Johnson City Car Accident Lawyers

Tennessee auto accident lawyers serving the Tri-Cities Region

Johnson City, the largest municipality in the Tri-Cities Region of Northeast Tennessee, is a magnet for businesses and for workers and students seeking career opportunities and an affordable community for their families. Straddling Washington, Carter and Sullivan counties, Johnson City has an estimated daytime population of more than 200,000, with many people returning to outlying towns after the workday. That means substantial traffic, especially along major roadways such as I-26, I-81 and U.S. Routes 11E, 19W, 23 and 321. With traffic comes vehicle accidents, many of which result in serious injury. If you have been hurt in a car, truck or motorcycle accident in Johnson City or its vicinity, the lawyers at Massengill, Caldwell & Coughlin, PC can aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.  You can rely on their attorneys’ combined experience of well over six decades practicing in the motor vehicle accident field.

Common causes of car accidents in Johnson City, TN

As a regional hub for interstate motor vehicle traffic, Johnson City attracts prominent businesses such as Ballad Health and Citi Commerce Solutions. Johnson City is also the home of East Tennessee State University, with an enrollment of more than 14,000. The thriving activity throughout this area increases the risk of auto accidents, including high-speed collisions. Common causes of car crashes in our area include:

  • Speeding
  • Aggressive driving, including tailgating
  • Abrupt maneuvers, such as turns and lane changes
  • Failing to yield right of way
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence
  • Driving while fatigued
  • Inclement weather, such as rain, snow, ice and fog

Your best defense against an accident is to be vigilant and attentive whenever you’re behind the wheel.

How to handle shock after car accident

When you’re injured in an accident, you may experience traumatic shock, possibly due to external or internal bleeding. Going into shock can have serious or even deadly complications. Warning signs include:

  • Rapid breathing and shortness of breath
  • Dilated pupils (which can also indicate concussion)
  • Pale, clammy skin
  • Feeling cold
  • Quickened but faint pulse
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Mental confusion
  • Anger

Accident victims can also suffer psychological shock that may lead to stress-related disorders. To ensure your safety, contact emergency medical help immediately. Try to recline, keep your feet elevated and keep yourself warm.

What to do if you are left permanently disabled from car accident

The Johnson City Medical Center, a designated a Level 1 Trauma Center, provides world-class emergency care for accident victims. Still, a catastrophic auto accident can leave you unable to work or to return to your regular activities. Permanent disabilities resulting from such accidents can include:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI), resulting in cognitive difficulties, motor deficits and mood/personality changes
  • Spinal cord damage, causing partial or complete paralysis or sensory deprivation
  • Loss of limb due to amputation
  • Loss of range of motion
  • Impaired bodily functions

For such life-changing injuries, you may be able to recover damages for present and future lost earnings, present and future medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life and loss of enjoyment of life.

Understanding Tennessee car insurance laws

When you’re injured in an auto accident, your first source of recovery is the other driver’s insurance policy. Tennessee only requires drivers to carry these minimum levels of liability insurance:

  • $25,000 for each injury or death per accident
  • $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident
  • $15,000 for property damage per accident

With today’s cost of medical treatment, your damages can easily exceed such insurance coverage. Furthermore, some drivers and vehicle owners flout the law by operating vehicles without any insurance.  To recover damages from an underinsured or uninsured driver, you need an experienced and knowledgeable auto accident attorney on your side.

Contact an established Tennessee law firm for auto accident injuries near Johnson City

Established in 1909, Massengill, Caldwell & Coughlin, PC represents victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents throughout Johnson City and vicinity. Call us today at 423-797-6022 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our office is conveniently located in Bristol, Sullivan County, but we make hospital or home visits whenever necessary.