If you are injured in a car accident while traveling in Tennessee, you may be entitled to compensation. A financial award may help to cover any actual damages that you incur such as medical bills, lost wages or the cost to repair your vehicle. Furthermore, your spouse might be entitled to damages for loss of consortium.
What is loss of consortium?
This term is used to refer to the fact that you have a reduced ability to connect with your spouse in an emotional or physical capacity. It’s important to note that your spouse is only entitled to a financial award in the event that you receive a favorable outcome in your own case.
It may be possible to collect damages for emotional distress
It’s not uncommon for car accident victims to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD may include an aversion to traveling in vehicles, frequent nightmares or an inability to return to the spot of the incident that caused the emotional distress. In many cases, mental health issues related to a motor vehicle crash can be overcome with the help of a therapist. The defendant in your case may be required to pay for the cost to see a mental health professional.
You may receive compensation even if the other motorist dies
In the event that the person who caused the crash dies in the accident, his or her estate will be named as a defendant in your case. Your MVA attorney will typically engage in settlement talks with legal counsel for the defendant’s estate in an effort to obtain a favorable outcome in the matter.
Car accident injuries may significantly impede your ability to go to work, get an education or maintain relationships with loved ones. However, a financial award may make it easier to afford the care needed to help you overcome the physical and mental impacts of a motor vehicle wreck.