Knoxville, Tennessee Personal Injury Blog

Legal resources for victims of truck accidents

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio posted in fatal motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, October 3, 2018.

Truck accidents can visit devastation on victims and their families. The average commercial truck can weigh more than 25 times the average passenger vehicle it shares the roadway with which is why truck accident victims and their families need to be familiar with the legal protections available to them if they are harmed in a truck accident.

During 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 106,000 victims were injured in truck accidents and 4,9995 victims were killed in fatal truck accidents. Truck accidents can take place for a variety of reasons but when a truck driver or trucking company has negligently caused a truck accident, one or both of them may be liable to compensate victims for the damages they have suffered. Victims and their families may be able to recover medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages, loss of support and services and pain and suffering damages depending on the circumstances.

What is a trust and how is a part of an estate plan?

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio posted in estate planning on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Trusts are an important tool that can be used as part of an estate plan or to help manage property during the estate planner's life. If you are considering a trust as part of your estate plan, you may have many questions about what they do and how to set one up.

Though it may seem confusing or complex, the creation of a trust is a fairly straightforward and easy-to-understand process. A trust is created when the property owner transfers legal ownership of the property to a person or institution that serves as the trustee for the trust. The trustee manages the property for the benefit of another party referred to as the beneficiary. The trustee has a fiduciary duty to look out for the best interests of the beneficiary. An important requirement of a trust is that the property must be transferred into it for it to become effective.

The different legal options to help victims of car accidents

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio posted in car accidents on Friday, September 7, 2018.

There are two primary legal methods that can provide help to victims of car accidents. The first is a personal injury claim for damages following a car accident and the second is a wrongful death claim for damages following a fatal car accident.

As this blog has recently discussed, wrongful death legal protections can help victims of fatal car accidents recover compensation for the damages they have suffered as a result of losing their loved one. A claim for damages can help surviving family members with the medical costs that may remain, the funeral costs they may have to face and with some of the other losses they have suffered as well.

Common causes of big rig collisions

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio on Sunday, August 26, 2018.

Any type of motor vehicle accident can result in serious injuries and deaths, but truck accidents are particularly deadly. When a semi-truck collides with a passenger car, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian, the aftermath may be catastrophic.

Large truck crashes occur for a variety of reasons, including driver mistakes and mechanical errors. Take a minute to learn the top reasons that big rig wrecks happen.

Help for families after a fatal motorcycle accident

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio posted in fatal motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, August 23, 2018.

Unfortunately, it is no secret that motorcycle accidents can result in deaths and serious injuries for victims. Motorcycle accident victims can be especially vulnerable on the roadways to careless and negligent drivers, which is why personal injury and wrongful death protections are available to motorcycle accident victims and their families following a serious or fatal motorcycle accident. The reality is that motorcycle riders are 26 times more likely to die in a car accident than someone traveling in a passenger vehicle.

A fatal motorcycle accident can result in the unthinkable loss of a loved one and leave families facing a host of unexpected challenges they did not previously expect to face. This is when wrongful death legal protections can step in to help surviving family members recover compensation for the harm they have suffered and hold the negligent driver responsible for causing their accident accountable. In two-thirds of motorcycle accidents, the driver of a passenger vehicle failed to yield the right of way to a motorcycle, causing the accident.

What makes a will valid in Tennessee?

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio posted in estate planning on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

A valid will serves as an important foundation for any effective estate plan. Because there are rules associated with what makes a will valid, it is essential when estate planning for estate planners to understand the requirements for a will to be valid in Tennessee.

A will sets out how the estate planner wants their property to be distributed. If there is a problem with the

Personal injury protections for victims of brain injuries

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio posted in brain injury on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

The consequences of a brain injury include physical, financial and emotional damages to victims which is why it is important to understand the personal injury protections and rights of victims. There are 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries in the United States each year which result in emergency room visits, hospital stays and, unfortunately, deaths.

A brain injury is serious and can be either an open or closed head injury. In some circumstances, it may be difficult to immediately understand the severity of a brain injury and amount of medical care and cost that will be needed to treat one. Victims and their families should be familiar with the symptoms of brain injuries and what to watch for. Signs of a brain injury include confusion and memory difficulties; severe headaches; nausea and dizziness; tiredness and sluggishness that is unusual; and weakness or numbness on one side of the body.

Estate planning is important for everyone

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio posted in estate planning on Friday, July 13, 2018.

Though people may be reluctant to address estate planning needs, it is an important consideration that should not be overlooked. Effective estate planning can help down the road and save family members challenges during a time period that is already filled with understandable anguish and emotions.

Estate planning is important for everyone and for any size or type of estate. Regardless of the size, estate planning can help ensure the state planner's wishes are fulfilled and that family members do not have to sort everything out for themselves which can sometimes lead to conflicts and disputes during a difficult time. In addition to a will and trust documents, which help dispose of property and assets, additional estate planning documents are also helpful for any type of estate planner to have.

Tennessee is a fault insurance state

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio on Wednesday, July 4, 2018.

If you have been in a car accident, you likely have no question as to who was at fault and what happened. The account recorded on the police report will hopefully confirm your confidence in your own perspective. Unlike some other states, Tennessee is a fault insurance state, which means that you can make a claim against the other driver's insurance policy.

This is important for a number of reasons. In a no-fault state, a driver can only file a claim with his or her insurer. Because you can pursue damages against the other driver, though, you should understand how to maximize your chances of success and navigate the legal process following a car accident.

How do I protect myself following a car accident?

On behalf of Sharp & Attanasio posted in car accidents on Friday, June 29, 2018.

It is important to keep careful records of every aspect of your car accident to help ensure you preserve a personal injury claim for damages against the driver responsible for causing the accident. You don't have to decide what you want to do right away but it is important to be familiar with personal injury protections and how they can help with the unexpected costs and challenges of a car accident.

Car accident victims can suffer significant physical, financial and emotional damages following a car accident. Victims can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering damages following a car accident which is why it is important to preserve that option. It begins by taking careful notes of the accident as close to it occurring as possible. It can be helpful to think of the car accident as a timeline and write down what happened according to the timeline.