When Should I Call a Vehicle Injury Attorney?

A vehicle injury attorney may be necessary when a wreck results in serious and life-altering harm. While minor accidents can often be handled through insurance, those involving injuries that require extensive medical care, forced time away from work, strain your family and social interactions, and cause long-term concerns may be better handled by a lawyer.

But how can you know when an injury is serious? How can you tell when the best course of action is to call a vehicle injury attorney?

The Haynes Firm Can Help You Understand Your Options

The vehicle injury attorneys at The Haynes Firm have decades of experience helping victims of serious injury seek the compensation they need. We handle all types of motor vehicle accidents, including car crashes, collisions with semi-trucks, and wrecks involving motorcycles. If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident—no matter the type or types of vehicles involved—we can review your case, help you understand your options, and guide you toward the best course of action.

To schedule a FREE and confidential case review with one of our Johnson City vehicle injury attorneys, please call The Haynes Firm at 423-928-0165 right away. We fight tirelessly for the rights of injured people and their families in Bristol, Kingsport, and throughout Tennessee.

Serious Injuries Demand a Vehicle Injury Attorney

Motor vehicle crashes can result in a range of injuries. Some of these require little to no medical intervention and allow for full recovery within a few days or weeks. These injuries may best be handled through a standard insurance claim. However, there are millions of injuries caused by car, truck, and motorcycle accidents that require medical attention—and many of those result in long-term or even permanent consequences for victims.

Serious injuries that should be discussed with a vehicle injury attorney include:

• Traumatic Brain Injury. Traumatic brain injury, often abbreviated as TBI, is caused by a blow or jolt to the head. Depending on the extent of damage, TBI can result in cognitive and physical impairments, affect memory and concentration, and impact motor skills.
• Spinal Cord Injury. Spinal cord injury, often abbreviated as SCI, can lead to partial or complete paralysis depending on the location and extent of the damage. SCI can have a drastic impact on a person’s life, affecting both sensory and motor abilities below the area of injury.
• Internal Injuries. Damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen, or other internal organs can lead to serious complications. Internal bleeding, organ failure, and similar complications are not always immediately apparent, making it important that you seek a medical evaluation after an accident even when there are no obvious signs of damage.
• Fractured and Broken Bones. Broken and fractured bones often heal, but may lead to additional or prolonged complications as well. From infections to impaired mobility, even a seemingly minor fracture can temporarily or permanently impact a person’s ability to work and perform daily tasks.
• Burns, Lacerations, and Disfigurement. Burns and lacerations can result in lasting physical and emotional scars. They can also cause severe damage to muscles, tendons, and bones, impact nerves, pose infection risks, and result in significant pain and disfigurement.

When you sustain a severe injury in a crash, the medical expenses, lost wages, and physical and emotional costs can be profound. This is where an experienced lawyer can help the most. The Johnson City personal injury lawyers at The Haynes Firm can assess the way your injury has and may continue to impact your life to help you determine if taking legal action is the best solution for your needs.

Should I Talk to a Vehicle Injury Attorney Before Taking an Insurance Settlement?

As mentioned above, motor vehicle accidents can result in a wide range of injuries—and not all of those injuries are serious. However, even injuries that may seem inconsequential or minor can turn out to be physically, emotionally, and financially costly. With this in mind, it is always a good idea to talk to a vehicle injury attorney when you sustain an injury in a truck, motorcycle, or car wreck.

Once you have accepted an insurance settlement, you will generally be prohibited from seeking additional compensation through legal action. Unfortunately, insurance settlements are not always adequate at addressing the full consequences of an injury. Discussing your case with an experienced lawyer helps to ensure all damages—both those that are financial and those that are physical or emotional—are taken into consideration when determining the worth of your claim.

The attorneys at The Haynes Firm understand the significant costs involved in recovering from a motor vehicle accident. During your free initial consultation, we will carefully evaluate your claim to help you decide if accepting a settlement or pursuing legal action is most appropriate for your case.

How Long Should I Wait to Talk to a Vehicle Injury Attorney in Tennessee?

You should talk to a vehicle injury attorney as soon as possible after a crash. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Tennessee is generally one year from the date the injury occurred. If you fail to take action within this time limit, you may lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries.

Talking to an attorney immediately after an accident helps to preserve your right to seek compensation through legal action. It also helps to ensure evidence surrounding your claim does not become more difficult to collect. Waiting to take action may see tangible evidence like videos erased or lost, the memory of witnesses become less detailed, and interfere with the accurate reconstruction of the scene. Taking swift action can help in the collecting of evidence, allowing your lawyer to build a more compelling case for fair and full compensation.

Our Johnson City Vehicle Injury Attorneys Are Ready to Help

At The Haynes Firm, we understand the challenges that follow serious personal injury. We are fully committed to helping the victims of car collisions, motorcycle crashes, and 18-wheeler wrecks receive compensation that is representative of their injuries. We know what your case is worth and will fight to secure every penny you are due.

With more than 70 years of combined legal experience and a history of securing substantial verdicts and settlements, our abilities both in and out of the courtroom have garnered us several accolades. But these are simply reflections of our dedication. We genuinely care about our clients, their futures, and their happiness. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an accident, our Johnson City lawyers are ready to step in and help.

Contact Us for a FREE Consultation

To schedule a FREE consultation with an experienced vehicle injury attorney at The Haynes Firm, contact us online or call our Johnson City office today. We serve Asbury, Jonesborough, Central, and all nearby areas of Tennessee.