Navigating the aftermath of any accident or injury is challenging, especially when it comes to understanding who is responsible for your injuries. This responsibility is known as “liability” in personal injury cases.
At Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, our Brentwood personal injury lawyer can identify parties liable for your injuries or damages. We will then fight to obtain compensation on your behalf.
What is Liability?
Liability is rooted in the idea that individuals, companies, and even governments must act a certain way to avoid causing harm to others. A person or entity may be held legally accountable when their actions fail to meet this standard, generally known as “reasonable person.”
Failing to behave as a reasonable person would can leave you liable for resulting injuries or damage to others. This can include economic and non-economic damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death damages
An experienced personal injury lawyer will help you pursue all of the damages that you are entitled to.
Liability Example
Suppose you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident with a speeding driver who ran a red light. The driver colliding with you would likely be found negligent for speeding and failing to stop at the light, which makes them responsible for your damages.
Drivers must obey traffic laws for the safety of others and failing to do so is not something a reasonable person would do.
Who Is Responsible for Paying My Damages After an Accident or Injury in Brentwood, TN?
The party found legally liable for the accident is responsible for covering your damages. Identifying all potentially liable parties is important to ensure that you receive maximum compensation for all your injuries. Possibilities include:
- Drivers in car accidents, truck accidents, or motorcycle accidents
- Property owners in slip and fall accidents
- Employers (generally through workers’ comp) and third parties in workplace accidents
- Hospitals, doctors, and nurses in medical malpractice cases
- Dog owners in dog bite cases
- Manufacturers in product liability cases
In some cases, it can take significant investigatory work to determine the liable party or parties.
Comparative Fault in Tennessee
What if you are partly responsible for your own injuries? Fortunately, Tennessee follows a “modified comparative fault” rule for personal injury and liability cases. This means you can still recover damages from a negligent person even if you are partially at fault for your accident, so long as you are less than 50 percent at fault.
However, the rule also says that your share of fault will reduce your compensation. For example, if you are found to be 20 percent at fault for a car accident with another driver who ran a red light and suffered damages of $100,000, you would be eligible to recover 80 percent of them, or $80,000.
Understanding the comparative fault rule can be complicated, especially if multiple parties are involved in your personal injury case. An attorney can advocate for your interests and aim to minimize the level of responsibility you’re assigned.
Why Contacting a Brentwood Personal Injury Lawyer Is Helpful
Dealing with liability after sustaining a personal injury in Brentwood is overwhelming for most. Even if you believe you know who is liable in your case, providing it can be even more challenging. An experienced Brentwood personal injury lawyer will help you do so successfully and assist with:
- Investigating your accident to gather evidence that establishes liability
- Evaluating your damages so all your damages can be sought from the liable party
- Negotiating with insurance companies to obtain fair settlements on your behalf
- Minimizing fault assigned to you under Tennessee’s comparative fault rules
- Arguing your case in court and proving liability to a judge or jury
Time is of the essence after a personal injury incident. You have limited time to file a lawsuit against liable parties after an injury, and evidence may fade with time.
Think Someone Is Liable for Your Injuries? Schedule a Free Consultation With a Brentwood Personal Injury Lawyer
Understanding liability is important for anyone involved in an accident. Knowing who may be responsible for your damages and how Tennessee’s laws can affect your claim allows you to protect your rights. Fortunately, you do not have to do so alone.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, contact our Brentwood personal injury lawyers at Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Our team is dedicated to helping victims understand their rights and fighting for the compensation and justice they deserve. Give us a call at (615) 455-3384.
