When you are involved in a serious auto accident that leaves you facing permanent disability, life as you know it changes forever! Understandably, you will be overwhelmed by a number of emotions, from anger and anxiety to sadness and hopelessness. Your world has been turned upside down, and there is a long list of things to take care of and questions that need to be answered. Not only do you need to learn to live with your disability, but you also need to determine how you will pay your medical bills if you need to adapt your home. Can you ever return to your job? There are so many things to handle that it can be difficult to know where to start. The most important thing is knowing your legal rights, and that's where a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville comes in.

What is Disability in Legal Terms?

One of the first things we need to make clear is that when a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville or any other legal professional, uses the term 'disability,' it has a specific legal meaning that may not match the medical definition! In legal terms, disability refers to any physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts daily life. This could mean the ability to walk, a visual impairment, an inability to work, or any number of other conditions that negatively impact the individual. The exact definition may vary between jurisdictions, but a qualified personal injury lawyer in Knoxville will be able to explain what it covers in the state of Tennessee.

The Impact of Auto Accidents

As a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville, we see a wide variety of injuries from all sorts of accidents. However, auto accidents are often among the most devastating. The aftermath of an auto accident can result in severe, life-altering injuries, including long-term or even permanent disability. In most cases, this devastation could have been prevented had the driver(s) involved not behaved negligently. Some of the most common causes of auto accidents include:

  • Distracted Driving: Some of the most severe Auto accidents are caused by distracted drivers; most prevalent are those using their phones at the wheel. However, distracted driving can also be caused by adjusting the radio, fiddling with sat nav devices, or even arguing with passengers when they should be focused on the road.
  • Speeding: Accidents that are caused by breaking the speed limit often result in some of the most severe injuries, often resulting in a permanent disability. The higher the speed of the collision, the more severe the damage is going to be, both in terms of property damage and injury
  • Impaired Driving: The Impact of impaired driving can trigger devastating crashes, resulting in complex injuries and long-term disabilities. Impaired driving includes driving drunk, under the influence of drugs, or driving when tired.

Rights Of Disabled Individuals After An Auto Accident

Now that we have established the definition of disability and some examples of the negligence that can lead to an auto accident let's talk about your rights following the accident. Your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville will guide you through these rights and help ensure you receive fair and adequate compensation for your disability. Some of the most important rights that you need to be aware of include:

  • Right to Compensation: If you were injured or left permanently disabled in a car accident that was not your fault, then you have a legal right to compensation. Your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville will represent you and assist you in recovering damages to cover things like medical treatment rehabilitation, loss of earnings, cost of home adaptations, and compensation for your pain and suffering.
  • Right to Fair Treatment: You have the right to receive fair and respectful treatment at all times, regardless of the circumstances of your accident. You should never be discriminated against or treated unfavorably because of your disability.
  • Right to Legal Representation: It is your legal right to seek legal representation to help guide you through the legal process and make sure that all of your rights are being upheld. A personal injury lawyer in Knoxville will help make sure you understand your rights and advocate on your behalf throughout the entire process of filing your personal injury lawsuit.

Securing Your Rights Following an Auto Accident

In order to secure your rights following an auto accident, there are a number of steps that you will need to take. One of the most important is to seek immediate medical attention and make sure that everything is fully documented in your medical records. You must also notify both the police and your insurers about the accident to make sure there is an official record of the accident. Please do not assume that the other party will make the report; do it for yourself. Finally, you will want to hire a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville who has a proven track record in auto accident injury cases. The proper legal representation can make a massive difference to your lawsuit and compensation.

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Butler, Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville, TN, with extensive litigation experience in Medical Malpractice Law, Birth Injury Law, Trucking Accident Law, Personal Injury Law, and Business Law. Contact us today at www.bvblaw.com or call 865-637-3531.

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