Nashville Personal Injury Attorney » Auto Accidents

Crash on Hwy 49 Leaves 2 Dead

piattorney — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:14:05 +0000

A man’s vehicle crossed the center line while traveling down Highway 49 recently. The error caused a head on collision between James Willis, the driver who crossed over, and Bennie and Elsie Vandgrift, an elderly couple driving the other vehicle. The couple died from the accident. James was transported by Life Flight to a nearby hospital. The Tennesseean reports more:

The wreck occurred after Willis’ vehicle crossed the center line, striking the Vandgrift’s car head-on at about 1 p.m. in Cheatham County near the border of Dickson County. Elsie Vandgrift was pronounced dead at the scene. Bennie Vandgrift was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Willis’ condition was not known as of press time Thursday.

Dickson Sheriff’s deputies along with Cheatham emergency personnel and the THP were at the scene, near Ben Collier Road, clearing the debris.

Both lanes of the highway were blocked as the authorities cleared the scene of the accident.

Criminal charges are pending in this accident, according to the THP report.

Accidents are a part of everyday life, unfortunately, but some accidents can have disastrous effects. We express our condolences to the families who are now in mourning over this accident.

If you would like to speak to an attorney about an Nashville personal injury case, call us today for a free consultation.

New iPhone App Targets Injuries from Accidents

piattorney — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:58:07 +0000

The iPhone is one of the world’s most popular devices and one reason for it’s popularity is both the quantity and types of “apps” users can download for use on the device. There are literally a million of them available that provide as many different functions. Recently one personal injury firm in the UK got creative with their law practice by releasing an app designed for accidents. The app records data and encourages the user to take pictures and log other information that may be helpful in building a case. It then allows the user to forward the information to the firm’s lawyers.

The app is available for free from the App Store and its creators Bott & Co say that Car Incident Assessment will provide the user with the information and advice they will need to help them to deal with the accident effectively.

The app will encourage the user to take photographs of the crash site, but significantly allows them to then automatically pass these details onto their solicitors immediately after the accident.

A spokesperson for Bott & Co said that once the pertinent details had been recorded and emailed over, a personal injury lawyer would immediately begin to build a claim if the fault of the accident lay with the other party.

Source: Top 10 UK

Have you been injured in some way? Call the Nashville personal injury attorneys you can count on to get you the compensation you deserve. We’re here for you. Call today!

Tiger Woods Stealing Headlines for All the Wrong Reasons

piattorney — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:17:55 +0000

Usually when you hear about Tiger Woods it’s about his incredible golf skills or some charitable activity he is involved in. He has managed his public image to a level very few public figures can match. But over the Thanksgiving weekend he gave families all across the world to talk about with a minor car accident right outside his Florida home. It was minor because his air bags did not deploy, which means he was traveling less than 33 mph. The first story about what happened included a daring rescue by his wife Elin who smashed out the back window with a golf club in order to extricate her husband from the vehicle.

But conflicting reports soon emerged along with headlines about infidelity (on Tiger’s part), spousal battery (on Elin’s part, presumably because of the infidelity), and attempted coverups. Is it possible Elin was smashing the back window of the SUV for a different reason? You can read more about the story here.

Have you been injured in an accident? Your story may not involve golf clubs or mistresses, but if you’ve been injured, come and see us anyway! When it comes to Nashville personal injury, we’re the lawyers you can count on. Call us today/

Police Officers Often At Risk for Injury

piattorney — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:00:22 +0000

The Examiner published an interesting article exploring the risks to police officers and the all-too-common injuries they sustain. The article started with a story about an officer who was T-boned by a beer delivery truck. The driver had been drinking while on the job. The officer was injured severely and required multiple surgeries. Even after long and painful physical therapy the officer had not recovered nor fully returned to his pre-accident work.

Source: The Examiner

In such cases, where benefits were provided by workers’ compensation, the officer’s recovery against the beer company no longer belonged entirely to him. Through the legal doctrine known as subrogation, the workers’ compensation insurer became a settlement partner. Now there are certain nuances that may apply to limit or eliminate subrogation, such as the “made whole rule” that some states follow, but the reality is that an insurer will most often get a piece of the pie if it asserts subrogation rather than insurance arbitration.

The whole interplay between insurance and personal injury recovery sounds complex and it is. The point to understand though is that officers are not limited to workers’ compensation benefits if injured on the job by a negligent third party. Sharing the settlement with insurer may in some cases make the recovery bitter sweet, but workers’ compensation, as limited and frustrating as it can be to deal with, must pay whereas the targets of civil litigation may pay. Workers’ compensation benefits kick in relatively quickly. As for the officer above, his civil settlement was negotiated a little over two years from the date of the injury.

The officer received workers’ compensation for his injuries. What he may not have known is that receiving those benefits lessened the burden of the other party’s insurance companies should he seek restitution. This is just an example of the complexity of personal injury law and underscores the importance of working with someone who is experienced and can navigate the complexities of the law on your behalf.

If you’ve been injured or know someone who has, contact us today to talk about your case.

Car Accident Injuries in Nashville – Who Is Liable?

piattorney — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:51:36 +0000

Car accidents happen every day here in Nashville and the surrounding areas. Many of these accidents are small “fender benders” where thankfully no one gets hurt. But occasionally the crash results in an injury serious enough to cause medical attention, lost work time, or perhaps even something worse. The question often arises of who is at fault in these accidents? It might be more complex than a decision between the drivers involved.

It could be that a mechanical failure caused the accident, in which case the auto maker could be liable. Or perhaps it happened on a dangerous or defective roadway, in which case the city could be held liable. The only real way to know is to speak with a qualified Nashville personal injury attorney about the facts of your case. That’s the only way to really know whether you have a case or not.

Call us today and get an answer to your questions.

Safest Cars for 2010

piattorney — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:52:05 +0000

Today the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a list of the safest new vehicles. Among the winners, Ford Motor Co and its Volvo unit got the highest marks. They were followed by Subaru and Volkswagen AG and Audi. Surprisingly the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion were not ever considered after failing to earn minimum scores on strength of the roof. The Toyota Camry was found wanting in its rear crash protection. Apparently the head restraints don’t do enough to guard against whiplash, a common injury during a rear end collision.

You can read the report from KTLA here: http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-safest-cars,0,6076571.htmlstory

The safer your car is, the safer you will be. So if you’re looking for a new car in 2010, start with this list.

Have you been injured in some way? Are you suffering from whiplash or some other injury? Call us today for a free consultation with the personal injury attorney Nashville residents trust.

Information About Paralysis – Causes and Prevention

piattorney — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:27:45 +0000

Paralysis can be caused by many types of accidents and is life-changing. The following article explains the most common causes and a few ideas to help you avoid paralysis injuries:

Source: http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/paralysis-caused-by-personal-injury-124992.php

“It takes a matter of seconds for your life to change drastically due to a traumatic accident. When paralysis is the result of an accident, getting your life back to normal can be challenging and emotionally difficult. Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in a part of your body. Paralysis can be caused by a severe spinal cord injury or even a broken neck. Paralysis can occur on one part of your body or several.

Paralysis can result in thousands of dollars in medical bills and physical therapy. These scenarios can be the fault of the manufactures, business owners, physicians, or other neglectful parties.”

Special Investment Fund for Personal Injury Claimants

piattorney — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:23:33 +0000

Typically when a person is awarded a financial settlement due to a personal injury claim, they will use the money to pay expenses they have incurred from the injury. The compensatory damages received will likely be invested in some way to ensure it offers a return to the claimant. But often these investors are treated just like any other and are lumped with very risky portfolios. If you’re unable to work and rely on the settlement to provide for your basic living, this is a totally inappropriate investment model.

But recently a group called CF 7IM has introduced a fund designed specifically for personal injury claimants. It was detailed today at Financial Times. Says the article:

“Nicolas Martin, partner for Lancashire-based personal injury specialists Nestor, said many personal injury clients are often treated like “ordinary investors” and have been put into relatively risky portfolios that fail to provide financial security.

He said investment portfolios bear little resemblance to the costs that many personal injury victims face and that the claimants cannot afford to lose money.

Mr Martin said: “We have been very concerned about the investment strategies adopted by many personal injury victims and their advisers.

“They are either faced with simply leaving their damages payments in cash deposits, which rarely keeps up with inflation or invest the money into more risky investments which creates issues and concerns – particularly the rollercoaster we have experienced in the last few years. This did not seem right to us.”

Read the full article here: http://www.ftadviser.com/FinancialAdviser/Advisers/Industry/IFAFirms/News/article/20091119/e6de2fa8-cfa8-11de-91e0-00144f2af8e8/Nestor-and-7IM-offer-personal-injury-fund.jsp

Been injured in an accident? Need help deciding what to do? Call the Nashville accident attorney you can trust to get you the compensation you deserve. Call today to set up a free appointment.

Toyota Lawyer Destroys Evidence, Must Arbitrate

piattorney — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:12:25 +0000

A judge in U.S. District Court ordered that former national managing counsel for Toyota, Dimitrios Biller, must arbitrate claims related to rollover litigation in which Mr. Biller hid and destroyed evidence that may have helped plaintiffs in cases brought against the auto giant. It was a despicable act, but Biller has turned whistleblower in this case. Hopefully the true evidence will now be brought to light and through arbitration this wrong can be made right. The article states:

“Biller’s suit, which Toyota failed to get sealed, had threatened to reopen personal injury cases against Toyota on behalf of victims of rollover accidents. In recent months, plaintiffs in previous personal injury cases have filed court documents in Texas and California against Toyota and its in-house counsel, citing Biller’s allegations.”

If you were affected by a Toyota rollover accident or any other type of accident that caused injuries to you, call us today for a no-cost consultation. We’re the accident attorneys Nashville relies on for fair compensation.

Car Crash Victim Awarded $200,000 after Trial

piattorney — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:24:42 +0000

After being rear-ended in a car accident in Minnesota, William Kieper was forced to undergo spinal fusion surgery. As a result of the accident, the insurance company offered him a settlement of $15,000. He was wise to refuse the settlement and hire an injury lawyer. The day before trial the insurance company offered $90,000. He and his attorney continued to trial and obtained a verdict of $200,000 in favor of the man.

This is a perfect example of how important it is to work with a qualified and trusted Nashville personal injury attorney. Without good advice, Mr. Kieper may have accepted the original offer of $15,000 instead of the fair and reasonable amount he received at trial. We’re happy Mr. Kieper received a fair settlement.

Part of the press release regarding the case appears below. Follow the link at the bottom to read the remainder:

The case involved a client who underwent spinal fusion surgery as a result of a car crash. The crash was caused by inattention; Defendant Shea simply drove into the back of Kieper’s vehicle.

Shea and her insurance carrier, State Farm, claimed the crash was caused by ice. Furthermore, they claimed the crash was unavoidable. However, on the eve of trial, that defense was abandoned and liability was admitted. Instead they argued that the surgery was the result of pre-existing degenerative changes rather than the crash.

The insurance company offered only $15,000 until the eve of trial at which point they raised the offer to $90,000. After a week-long trial, the jury provided $200,000 of compensation to Kieper.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/11/prweb3217004.htm

Tips for Driving Safely on Icy Roads

piattorney — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:14:35 +0000

Winter time is upon us and that means some cold days with it. Every year ice on the road causes deaths and injuries but did you know that it’s often avoidable? You can follow some basic safety driving tips that will go a long way to keeping you and your family safe while on the road.

One tip I like is to leave your lights on, even during the day. A reflection off of ice may be just enough to allow you to avoid it in time or at least to take some defensive measure. There is a list of tips here. Stay safe this winter!

What is Whiplash?

piattorney — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:04:22 +0000

A lot of people wonder whether they suffer from whiplash after an accident. This article describes what causes whiplash and some of the improvements in preventing it from happening. Among other things, it says the following:

If you’ve ever been involved in a car accident, or play sports where contact is important, you might have suffered whiplash. Whiplash occurs when an impact creates a sudden jerk of the neck, which may cause damage to the spine and surrounding tissue including tendons. In severe cases it can be enough to incapacitate people, but generally it results in a real pain in the neck.

If you think you have whiplash from an accident, call us to discuss your case. You need a personal injury attorney Nashville trusts.

Church Trip Turns Deadly with Van Crash

piattorney — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:55:24 +0000

A group of 16 church-goers piled into a van for a church outing. Sadly, during the trip the van crashed and rolled after hitting ice. Two people died and 14 were injured. All but 3 of the passengers were ejected from the rolling vehicle. The story is detailed at this website.

It’s impossible to say who is entirely responsible. The driver likely played a big role. But what about the van? Was there a mechanical malfunction? Was it properly maintained? The only way to know for sure is to investigate properly. This is true for any type of accident. By gathering all the evidence you can discover where fault lies. If you’ve been injured in some type of accident, call a trusted Nashville personal injury attorney to get help. We can help you get fair compensation for your injuries. Call us today for a free consultation.

Nashville Personal Injury Attorney – Work with a Top-rated Personal Injury Attorney

piattorney — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:49:27 +0000

Nashville Personal Injury Attorney

Have you been injured in an accident? You’re in the right place!

Accidents happen for a lot of reasons. It could be that another person did something to cause your accident or failed to take reasonable action to prevent it from happening. It’s not about casting blame, however. It’s really about making sure you get fair compensation for you and your family.

Our firm offers free consultations to talk about your case. Come in and meet with us today to get free advice on how to pursue your case. There’s never any obligation. The worst thing you can do is not figure out what your options are before taking action. Better to weigh all your options first and then choose the course best for you. We can help you do that.

About Personal Injury Law

Call us today to become our next satisfied personal injury client.

No matter how careful we are, accidents do happen. It’s just the nature of life. But that doesn’t mean accidents don’t have consequences. It could lead to a loss of employment, poor health, unnecessary stress and anguish. The law recognizes these consequences and allows those who suffer from an accident or injury to pursue fair compensation for their troubles.

Many times it’s an insurance company providing that compensation. And unfortunately, their definition of “fair compensation” is often much lower than reality. Left to their own devices they will limit your compensation severely. You need someone on your side to make sure you get a fair shake!

Why Call Us?

We know there are a lot of choices in this field. But experience matters a lot when it comes to personal injury. Work with a Nashville personal injury lawyer with a proven track record and years of qualified experience. It could literally mean the difference between getting nothing and getting fair compensation. This is not a choice to take chances with. Call us today to schedule your free consultation!

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Bizarre Auto Accident Knocks Man Down on Pavement

piattorney — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:18:00 +0000

You’ve seen it before. Two cars connected by a nylon strap because the second one is inoperable and is being towed by the first car. Both require a driver, of course, to steer and apply brakes as needed. In a bizarre accident involving a scene such as this one, the first car made a right-hand turn. The second car failed to follow, however, forcing the strap to stretch out. It caught a pedestrian by the legs and slammed his head into the sidewalk, severely injuring him.

At about 10:41 on Renton Avenue South and 62nd Avenue South, a pickup truck was towing another car, with a driver inside, using a nylon rope. These two cars were traveling on Renton Avenue South, while the 44-year old pedestrian was crossing the street at the same time. The driver of the truck made a right hand turn, but the man in the car being towed failed to make this same turn and continued to go straight. Because the two cars were now going in separate directions, the tow rope expanded, caught the leg of the pedestrian and caused him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Read it here.

Apparently neither driver was impaired. They are, however, negligent in harming this man seriously. He was hospitalized for his injuries, though the extent is not fully known.

Boy, 12, Injured by Teen Driver Headed to Hair Appointment

piattorney — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:18:00 +0000

It’s hard to imagine running over someone without noticing, but that’s exactly what a 17-year-old is claiming happened as she sped through a busy intersection trying to make an afternoon hair appointment. In doing so she struck a 12-year-old pedestrian and threw him 20 feet. He landed on his face, seriously crushing facial bones. He’ll require extensive surgery to restore his health. The driver says she knew she hit something and saw a backpack fly but had no idea she hit a person. Hard to believe. She made her hair appointment while the victim was being transported to the hospital in critical condition. It’s a sad story of total disregard for others’ safety and for something so trivial.

Police charged Medeiros yesterday with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a misdemeanor. Crowley said that police are unhappy with the charge and that additional charges are likely.

“It’s very frustrating, especially something like this where a child was seriously injured and it’s still considered a misdemeanor,’’ Crowley said. “The penalty needs to be increased when you cause serious bodily injury.’’

Kelvin’s stepfather, Danny Savanhmixay, said the sixth- grader is recovering at Children’s Hospital Boston, where he will remain for at least several weeks while doctors consider facial reconstruction surgery.

“They operated on his left leg and took something out; it might have been from the bumper of the car,’’ Danny Savanhmixay said. “. . . He has 20 to 30 stitches in his face. His left eye socket, his jaw, is broken. Everything in that side of his face is smashed from the way he landed. We’re pulling through. We’re just happy he’s still alive.’’

Source: Boston dot com

If you’ve been injured or need help with your case, call a Nashville personal injury attorney for a free consultation today.