Personal Injury Law in Chattanooga, TN

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Chattanooga? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Chattanooga, TN can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Chattanooga relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Chattanooga, TN

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

  • Car Accidents
  • Slip and Fall
  • Dog Bites
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Workplace Accidents
  • Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Chattanooga 

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, the leading cause of accidental injury in Chattanooga is falls. In fact, falls account for an annual average of 200,000 emergency room visits statewide. In addition, auto accidents and poisoning also result in significant numbers of Chattanooga injuries. The severity of these injuries can range from minor to very serious. Unfortunately, injury is the leading cause of death for Chattanooga residents aged 1 to 44.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Chattanooga, TN

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Tennessee

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

Chattanooga cases involving damages of less than $25,000 will usually be handled by the Hamilton County General Sessions Court. Larger cases are under the jurisdiction of the Hamilton County Circuit Court.

Tennessee Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

Multiple factors determine the settlement amount for a personal injury case in Chattanooga. Actual costs of medical bills and lost wages generally make up the majority of a personal injury settlement. According to the Tennessee Injury and Violence Prevention Program, the average cost of a Chattanooga injury hospitalization is over $50,000. Your settlement may also include compensation for pain and suffering, damage compensation, or even punitive damages.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in TN, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Tennessee

If your Tennessee personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

Under Tennessee law, non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are limited to $750,000 in most Chattanooga cases. However, that limit is raised to $1 million for cases involving any catastrophic loss or injury. Additionally, punitive damages are limited to the larger of two times the actual damages or $500,000.

Statute of Limitations in Chattanooga, TN Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Tennessee has one of the shortest statutes of limitation in the country for personal injury cases. Under Tennessee code, you only have one year from the date of the injury to file your Chattanooga suit.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Chattanooga, TN Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Chattanooga against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Tennessee state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

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