Common Causes of Car Accidents in Morristown TN

man drinking while driving

Being injured in a car accident in Morristown, Tennessee, can lead to devastating physical, financial, and emotional consequences. If you’re recovering from an auto accident, it takes time, and you may be overwhelmed by even minor daily tasks. Now more than ever, you need compassion and support.

At The Terry Law Firm, our legal team is committed to more than just helping you recover maximum compensation for your injuries. We are also committed to helping you move forward with your life. With our extensive knowledge and resources, our Morristown car accident lawyers can help you through this challenging time.

Call us at (423) 403-3595 or contact our Morristown office today and arrange a free and confidential case evaluation. We can review your situation and outline your best legal avenues for seeking the money you need after an accident caused by a careless driver.

Why You Need Our Morristown Car Accident Lawyers

Car accidents happen every day. So why do you need a Morristown car accident attorney to help you after a collision with a careless motorist? Despite their seemingly helpful demeanor over the phone, insurance adjusters are not your friends. They work for the insurance company, which thrives on increasing profits and limiting payouts. Getting the money you deserve for your financial losses is more of a challenge than most people realize.

At The Terry Law Firm, we help car accident victims pursue the maximum compensation they deserve. Our legal team can protect your rights while taking over the complicated process of filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Our Morristown car accident attorneys stand ready to:

  • Investigate the cause of the crash 
  • Identify all liable parties
  • Manage communication with the insurance company
  • Collect and preserve vital evidence to strengthen your claim
  • Accurately calculate your financial losses
  • Aggressively negotiate compensation for you
  • Prepare your case for court when necessary

We take on the burden of dealing with the insurance company, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

Commons Causes of Car Accidents in Morristown, TN

The leading cause of car accidents in the United States is driver error. In a recent year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found drivers engaged in risky behaviors in 45 percent of fatal crashes. What causes drivers to make mistakes behind the wheel?

Here are some of the most common causes of car accidents in Morristown:

  • Distracted driving – Distracted driving involves operating a motor vehicle while engaging in any activity that takes the focus off the vehicle’s safe operation. Common distractions include texting, talking on the phone, using a GPS, eating, grooming, or daydreaming.
  • Drunk or drugged driving – The Tennessee Highway Safety Office found that in one recent year, 7,332 crashes in Tennessee involved impaired drivers. Impaired drivers are four times more likely to speed and 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
  • Fatigued driving – Fatigue impacts the body and mind in many of the same ways as alcohol, affecting coordination, reflex time, and cognitive abilities.
  • Speeding – Driving above the speed limit or too fast for current conditions is a leading cause of significant accidents. Speeding can reduce a driver’s ability to react to hazards or stop in time to avoid a wreck.
  • Aggressive driving – Drivers who weave in and out of traffic at high speeds, zoom up behind others, cut other drivers off, or engage in other dangerously aggressive behaviors can cause severe accidents.
  • Failure to yield – Motorists who fail to yield the right of way at intersections, crosswalks, or when merging can cause dangerous accidents.
  • Tailgating – Following another vehicle too closely does not allow enough time for the driver to react if the vehicle in front suddenly stops or slows down.
  • Inexperienced drivers – Inexperienced motorists may be more prone to accidents due to their lack of experience and familiarity with the road. Teenagers and other newly licensed drivers are particularly at risk of causing an accident.
  • Unsafe lane changes – Aggressive or unsafe lane changes can cause dangerous accidents, especially considering that many unsafe lane changes occur in high-speed, high-traffic locations such as highways.
  • Failure to signal – Failing to signal and communicate your intentions to other drivers is hazardous and commonly leads to rear-end accidents.
  • Dangerous turns – When drivers make turns without checking for pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcycle riders, turn against the traffic lights, or try to beat lights while turning, they can cause disastrous accidents.

Accidents Due to Mechanical Problems

Mechanical defects can also lead to devastating collisions. According to NHTSA, around 2 percent of car accidents are vehicle-related. Accidents commonly related to mechanical problems can involve:

  • Tire problems
  • Defective brakes
  • Suspension issues
  • Defective steering systems
  • Defective transmissions
  • Defective safety equipment such as airbags
  • Inadequate vehicle maintenance
  • Malfunctioning or broken headlights
  • Poorly maintained windshield wipers

In some cases, the manufacturer of the defective parts can be held responsible for a car accident. Our experienced Morristown car accident attorneys have the resources to gather the vital evidence needed to build a claim against a third party like a parts or car manufacturer.

Accidents Due to Poor Road Conditions

If you’ve ever hit a pothole and heard a sickening thud, you know that poor road conditions can cause many headaches for Morristown drivers. However, poor road conditions can cause more than just superficial damage. They can cause significant car accidents.

Road conditions that can lead to car accidents may include:

  • Potholes
  • Debris in the roadway
  • Black ice
  • Adverse weather conditions
  • Poor signage
  • Traffic signage that is blocked or obscured
  • Poor road design
  • Poor road maintenance
  • Lack of guardrails

Some poor road condition accidents result from poor design or poor maintenance, and liability may rest with a government entity. Never go head-to-head with a government agency without help from an experienced car accident attorney. Our attorneys can review your situation and advise you about which legal avenues offer the best chance of recovering the compensation you deserve.

Talk to Our Experienced Morristown Car Accident Attorneys Today

Are you concerned about recovering the money you need following a car accident involving a careless driver or another at-fault party? The Morristown car accident attorneys at The Terry Law Firm want to help you. We offer valuable legal advice and can help you through the complicated claim process.

We want to hear from you. Call us at (423) 403-3595 or contact our Morristown office today and arrange your free case evaluation.

Car Accidents

How Do I Pay for My Car Accident Injuries?

If you have been involved in a car wreck case, there are generally three (3) avenues for payment of medical expenses. 

  1. The first and most common method of payment is for persons who have been injured to pay for their medical care with their own health insurance. This does not create any problems and, in fact, most of the time this is what we recommend at The Terry Law Firm.
  2. Persons involved in car wreck cases can use something referred to as “med pay” to pay for some of their medical bills associated with their car wreck case. “Med pay” coverage is coverage afforded by your automobile insurance to pay for injuries sustained in the car wreck. 
  3. Occasionally, persons will be on the job working when they are injured in a car wreck. In these circumstances, sometimes it is best to use workers’ compensation to pay for your injuries sustained in a car wreck.  

If one of these methods is not available to you, contact The Terry Law Firm at our Morristown, Greeneville, or Sevierville office.

Will My Insurance Rates Go Up If I Use Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Under Tennessee law, insurance carriers cannot raise your insurance as a result of a person utilizing their uninsured motorist coverage. Tennessee law states explicitly that if you are in an accident that is no fault of your own, your insurance carrier cannot raise your insurance rates due to your use of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that you purchased.