hiring a lawyer will help take a burden off your shoulders and make it so that you can focus on recovering, rather than trying to scramble to find a way to make your life the same way it was before the accident.
A common mistake people make is assuming that they’re alright after seemingly “minor” car accidents. In reality, your vehicle doesn’t have to be totaled for a crash to have a major impact on your life. There are several reasons why contacting Memphis car accident attorneys can be important following fender benders.
How fast does the other vehicle need to be going to cause whiplash? Many people think the answer is 30–55 mph. Actually, the other car only needs to be traveling 5–15 mph to provoke whiplash. That may seem like barely a tap, but it can have a huge effect on your health.
Whiplash can injure muscles and tendons in your neck. This condition can result in severe headaches, long-term neck pain, back pain, memory loss and other issues. If this happens to you, Memphis car accident attorneys can help you get appropriate compensation.
Treatment for whiplash can take a long time and considerable expense, including physical therapy, chiropractic care, hospital visits and medication. Given how prevalent whiplash problems are in car accidents, at Patterson Bray we often encourage clients to visit a doctor if they even suspect neck problems.
You can’t always tell the severity of injuries from a car accident just by looking at someone. Some injuries don’t leave scars on the outside, but they do a lot of damage on the inside. Mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), such as concussions, can occur even in “minor” car accidents.
Any time your head moves abruptly, there’s a chance of brain injuries. This can happen when an airbag deploys or after hitting your head against the headrest with force. In rear-end collisions, even passengers wearing seatbelts can hit their heads against the rear windshield.
As experienced Memphis car accident attorneys, we often encourage clients to get checked out by a doctor after this type of collision. You can’t trust how you feel at the time because you may not remember the injury. Post-concussion syndrome can lead to dizziness, ringing in the ears, headaches, insomnia and irritability for years after an accident.
Don’t overlook the risk of being sued by other drivers or your passengers following an accident. You may need to prove that you weren’t at fault. At Patterson Bray, we can defend you in court and advise you on what steps to take with insurance companies. The advice from Memphis car accident attorneys can be the difference between winning compensation and losing hard-earned savings.
A car accident means more than just a trip to a repair shop and a hospital visit. While your health should take top priority when you’re trying to recover from a car accident, the bills can be overwhelming. Not only will you be facing expensive medical bills, but you may also be struggling with repair bills for your car, and lost wages the whole time you’re away from work. Fortunately, a qualified car accident attorney can help you battle with insurance companies to make sure you get the compensation you deserve and the care you need.
Don’t let a car accident ruin your life. Get in touch with a qualified car accident attorney in Memphis, and reach out to Patterson Bray today.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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 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.
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.
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.
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 Attorney. 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.
After you were in a car accident you may have decided rather quickly that you want to start the personal injury claim process. This is great because the sooner you decide to start the process, the sooner you can (hopefully) get compensated by the insurance company for the injuries you sustained. However, shortly after the accident, you may have started getting calls from the other driver’s insurance company. When this is the case, what should you do? Should you wait to speak with your lawyer before talking with them?
Insurance agents will likely call you “just to make sure you’re okay.” That’s sweet, right? Not really. What they are trying to do is get you to state, on record, that you are feeling better after the car accident. Statements like “I’m fine” or “I’m starting to feel better” are dangerous to say to an insurance agent (even if they are true) because the insurance agent will turn them around and say your injuries are not serious enough to warrant needing a settlement.
The first thing your attorney would recommend you do if the other insurance agent is calling you is to wait to speak with your lawyer. You can tell the insurance agent certain information like your name, your contact information, and your address, but when they start asking about the accident, say you are not comfortable speaking about that and want any information about the accident to go through your lawyer. Although not all insurance agents are exactly “out to get you” it is important to remember that their job is simply to make sure that if they offer you a settlement, it is as low as possible. So anything you say could accidentally contradict itself or be used against your settlement claim.
When an insurance agent does get in contact with you, we recommend you get their information. Ask them what their name is, what their callback information is, what their title at the company is, and which insurance agency they work with. Your lawyer will want to make sure they have this information.
If the insurance agent is pushy, it is not rude to simply say no. They have no right to legally keep you on the phone and you are not legally obligated to answer their questions. You can tell them you wish to speak with your lawyer first. It is always in your best interest to remain polite but firm.
If you were injured in a crash with another driver, you shouldn’t always conclude that poor road conditions were the only factors at play. You may suspect that the other driver was inattentive, driving too fast for conditions, or was otherwise negligent. The best way to learn about your rights and legal options is to consult with our experienced Memphis car accident attorneys from Patterson Bray today.
The steps you take following a car accident can have a huge impact on your settlement. If you make even one mistake, it could jeopardize your case. Here are some common mistakes to avoid after a car accident.
There are different types of collisions and those can result in different types of injures. Here are some of the most common types of car accidents and their injuries.
These types of accidents are when the front end of 2 cars traveling in opposite directions collide. Generally, the results in most vehicles impacting at break-neck wreak havoc on your body, and this grows worse if you aren’t wearing a seatbelt. Basically, this means that if you aren’t wearing your seatbelt and you were going at 60 miles per hour and you hit something that makes your car come to a sudden stop, you are going to continue going forward at 60 miles per hour until you hit something.
Some of the most common injuries that occur with head-on collisions are:
When your vehicle flips over onto its side or the roof that is when a rollover accident occurs. These types of accidents are most common in large trucks but they can also happen more frequently with SUVs and vans due to their high center of gravity. While they can happen for a variety of factors it is most commonly seen that speed plays a critical role in these accidents.
The majority of rollover crash victims sustain injuries to these parts of the body:
When a side-impact, or better known as a t-bone, collision happens it is because the front or rear end of a vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. It has been found that when a passenger car and an SUV are involved in a side-impact accident the passenger car driver is 10 times more likely to die than the driver of the SUV.
Many modern vehicles come equipped with side-impact airbags but this safety precaution may do little to prevent serious injury or death. The biggest factors that determine that are the speed at the time of the impact, the size of each vehicle, and if the impact occurred in one of the car’s crumple zones. Here are the most common injuries in a side-impact collision:
If you are looking for Memphis car accident attorneys then you can trust that Patterson Bray is here for you.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety’s TITAN Division, there were 153,193 car accidents in Tennessee, resulting in 1,148 fatalities and 27,447 injuries in 2021. Here are some tips for staying safe on the road in Tennessee:
By following these tips, you can help to reduce your risk of being involved in a car accident.
Getting into a car accident can leave you on the hunt for qualified Memphis car accident attorneys. No matter where the accident takes place there is one thing that every accident has in common. They can cause devastating consequences for those involved. All accidents are different and that means there are certain injuries that occur more frequently with certain types of accidents.
When you understand what injuries are commonly associated with your accident it can help predict just how difficult it will be to convince the judge, jury, or even just the insurance adjuster that you sustained your injury in the accident.
It’s a scary situation when you’re in the middle of a car accident. You’re not sure what to do, and who to turn to for help. That’s why it is important to call an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. We will make sure that you get all the compensation that you deserve from the other driver’s insurance company, so that you can take care of any medical bills or property damage related to your crash.
You may be entitled to compensation for the injury and pain. This includes lost wages due to being unable to work after the crash. In addition, there are also medical bills incurred from treatment of any injuries sustained during the crash. If you have been injured by someone else’s negligence on the road then contacting an attorney can help get you back on your feet faster and with more money in your pocket than if you did nothing at all!
A personal injury lawyer can help you understand how the law works so that you can get the compensation for your injuries that you deserve. You may be entitled to money for medical bills, lost wages due to time off from work, or pain and suffering from being injured. These are just some of the damages that an attorney could help with seeking out on your behalf. The sooner after an accident happens that legal counsel is sought out, the better because there are strict deadlines involved in filing a claim. If this blog post has piqued your interest and left you wanting more information about hiring a personal injury lawyer contact us today!
We’re sure you’ve heard the saying, “you get what you pay for.” Well, this is definitely true when it comes to choosing a Memphis car accident attorney. Many people assume that they don’t need an attorney after they’ve been in a car accident, but this is actually not the case. You may be surprised to find out that hiring an experienced Memphis car accident lawyer can make all the difference in your case. Patterson Bray is one of the top law firms in Memphis and we know exactly what to do to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
The insurance companies will try and make it difficult for you to get the compensation that you deserve. They don’t want to pay out money they feel like they don’t have to.
Hiring an experienced car accident Memphis car accident attorney can help reduce your stress level and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Patterson Bray has been helping clients in Memphis recover from their injuries by getting them the money they need for medical expenses and rehabilitation treatments as well as any lost wages due to missed work time after being injured in a car wreck caused by someone else’s negligence. We know how important it is for our clients to find us because we’ve been there ourselves when we were hurt in accidents before starting our law firm so we understand what our clients are going through when dealing with these types of injuries.
Our Memphis car accident attorneys will fight hard on your behalf to ensure that you get the money needed to cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Let us take care of everything while you focus on recovering from your injuries. It’s time for justice – let Patterson Bray help you make sure this never happens again by holding negligent parties accountable for their actions through civil litigation. Call now!