Imagine being stuck in a highway traffic jam with nowhere to go. All of a sudden, a driver going full speed approaches you from behind — there’s nothing you can do about the impending wreck.

If you’ve been in this unfortunate situation and suffered a severe injury, an attorney with Hotz & Associates, P.C. is ready to help. We can investigate the incident to determine who’s at fault and will relentlessly pursue the compensation you deserve.

Call (865) 582-0042 to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled Knoxville car accident lawyers who’s dedicated to providing the passionate representation you need.

Steps to take after being in a crash

Following these steps will help you protect your health and might help increase the chances that you’ll obtain maximum compensation in a personal injury claim.

Please note: The City of Knoxville has implemented a new policy where police are no longer required to come to the scene of a crash and make a report. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in insurance companies denying claims due to no police report. Because police are no longer required to appear and because adrenaline can mask many injuries, making it difficult for victims to know if they’re hurt at the scene, we ask that anyone involved in a crash take plenty of photos and videos of both vehicles exactly as they appear at the scene. Anyone involved in a crash should also take photos of the other driver’s license, insurance, registration, and license plate.

1. Move your vehicle to a safer location

If you’re able to move your car, get it out of the road away from further danger. If your car won’t move and you can physically get to safety, please do so as soon as you can.

2. Check yourself and your passenger(s) for injuries

See if you can move your extremities, look for open wounds or broken bones, and try to get an idea of where you’ve suffered injuries. If someone else is in your vehicle, check on them, too.

3. Call 911 and ask for an ambulance

When you speak with the 911 dispatcher, tell them how many cars were involved in the accident, any potential hazards, how many people have been injured, and the extent of their injuries if possible.

4. Notify your insurance company

There’s a chance your insurer could help you by covering some of your losses while your claim against the at-fault party is pending. Relay only the facts and don’t admit fault for the accident because that could get your claim reduced or denied.

5. Gather evidence at the scene

If you’re able to safely do so, take pictures of the accident scene. Get photos of all the vehicles involved, your injuries, and damage to any surrounding guardrails, street/highway signs, etc.

6. Visit Urgent Care or your primary care physician

The faster you receive medical help, the better the chances are that you’ll recover from your injuries. If you don’t want to go to the emergency room, at least see your family doctor or go to the nearest urgent care facility. This will create a record of your medical care and your medical expenses. You’ll need both if you’re going to fight for the money you deserve.

7. Meet with a rear-end car accident attorney to understand your legal options

Second in importance to getting medical help is getting in touch with a Knoxville car accident attorney right away. You need to act fast because your lawyer will need to investigate the wreck to determine how it occurred and who’s liable for your injuries.

Make sure you file a claim on time

The state of Tennessee has a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. This means you must take action within one year of the date the accident took place. If you let the statute of limitations expire, you won’t have any way to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Possible damages you can claim

When someone incurs losses in a personal injury accident, those losses are known as “damages” in legal terms. Two of the types of damages you may be able to recover include economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages

You might already have a lot of medical bills in your mailbox. You may have started to lose wages because you can’t work, and you’ve exhausted all of your sick time and vacation days. These are examples of tangible, or economic damages. A Knoxville rear-end car accident attorney can easily prove your economic damages with your bills and pay stubs.

Non-economic damages

Proving non-economic damages, on the other hand, is much more challenging because they’re subjective. You can’t easily put a price tag on issues such as mental trauma and pain and suffering. Even without that tangible proof, a skilled lawyer will know how to place the proper value on your non-economic damages.

Fault isn’t always clear in rear-end accidents

It might appear that the driver who hit you would be solely responsible, but there could be other factors that led to the accident. For example, their car’s brakes may have failed because they were defective, or they might have been trying to avoid a drunk driver. Your lawyer will determine who’s at fault during their investigation by looking at all relevant evidence.

How our Knoxville rear-end car accident attorneys prove negligence

A skilled Knoxville rear-end car accident attorney will never take anything at face value. They’ll dig deep to determine all the potentially liable parties that played a role in causing your injury. If they determine that there are multiple parties at fault, that could help you obtain much more compensation.

We fight the insurance company to get you the maximum compensation

When you hire a Knoxville car accident lawyer, you want to make sure they’re not intimidated by huge insurance corporations. At Hotz & Associates, P.C., we know how to defeat insurance companies and their high-priced representation. We’ll have the truth on our side and the skill to present a compelling case on your behalf.

Common rear-end car accident injuries

The injuries stemming from a rear-end automobile accident can be extremely painful, and possibly lead to years of debilitation. Some of the most common ones include the following:

• Whiplash
• Strained back muscles
• Herniated discs
• Fractures of the spine
• Spinal stenosis

“Dos” and “don’ts” of dealing with insurance after a wreck

While you should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you can, that should really be all the correspondence you have with any insurance company. If the at-fault driver’s insurance company or adjuster tries to contact you, simply refer all questions and correspondence to your Knoxville rear-end car accident attorney. At Hotz & Associates, P.C., we’ll shield you from adjuster harassment.

Cost of hiring a rear-end car accident lawyer

Hiring a Knoxville rear-end car accident attorney with Hotz & Associates, P.C. won’t cost you a dime out of pocket. We’ll only receive money if you win your case. If we are successful, then we receive a portion of your settlement or jury award as outlined in your contract with us.

Why you should visit a doctor as soon as possible

It’s important to reiterate why you need to get medical help as soon as you can. As stated earlier, some injuries don’t make themselves evident for hours – or even days – after they occur. If you delay medical attention, your injury could worsen to the point you might not be able to fully recover.

Delaying medical help can also hurt your case. Again, the insurance company is going to use any excuse it can to deny the compensation you have coming. If you don’t see a doctor, the insurer could make a very compelling argument against you. They could claim you’re not injured as badly as you claim.

Why work with Hotz & Associates, P.C.

You have a lot of choices when it comes to finding a Knoxville rear-end car accident attorney. If you choose Hotz & Associates P.C., we guarantee you won’t find another firm that will work harder for you. We’ll provide the aggressive representation it takes to help you obtain every dollar you deserve for the suffering you’ve been forced to endure.

Our Knoxville rear-end car accident attorneys are here to help

Contact us online or call (865) 582-0042 for a free evaluation of your case and to get started on the path toward recovery.