Why You Should Never Accept a Car Accident Settlement Without Legal Advice

Tennessee sees hundreds of car accidents every day. Over the course of a year, this translates to hundreds of thousands, many of which result in accident claims. Of course, not all car accident claims involve serious injury. In 2024, Tennessee reported 175,240 traffic accidents, of which 74% we recorded as “POD” (property damage only). These types of accidents are typically fine when handled by insurance. However, for the thousands more that involve injury and/or death every year, handling on your own through insurance may be insufficient.

While state statistics suggest a majority of car crashes in Tennessee result in property damage only, some of these may involve injuries that do not show immediate signs. Car accident injuries with delayed symptoms are far more common than most realize and can include internal bleeding, soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and even spinal cord injuries, none of which will be accounted for in a POD insurance claim.

It is always a good idea to see a doctor after a wreck, even if you feel fine. Some injuries can take weeks or even months to manifest symptoms, which can impact your future needs if your settlement is does not fully account.  

Talk to One of Our Johnson City Car Wreck Attorneys Before Accepting an Insurance Offer

If you have been hurt or a loved one has been killed in a car crash in Tennessee, call The Haynes Firm at 423-928-0165 to schedule a FREE case review today. Located in Johnson City, our car accident lawyers serve victims of serious injury living throughout Tennessee.

What to Know About Car Accidents and Insurance Settlements

Insurance companies are businesses and, more often than not, their profit motive and need to please their investors override their responsibility to policyholders.  In short, they exist to make money.   It is not uncommon for insurance companies to:

• Delay Claims. Adjustors sometimes drag their feet on purpose. This can result in bills and lost wages piling up, which can make the situation desperate. Desperation can lead to poor decision-making, like accepting a settlement that doesn’t really serve your needs.
• Low-Ball Offers. Fast cash offers are almost always a fraction of what a claim is really worth. They may cover fender dents and the first ER visit, but they often leave nothing for follow-up surgeries, rehab, or time away from work.
• Denial of Claims. When delays and low-ball offers fail, insurance companies may deny liability outright or try to muddy the waters by shifting blame onto you. Every percentage of fault they can pin on you can reduce your compensation.

Before you hire an attorney, you might experience relentless calls, letters, and even “friendly” drop-ins from your insurance company encouraging you to accept an offer before you “miss your chance.” They may even try to convince you that hiring a lawyer will eat up your settlement. Reality does not support these claims. The truth is, even when attorneys’ fees are calculated, people who hire an experienced lawyer are much more likely to receive the fair and full compensation they deserve.

At The Haynes Firm, we work on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t pay one dime to our firm until we have secured compensation on your behalf. Insurance companies don’t want you to talk to us, not because they think it will cost you money, but because they know how much it might cost them. Before you accept an offer from insurance, talk to one of our experienced attorneys to learn what your case may be worth.

Calculating Car Accident Damages

There are various damages you can pursue after a car crash injury. The two most common categories, economic and non-economic, encompass a wide array of issues, including medical expenses, lost wages, and personal pain and suffering. Insurance companies use calculation tools such as standard formulas and spreadsheets to assess how much they feel a claim is worth (or how little they think they can get away with offering). The best car accident lawyers are much more thorough in their assessments.

A seasoned car accident lawyer does much more than tally bills; they use experience and understanding to accurately calculate damages through methods that may include:

• Collecting opinions from medical specialists and insiders
• Obtaining treatment and rehab projections
• Working with vocational and economic experts
• Interviewing family members, friends, and employers about daily life impacts
• Investigating the cause of the crash to properly establish liability

When you are involved in a car accident in Tennessee, you may still be entitled to collect damages even in cases where you share a percentage of fault. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault you are assigned. If you are assigned more than 50% of the blame, you will be barred from collecting damages at all.

Insurance companies know this, and it is not uncommon for them to exploit this statute in an attempt to minimize or deny your claim entirely. When you hire a car accident lawyer from The Haynes Firm, we will take time to thoroughly investigate your accident, enabling us to determine all causes and clearly assess liability. In this way, we can reduce insurance company pushback and help ensure you can pursue every penny you deserve.

Do You Always Need a Lawyer After a Car Crash in Tennessee?

You do not always need a lawyer after a car accident, particularly in property damage only cases. However, it never hurts to contact a lawyer to discuss your case and make sure you are not leaving compensation on the table by accepting a settlement. Once you accept an insurance settlement, you cannot take further action. Talking to a car crash attorney beforehand can help you avoid making a costly mistake.

The lawyers at The Haynes Firm have more than 80 years of combined experience holding insurance companies accountable for the damages they owe. As seasoned trial attorneys, insurance companies know who we are, and they know how hard we’re willing to fight to get justice for our clients. This means they are often more willing to negotiate fairly to avoid going to trial.

Operating on a contingency basis, you pay nothing for our services until after we have secured compensation on your behalf, and your initial consultation is free of both cost and commitment. You have nothing to lose by reaching out to discuss your case. Involved, attentive, and client-focused, we are prepared to stand by your side, accurately assess your damages, and fight for the compensation you truly deserve.

Reach Out for a FREE Case Review Today

Time is not your friend after a crash. Evidence fades, witnesses move, and insurers seize on every possible delay. Contact us online or call our Johnson City office today for a no-cost consultation to learn how we can fight for the compensation you are due.