CFO Services by Gentry CPA

An organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) plays an essential part in an organization’s overall long-term success. Regardless of a business’s size, a CFO oversees audit preparation, accounting, reporting and other financial-related business tasks. Should owners use an outsourced CFO or hire an in-house CFO?

To assist in illustrating the pros and cons of both options, let us analyze Company Alpha, who hired a full-time, in-house CFO, and Company Beta, who hired a part-time, outsourced CFO.

Benefits of An Outsourced CFO:

  1. Monetary SavingsCompany Alpha decided to hire an in-house CFO. In doing so, they failed to anticipate paying benefits and taxes in addition to the CFO’s salary.In contrast, Company Beta chose to outsource their CFO. In doing so, they bypassed having to pay benefits and taxe. Additionally, they only have to pay the outsourced CFO when she actually works.
  2. Time SavingsCompany Alpha’s full-time CFO often spends time participating in tasks that do not directly relate to the financial goals of the business. This can be problematic if the CFO is not able to focus exclusively on the financial tasks at hand.Company Beta, however, relies on their outsourced CFO to handle only their financial data. Furthermore, since this CFO is not in the office at all times, the risk of being pulled into other tasks and projects is greatly minimized.
  3. Reduced Fraud Risk, Better Internal ControlsCompany Alpha’s team works together on projects, and assists one another other as needed. Such collaboration, however, can also lead to the free flow of information regarding passwords and data. While arguably positive, this can also lead to unauthorized employees having access to confidential financial data.With an outsourced CFO, Company Beta does not suffer from such financial breaches of privacy. Their CFO is able to delegate access as needed, reducing the possibility of fraud and increasing the security of data.
  4. Large Projects AssistanceIf Company Alpha ultimately undergoes a merger that requires the analysis of a significant amount of financial data, an in-house CFO might not have the proper experience in handling such a gargantuan project. In contrast, if Company Beta decides to embark on such an enterprise, they are arguably much better prepared. This is because their outsourced CFO has a plethora of knowledge based on their broad financial experiences.
  5. Varied points of view. Company Apha’s CFO is entrenched in a business’s day to day operations. This can make seeing a company’s larger financial picture challenging. In contrast, company Beta’s outsourced CFO inherently has an external point of view, independent of the company’s day to day operations. As a result, she will consistently have objective opinions as well as viewpoints, keeping the best interests of Company Beta consistently at the forefront.

For further information regarding the benefits of outsourcing CFO Services, please contact Gentry CPA at 423-648-6240 or find them online at GentryCPA.com.

Dr. Jonathan Miller

Ooltewah/Collegedale Chamber Business of the Month

Jonathan Miller, MD, is a Board-Certified Dermatologist and he is a fellowship trained Mohs micrographic and reconstructive surgeon. He finished his Mohs Fellowship in July of 2020. Dr. Miller did his dermatology residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dr. Miller is a native of Ooltewah and a graduate of Southern Adventist University. In August, he opened his first solo dermatology practice in Ooltewah called Uderm.

At Uderm, patients are able to make their appointments and access their paperwork online! This allows new, and current patients to spend less time in waiting rooms. Patients are welcomed to call and make appointments over the phone and fill out their paperwork in person if they prefer.

Dr. Miller offers both general dermatology and Mohs Surgery services. Mohs Surgery is a sophisticated skin cancer removal process in which the surgeon also functions as the pathologist in analyzing the margins under a microscope. This process ensures the highest cure rates and least amount of scarring. Dr. Miller also uses Mohs surgery for melanoma using an advanced technique called immunostaining. This is a process that uses antibodies to target the melanoma tumor cells and make them easily visible under the microscope, ensuring complete removal while conserving the most normal skin possible.

Dr. Miller also offers aesthetic services which include laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, laser vein removal, laser tattoo removal, radiofrequency micro-needling and botox cosmetic. They take an individualized approach to their patients in helping them restore and maintain a healthy, vibrant appearance.

Dr. Miller saw a need in Ooltewah for a board-certified dermatologist trained in the Mohs technique. His goal is to become the go-to-place for high quality dermatology and skin cancer care. He loves the field of dermatology and loves his community. His goal is to offer the community the highest care possible. He wants to be of service here in the community and to meet the needs of Ooltewah, a fast growing community.

At Uderm, Dr. Miller also offers the highest quality skin care products. Brands offered include Elta MD Skincare, SkinMedica, Revision Skincare and VaniCream.

To schedule an appointment at Uderm, please go to Uderm.com or call 423-206-2777.

Artwork Within the Front Parlor

Sonya Guffey fondly recalls the moment that the limited edition portrait of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler came to grace the front parlor of Mountain Oaks Manor in Ooltewah, TN.  She remembers a woman barreling through the front door and exclaiming that she intended to give it to the manor as a gift.  When Ms. Guffey replied, “Wait a minute.  Are you sure you want to give this to me?”  the lady replied, “This was a gift from my ex-mother in law.  I am moving away.  Either you take it or I am putting this in your garbage!”

Sonya hung the delicate portrait and upon further inspection, noticed something behind the framed picture. Tucked behind Scarlett and Rhett lay a beautiful lithograph of Scarlett’s lover Ashley Wilkes. Guffey could see the lithograph’s original intention as a playbill from many years ago.

 

Both of these pictures represent a great deal of symbology. The pillar behind Scarlett and Rhett is a symbol of their combined strength. Scarlett herself, brightly dressed in red, is a symbol of love and passion, in the face of Northern as well as male aggression. The bow tie and suit worn by Ashley represent the properness of this character as well as his adherence to tradition. The lace represents the delicateness that remains in the face of adversity, both personal and political. In a broader sense, it refers to Ashley’s unwillingness to leave his betrothed for his love. Today, Ashley Wilkes and Scarlett O’Hara, together, rightfully grace the parlor’s eastern wall.

 

 

 

Guffey found an equally elegant portrait of Rhett Butler, alone, at a local antique mall. Just like the amazing gifted portraits, this one also held true symbolism in the print. The tones chosen represent serenity, stability, inspiration, and wisdom-all characteristics Rhett’s character exhibited.

The pictures within the Mountain Oaks Manor display stories, symbology, and beauty.  The fact that Mountain Oaks Manor is the holder of them all is a testimony to not only the time period that inspired them but also the modern circumstances that resulted in their existence within the Mountain Oaks Manor.

Mountain Oaks Manor is open for tea, weddings, corporate parties, and other events.  Contact Sonya Guffey today to reserve a space for your special event.  Upon arrival, feel free to browse the artwork that exists throughout the manor and feel free to ask any questions.

How Do We Keep Our Children Safe Around Swimming Pools?

April 10th, 2016 is a day that many residents of Ft. Oglethorpe, GA are unlikely to forget. It is the day that two year old Noah Reyna drowned in an apartment pool while his parents slept nearby.

The frantic 911 call hit the papers soon after with the caller stating, “Please, can you get someone out here to the Oglethorpe Ridge Apartments right now? There’s a toddler in a pool, and we think he might have drowned.” (1)

Shortly thereafter, the distressed caller exclaimed that the baby had indeed drowned. The city of Ft. Oglethorpe subsequently charged the parents with second degree murder. (1)

Detective John Lanham with the Ft. Oglethorpe police department stated that the toddler’s death could have been prevented.

“At two years old, you don’t have the mindset to really know right from wrong, just that you want to play in the water.”

Cases such as this beg the question of what steps people should take to assure that their children or the children of others are safe around pool areas.

Bob McLaughlin of Chattanooga Pool and Patio, Inc. in East Ridge, TN states that in the state of Tennessee, all pool builders are required to install a swimming pool alarm on in-ground swimming pools, newly installed. (2) These are devices that sit on the pool deck and detect intruders through a battery powered horn. (3) Therefore, if a child or animal falls into the water, the alarm will sound, alerting parents or other people in the vicinity of detected motion in the water.

McLaughlin also indicated that Tennessee State Law requires that swimming pools have a fence around them with a minimum of 4’ tall and no spaces more than 6” apart, with self-latching and self-locking gates. He also stated that it is important during the offseason to have covers on empty pools, in order to prevent any accidents.

Spending time by the pool is meant to be a joyous, leisurely activity for families as well as a source of exercise and therapy for others.

If you are thinking about getting a pool for you or your family, please reach out to Bob McLaughlin at Chattanooga Pool and Patio, Inc. in East Ridge, TN for further details on how to keep you and your children safe around the pool and to make it an asset rather than a liability.

Sources:

Interior Decorating Ideas for Thanksgiving

As the holidays are quickly approaching, we look at fall and winter as seasons represented by warm fires, warm food, and often the addition of warm colors with throws, pillows and accessories. It is a time in which family members gather together remembering how very thankful they are. This year, especially after months of quarantine, we look forward to being together with family and friends.

A designer can help you prepare for the festivities by doing a simple makeover on your home….Reworking bookshelves, mantles, countertops, and tables, maybe moving a few furniture pieces around can make you feel as if you have a newly decorated home. The designer can bring in a few new pieces to add to your existing decor or work with what you have. You, your family and friends will enjoy that warm and cozy atmosphere that you and your designer have created.

Maxwell House Interior Design offers to decorate your home specifically for the holidays! We can purchase all new decor within your budget or simply install what you already have. Be sure to reserve a spot early to ensure an appointment.

Fall is also a great time to put those kitchen and bathroom renovation thoughts into action! It is never too early to talk to a designer about your next big renovation. Designers can help you cut costs, create a look that is essential to your personality, and work closely with the contractor to help you achieve your dream home.

10 Steps to Closing A Pool

If you are unfamiliar with the process of closing a pool for the summer, contracting a reputable pool professional is always a good idea. However, if you are a do it yourself kind of person, here are ten easy steps to help in closing your pool until next season!

  1. Clean the pool:
    Vacuum and brush the pool’s walls. If the pool is especially dirty or has a lot of algae, bypass the filter and vacuum on waste out of the backwash line. This will prevent contamination of the filter sand. Place the filter’s multiport valve on the waste position. The pool should be as clean and clear before covering or you could open in the spring to a green pool.
  2. Balance water chemistry:
    The week of the pool closing, make sure the pool waterfalls within the following below.
    pH: 7.2 – 7.8
    Alkalinity: 80 ppm – 120 ppm
    Calcium Hardness: 180 – 220 ppm (vinyl and fiberglass) 250ppm-500 ppm (shotcrete)
  1. Add shock and algaecide:
    Shock the pool, following the manufacturer’s directions. Allow the chlorine level to reach 1.0 – 3.0 ppm before adding algaecide for the winter.
  1. Store equipment:
    Remove and clean skimmer baskets, wall fittings, pool cleaners/ robots, solar blankets and ladders from the pool and store away for the winter in a dry area. Don’t coil pool cleaner hoses tightly. Cartridge filters should be cleaned thoroughly before storing away for winter.
  1. Lower water level:
    Using the filter pump or a submersible pump to lower the water level 12″ – 18″ below the skimmer for mesh covers, and 3″ – 6″ below the tile for solid safety covers and floating covers. Some covers do not require the water to be lowered. Check with the manufacturer’s manual.
  1. Drain pump, filter, chlorination, and heating equipment:
    After the water has been drained and removed from all plumbing be certain to plug all wall inlets and skimmers. All water must be drained or blown out so the pipes do not freeze and crack. After draining, filter grids and cartridge filters should be removed and cleaned thoroughly before storing away for winter. If possible, store the filter and pump indoors. If not, use a shop vacuum or compressor to blow out any water that may still be in the equipment.
  1. Lubricate:
    Fall closing is a good time to lubricate the pump lid o-rings. If there is a slide valve on the filter, lubricate its o-rings as well. If the pool has a gas heater with cast iron plugs, lubricate these threads or leave the plugs in after draining to prevent rusting.
  2. Winterize plumbing:
    If the pool is in-ground, blow out the lines from the skimmer through the equipment and back to the pool. After doing so, plug the lines at the pool using expansion plugs. If the lines are not blown out, add swimming pool antifreeze into the lines following the manufacturer’s package directions. If the pool is above ground, just disconnect the hoses to and from the pump and filter and plug the wall outlets. Be certain to refill the pool with water after you have blown out the lines and plugged them. For a vinyl liner or fiberglass, you’ll want the water to be filled to the skim line and for Gunite (shotcrete), you’ll want the water to be filled back to the tile line. This is so that your cover will have the water to lay on instead of falling into the pool.
  1. Cover the pool:
    A tight fit of the pool cover is essential. A mesh safety cover is the most desirable and safer. Solid covers will require a cover pump or siphon to remove rainwater and snowmelt. Above-ground pool covers use a cable winch device to secure the cover.
  2. Relax and plan for the next season.
    The pool is now closed! Make a mental list of the enhancements and improvements that can be made to the pool, its surroundings as well as equipment.

7 Important Steps to Take Before Opening Your Pool

Summer is here and there has never been a better time to own a private pool! It is tempting to jump right in after having it closed for several months. Nevertheless, here are seven critical steps that should be taken in order to get your backyard oasis in proper working condition.

  1. Safety First! The first step to enjoying your pool is to make sure it is safe. Remove any debris that may have fallen, trim bushes that are in the way, and make sure there are no issues with the pool or the area surrounding it. This includes the cover, filter, pump, and any area furniture.
  2. Before turning on the pump and pump filter, be certain to fill the pool to the skimmer line.
  3. Remove all plugs and turn on all valves.
  4. Make a list of the chemical inventory in your storage room. Make sure the chemicals are not out of date and underwent proper storage procedures from the previous season.
  5. Use a test kit to adjust the chemicals in the pool’s water or have your local pool supplier test the water for you. This is a step that should be incorporated into a regular weekly maintenance routine.
  6. After a day or so, retest the water and make sure it is balanced properly.
  7. Enjoy Your Pool!

For further details, please contact Chattanooga Pool and Patio at (423) 899-6780, or find them online at chattanoogapoolsite.com.

Is it Really Possible to Relax in the Dentist’s Chair?

Does the mere thought of a teeth cleaning lead to severe mental agony and fear? Indeed, many individuals would rather endure the agony of a toothache than step foot in a dentist’s office. Many people are so phobic about going to the dentist that they prefer not to have any treatment at all.

For people who avoid dentists like the plague, sedation dentistry may take away some of their anxiety. Sedation can be used for everything from invasive procedures to a simple tooth cleaning. How it is used depends on the severity of the fear.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It’s sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry,” although that is not entirely accurate. Patients are usually awake with the exception of those who are under general anesthesia.

The levels of sedation used include:

  • Minimal sedation — the patient is awake but relaxed.
  • Moderate sedation (formerly called “conscious sedation”) — patients may slur their words when speaking and not remember much of the procedure.
  • Deep sedation — patients are on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened.
  • General anesthesia — the patient is completely unconscious.

What Types of Sedation Are Used in Dentistry?

The following types of sedation are used in dentistry:

  • Inhaled minimal sedation. The patient breathes nitrous oxide — otherwise known as “laughing gas” — combined with oxygen through a mask that is placed over their nose. The gas helps the patient relax. The dentist can control the amount of sedation received, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where one may be able to drive themselves home after the procedure.
  • Oral sedation. Depending on the total dose given, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, the patient takes a pill. Typically, the pill taken is Halcion, which is a member of the same drug family as Valium, and it is usually taken about an hour before the procedure. The pill will make the patient drowsy, although they will still be awake. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation. This is the type of anesthesia most commonly associated with sedation dentistry. Some people become groggy enough from moderate oral sedation to actually fall asleep during the procedure. They usually can, though, be awakened with a gentle shake.
  • IV moderate sedation. Not all dentists provide IV moderate sedation. When they do, the patient receives the sedative drug through a vein, so it goes to work more quickly. This method allows the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation.
  • Deep sedation and general anesthesia. The patient will get medications that will make them either almost unconscious or totally unconscious — deeply asleep — during the procedure. While they are under general anesthesia, they cannot easily be awakened until the effects of the anesthesia wear off or are reversed with medication.

Regardless of which type of sedation the patient receives, they will also typically need a local anesthetic — numbing medication at the site where the dentist is working in the mouth — to relieve pain if the procedure causes any discomfort.

For further information about sedation dentistry, please call Northgate Family Dentistry in Chattanooga, TN at 423-877-9961.

Who Can Have Sedation at the Dentist?

Sedation is most appropriate for people with a real fear or anxiety that is preventing them from going to the dentist.

Sedation dentistry may also be appropriate for people who:

  • have a low pain threshold
  • can’t sit still in the dentist’s chair
  • have very sensitive teeth
  • have a bad gag reflex
  • need a large amount of dental work completed

Sometimes, children are given sedation if they are terrified of going to the dentist or refuse to cooperate during the visit. Nitrous oxide tends to be safe in children, and just about any dentist can administer it. A smaller percentage of pediatric dentists are trained to give children oral sedation. Oral sedation can be safe when kept within the recommended dose for the child’s age and weight.

Can Any Dentist Perform Sedation?

Most dentists can administer minimal sedation (such as nitrous oxide or pills). An increasing number of dentists can give moderate sedation. However, only a small percentage of dentists who have completed the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) program in deep sedation and general anesthesia can use these more complex techniques. These dentists are typically oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dentist anesthesiologists. Some dentists use a dental anesthesiologist who is specially trained to give all levels of sedation and anesthesia to both children and adults.

For further information about sedation dentistry, please call Northgate Family Dentistry in Chattanooga, TN at 423-877-9961.

New Mediafy Corporate Office

Katherine Fry, CEO and President of Mediafy Communications Group, is proud to announce the opening of a new corporate headquarters at 4710 Hixson Pike Suite 16, in Hixson, TN.

Despite the disruption to business due to the COVID-19 crisis, Mediafy is still growing and flourishing in the greater Chattanooga and Knoxville areas.

“All websites have remained live and clients who needed financial assistance have received it. We are all in this together,” says Ms. Fry. “Mediafy looks forward to helping more local businesses with their website, SEO, and social media needs. We have new packages that work with everyone’s current financial situation.”

Standard business hours are 9am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. Weekend hours are available by appointment. Call our office at (423) 402-4989 for more information.

All About Rear-End Accident Claims & Injury Compensation

All About Rear-End Accident Claims & Injury Compensation

by Dennis and King Law in Chattanooga, TN

Who pays for injuries after a rear-end auto accident? Following is some important information to know in order to get fair compensation from the insurance company.

Rear-end collisions injure more than 556,000 people annually. It is important to know what to do after a rear-end collision, and how to avoid mistakes that will inhibit making a successful insurance claim. This guide can help individuals get the compensation they deserve.

Causes of Rear-end Accidents

It is nearly impossible to avoid a rear-end collision. They happen in a variety of ways:

  • Tailgating: Georgia and Tennessee require drivers to “follow, allowing yourself at least three second for stopping before hitting the car in front of you is a “safe stopping distance.” Of course, bad weather, bad road conditions, or poor visibility require even longer stopping distance.
  • Distracted driver: Cell phone usage, eating, putting on makeup, listening to loud music, talking with passengers, looking into the back seat to check on young children, and looking away from the road cause the majority of rear-end accidents.
    DUI: Drugs and alcohol impair a driver’s reflexes and reaction time. Intoxicated drivers cannot judge accurately distance or speed, and actually may nod off while driving.
  • Weather: Rain, snow, slush, ice, high winds, and fog can affect a driver’s ability to see ahead, to stop in time, and to stay within the lane.
  • Sudden stops: Sudden stops contribute to a rear-end collision, but usually it is not a reason to put all the blame on the driver of the stopping car. Many reasons cause a sudden stop, such as avoiding a dashing out child or animal, road conditions, a sudden accident, or construction.

Common Rear-end Collision Injuries

Every vehicle collision potentially can cause fatal injuries-even rear end collisions. However, rear end collisions usually cause “soft-tissue” injuries. These injuries are things like sprains, strains and bruises.

  • Whiplash is a common outcome of rear-end collisions. Doctors and lawyers use this term to describe pain and stiffness in the neck as well as shoulder area-the sudden and violent jerking movement or snap of the neck, shoulders and spine well beyond their normal range causes this condition. Doctors also refer to this condition as hyperextension and hyperflexion. The neck movement is like the motion of a whip as it snaps, giving the condition its name.
    Rear-end collisions cause about one-out of five victims to suffer a whiplash injury. About eighty percent of these whiplash sufferers will experience pain and soreness longer than a week. Fifty percent have pain and soreness for more than a year.
  • Back Injuries from the sudden impact of a rear-end accident often are extremely painful. Even a low speed impact can compress the lower spine and the disks between the vertebra. Not surprisingly, rear-end accidents commonly cause herniated or bulging disks.
  • Face and head injuries do not just happen in high-speed crashes. Even rear-end accidents at speeds less than twenty miles an hour can cause face and head injuries.
    A slow-speed collision, even when airbags do not deploy, can throw one’s face and head into the steering wheel or other parts of the interior parts of the car. Collision forces can break noses, fracture cheeks, break jawbones, and detach retinas. Facial cuts and bruises can also occur. Additionally, where the airbag bursts open, its force can cut the face and scalp, or worse.
  • Hand and arm injuries can happen to the driver and passengers either from bracing during the impact or the collision force throwing them about the interior of the car. Exploding airbags almost always cause arm and hand injuries.
  • Seatbelts instantly and firmly hold the torso in place when a collision hits the car from any direction. This is important because it keeps the collision from causing more serious injuries. However, this does not mean that a seatbelt does not affect the body. A rear-end collision slams the body forward, causing it to hit the safety straps. More often than not, the results are bruises and scrapes to the shoulders, neck, and torso.

Who Pays For A Rear-End Collision?

After an auto accident, one expects compensation for property damage and personal injuries. Most of the time, the police and the involved insurance companies assign fault to the rear-end accident. Individuals having suffered an auto accident will file a liability claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Comparative Negligence

The majority of the time, an insurance company accepts full responsibility when it has insured another car. However, sometimes the insurance company will go straight into disagreeing with the injured party on the value of their injury claim.

There are times when the insurance company will try to put some or all of the blame on the injured party, even though their insured caused the rear-end accident to occur. This is always the case if the brake lights of the injured party failed to work and the driver behind claims he or she could not see the injured party, hence leading to the accident.

If an insurance company tries to blame part of the fault on the injured party, the injured party must speak to an attorney. Do not simply take the insurance adjuster’s word on the matter.

Tennessee and Georgia have comparative negligence laws, meaning the injured party can pursue compensation from the other driver even if they partly contributed to the accident occurring. A jury may reduce the injured party’s compensation by some degree to account for their share of fault. In these cases, an attorney can help prove that the injured party had no responsibility for the crash.

There are few exceptions to rear-end liability, such as:

  • If the driver in front drove erratically or recklessly, making it impossible for the driver behind to avoid a collision, even from a safe distance behind
  • If the driver in front suddenly stops in the lane of traffic and fails to set out flares or give any other reasonable notice to the driver behind
  • If the driver behind is traveling a safe distance and at a safe speed, but fog, snow, rain, or other inclement weather conditions make it impossible to stop
  • If a driver behind is traveling at a safe distance and speed behind the vehicle in front, but a third vehicle strikes the driver from behind, pushing the second car into the first vehicle.

Be Prepared To Prove The Claim

It may seem obvious that the driver who hit the injured party from behind caused the accident. However, do not just sit back and wait for the money to appear. The insurance adjuster does not earn a year-end bonus by automatically handing out fat settlement checks.

It helps to know some terms used in insurance claims:

  • Liability means fault or responsibility. The at-fault driver is usually responsible or liable for damages to the injured party caused by the rear-end collision.
  • Negligence happens when a driver fails to act responsibly or does something no reasonable driver would do, like tailgating.
  • Damages for rear-end accidents can include property damages to your car, and personal injury damages like medical and therapy costs, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
  • Proximate Cause is an action that leads to damages which wouldn’t have otherwise happened. The injured party would not be suffering from whiplash if they had not been rear-ended.
  • Duty of Care means the obligation to be careful and avoid causing harm to others.

All drivers have a legal duty of care to drive safely. This means drivers must follow local traffic laws, maintain a proper lookout for other drivers and pedestrians, and keep their cars in working order.

When a driver violates their duty of care, it is often because of negligence. A rear-end collision can happen when someone stops paying attention, drives recklessly, or brakes failed because they failed to properly maintain their vehicle.

When negligence causes a rear-end accident, one has a right to compensation for damages. It is up to the injured party to provide evidence of the other driver’s negligence, and proof of their injuries.

The injured party will need to prove the collision led to injury and the extent of their losses from these injuries.

Gather Evidence To Win Your Claim

To meet the burden of proof, one must gather as much evidence as possible to show the other driver’s negligence. The more evidence gathered, the better the chances are of winning. Here is some of the best evidence for a rear-end auto accident claim.

Evidence at the Scene

Always call 911 when involved in a traffic accident. Tell the dispatcher the location of the accident, if anyone is injured, and if there are traffic problems or dangers at the scene.

If physically able, begin to gather evidence while waiting for police:

Photographs: Use a phone or whatever device is on hand to take photos and video. Start with pictures of the cars and the surrounding area. Take as many pictures, from as many angles as safely possible. Take close-ups and wide shots to include traffic signs, stoplights, and other information in context with the accident.

If a police officer is administering a field sobriety test to the other driver, use a cell phone’s video function to record the test from as close as possible. Also, photograph empty beer bottles or open containers of alcohol in and around the driver’s car.

Witness statements: Write down the names and contact information of anyone who saw the accident. If there are willing witnesses, have them write down everything they saw and heard. Ask them to sign and date their written statement.

If the witness does not give a written statement, ask permission to record their statement using a phone. Be sure they mention their name and contact information on the recording.

Continue to Collect Evidence

Detailed Notes: After the collision, make detailed notes about what happened before, during, and after the at-fault driver rear-ended you. Write down anything the other driver said.

Statements like “I didn’t see you in time to stop,” or “I was on my cell phone,” are considered admissions against interest and are strong evidence of negligence.

Police Report: If the police respond to the accident, an officer will investigate the accident and prepare an official police accident report. The report will indicate the investigating officer’s opinion of fault for the crash, list any citations issued to the other driver and if the other driver was arrested for DUI.

Medical Records: Medical bills and records are crucial evidence proving the rear-end collision led to injury and how badly. Insurance companies are highly suspicious of whiplash cases because whiplash injuries are diagnosed mainly by the injured party’s complaints. One will need good medical documentation from a trustworthy doctor.

State away from “personal injury” chiropractors, who will run up bills with excessive tests and questionable repeated treatments. These bills are often so unreasonably high that the insurance company will not reimburse them fully, leaving the injured party to personally pay the remainder. Insurance companies are only required to pay “reasonable” costs, based on commonly accepted standards of medical care.

Take pictures of injuries immediately following the crash and throughout the recovery, including pictures of bruises caused by the seat belt or air-bag.

The total cost of medical bills and related expenses are an important part of calculating the value of one’s claim.

When An Attorney Is Needed

There is too much at stake to handle complicated injury claims alone. Furthermore, there is no cost to find out what a skilled attorney can achieve. For more information, call Dennis and King Law today at 423-892-5533 or find them online at dennisandking.com.