Were you injured in a car accident in Columbia, Tennessee? You may be able to file a personal injury claim against the responsible party. The Columbia car accident lawyers with Woodard Injury Law can help you pursue maximum compensation as best as we can under the law.
Our personal injury law firm in Columbia has nearly two decades of experience representing car accident victims across Middle Tennessee. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients to date and will make your case our priority from the start if you choose us to represent you.
Call us today at (615) 314-4626 or contact us online to get started. We offer a free consultation and work on contingency, meaning we only receive attorney’s fees if we win compensation for you.
Why Hire Woodard Injury Law After a Car Accident in Columbia, Tennessee?
It can feel impossible to try and handle a claim while recovering from a car accident. When you work with Woodard Injury Law, you’ll have an award-winning legal advocate protecting your rights every step of the way, including in the courtroom if that’s what it takes.
Our legal team can:
- Conduct a full investigation of your accident
- Gather the evidence required to prove your claim
- Identify all of the responsible parties and insurance coverage
- Work with experts to support your claim
- Calculate the total value of your damages
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement
- Protect you from allegations of contributory fault
- File a lawsuit and represent you at trial if needed
Our car accident attorneys in Columbia, TN, are skilled negotiators and proven trial lawyers who won’t back down when your financial future is on the line. Schedule a free consultation with us today to learn more.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases in Columbia
Car accidents can happen in many ways, and every case presents unique challenges. We can handle all kinds of collision claims in Tennessee, including:
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Drunk driving accidents
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Hit-and-run crashes
- Rollover accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Fatigued driving crashes
- Speeding accidents
No matter the exact type of crash you’ve been involved in, our personal injury lawyers will work tirelessly to uncover what happened and pursue the full amount of compensation you need and deserve.
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Leading Causes of Car Crashes in Columbia, TN
Car accidents in Columbia can happen virtually anywhere, from the intersections along Bear Creek Pike to the stretch of Highway 31 running through town. Though every crash is different at the end of the day, driver negligence is at the root of most of them.
Some of the leading causes of car accidents in the Columbia area include:
- Distracted driving, particularly texting and using a phone behind the wheel
- Speeding on local roads and highways
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Tailgating and aggressive driving
- Driving under the influence
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Reckless lane changes or turns
- Poor weather conditions reducing visibility and traction
If another driver’s carelessness puts you in harm’s way, you have every right to hold them liable for the damage they caused. An experienced car accident attorney in Columbia with our legal team can help you do exactly that.
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Determining Liability for a Columbia Car Accident
Tennessee is an at-fault state for car insurance, so the driver who caused the accident is responsible for covering the resulting damages. Figuring out who that is, though, is not always as simple as it sounds.
Depending on the circumstances of your crash, potentially liable parties may include:
- The driver who caused the collision
- The driver’s employer, if the crash happened during their work duties
- A manufacturer responsible for a mechanical defect
- A government entity that failed to properly maintain the roadway
- A bar or restaurant that over-served an impaired driver under Tennessee’s dram shop laws
Tennessee’s modified comparative fault law also comes into play here. Under this system, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be 50% or more responsible for the crash, however, you lose the right to recover anything at all from the opposing party. Insurance companies use this rule aggressively, so having an auto accident lawyer who can protect your position on contributory fault is critical.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Car Accident in Tennessee?
The aftermath of a serious crash can affect every part of your life. Tennessee law allows you to recover compensation for both financial and non-financial losses.
You may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages for things like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage and repair costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental conditions like anxiety and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In rare cases, courts may also award punitive damages if the at-fault driver acted with extreme misconduct, such as driving under the influence and causing the accident on purpose.
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How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Columbia Auto Accident Attorney?
At Woodard Injury Law, we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost to hire us, and we do not charge hourly rates or retainer fees either. You only owe attorney’s fees if we recover money for you at the conclusion of your case, whether that means a settlement or jury verdict.
Before your case begins, we will sit down with you and go over the details of our fee arrangement so that everything is transparent from the start. This setup allows you to get experienced legal help without worrying about how to pay for it while your case is still pending.
Contingency fees also align your attorney’s interests with yours. Since we only get paid if you do, we have every reason to push for the best possible result we can for your case.
Time Limitations on Auto Accident Lawsuits in Tennessee
Tennessee has one of the shortest filing deadlines in the country for personal injury cases. Under Tennessee Code § 28-3-104, you have just one year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If that statute of limitations passes without a lawsuit on file, the court will almost certainly throw your case out.
There are very few exceptions to this rule, and relying on one without legal guidance is risky. Keep in mind as well that if you are still in negotiations with the insurance company, the one-year clock keeps running. Insurance adjusters are aware of this deadline, and some will intentionally drag out the process hoping that you’ll run out of time.
Getting a car accident attorney involved early on makes sure your legal rights are preserved while your claim moves forward. The sooner we start working on your case, the more time we have to investigate the accident and build the most compelling claim possible on your behalf before the deadline arrives.
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Steps To Follow After a Columbia Car Crash
What you do in the minutes and days after a car accident can shape the entire outcome of your case. Here is what we recommend so that you can protect both your health as well as the success of your personal injury claim:
- Call 911: Make sure the police respond to the scene and create an official accident report. This document will be an important piece of evidence for your claim.
- Seek medical treatment right away: Even if you feel fine at the scene, some injuries do not produce symptoms until hours or days later. Getting checked out quickly also creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident.
- Collect the other driver’s information: Write down their name, phone number, license plate number, and insurance details. If there were multiple vehicles involved, get the same information from each driver.
- Document the scene: Take photos and videos of everything you can at the scene that might be relevant, such as your injuries and the damage to the vehicles involved. The more you capture, the better.
- Talk to witnesses: If anyone saw the crash happen, get their name and phone number. Witness testimony can be valuable when the insurance company tries to dispute what happened.
- Do not discuss fault: Avoid apologizing for the accident and saying anything that could be taken as an admission of responsibility. This applies to conversations with everyone, including the other driver and the insurance companies.
- Follow through with all medical care: Keep every appointment your doctor recommends. Insurance companies routinely look for gaps in treatment and will use them to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.
- Contact a car accident attorney before giving any recorded statements: The other driver’s insurance company may reach out quickly, but anything you say to them can be used to reduce the value of your claim.
Taking these steps helps protect both your health and your ability to recover compensation down the road. Contact our car accident lawyers in Columbia, Tennessee, today for a free consultation so that we can review the details of your accident and help you figure out what comes next.
Contact Woodard Injury Law for a Free Consultation With a Columbia Car Accident Attorney
If you were hurt in a car accident in Columbia, TN, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. With nearly 20 years of experience and millions recovered for Tennessee clients, you can count on Woodard Injury Law to help you make the most of your claim.
Contact us online or call (615) 314-4626 today to schedule a free case review with a dedicated Columbia car accident attorney.