Jackson County

Jackson County Personal Injury Lawyer Protecting the Rights of Accident Victims

Jackson County, with a county seat of Gainesboro, is located in the state of Tennessee. Named for the seventh United States president, Andrew Jackson, Jackson County’s population is 11,638. The median income for the county is relatively low at $26,502. About 15 percent of families in Jackson County are below the poverty line. Nearby Clay County is a relatively small county with a similar level of wealth. Its county seat is Celina. If you are not a wealthy person, an accident can be completely devastating not only from the perspective of physical health but also from the perspective of your finances. If you were hurt in due to medical malpractice, a car wreck, a truck wreck, a motorcycle wreck, or another form of personal injury or wrongful death, you need to enlist a lawyer on your side. Consider consulting experienced injury attorney Matt Hardin for advice and representation for your Jackson County or Clay County accident.

Pursuing Damages in an Injury Lawsuit

Damages in most Tennessee personal injury cases are compensatory. They are intended to make the person who was injured “whole” again, rather than punish the person who caused the injury. If you are hurt, you may be able to recover past and future medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, emotional distress, and loss of consortium, among other types of damages. In Tennessee, there are certain limits to personal injury recovery. Your economic damages are unlimited and include those damages that are reasonably certain. But your non-economic damages will be capped at $750,000, unless you were hurt because of medical malpractice. Non-economic damages are those damages that are more subjective. Loss of consortium, emotional distress, and pain and suffering are common examples. There is a $1 million cap for non-economic damages in the case of injuries defined as “catastrophic injuries.” This includes paraplegia, amputation, third-degree burns over 40 percent of your body or face, and the wrongful death of a minor child of whom you had custody. In certain rare instances, punitive damages may be appropriate. The jury will decide whether to award you punitive damages, determining whether the defendant driver or the driver’s employer acted intentionally, fraudulently, maliciously, or recklessly in causing your injury. If you want to seek punitive damages, you will have to prove the defendant’s action by clear and convincing evidence. This is a higher burden of proof than the standard for ordinary negligence. It means that you will have to show evidence of wrongdoing about which there is no serious or substantial doubt. A personal injury attorney in Jackson County can assess whether seeking punitive damages would make sense in your case.

The twin purposes of punitive damages are to punish the wrongdoer and deter others in the community from acting similarly. After the jury awards punitive damages, a judge has to review the award and outline the reasons for decreasing or approving the award.

Consult a Jackson County Personal Injury Attorney

There’s no question that getting in an accident is stressful. If somebody hurt you or a loved one because of their careless or reckless behavior, you should consult a knowledgeable Clay County personal injury lawyer who can protect your rights. Matt Hardin can evaluate whether another party was negligent and pursue recovery from that person if you have a claim. Schedule a free consultation with him by calling 615-200-1111 or by sending a message through our online form. We serve clients in Gainesboro and throughout Jackson and Clay Counties.

Jackson Car Accidents
Jackson Truck Accidents