Car Crashes into Local Bar in Nashville
Early in November, a 50-year-old woman named Jennifer Casassa crashed her SUV into the 3 Crow Bar on Woodland Street in East Nashville. She was arrested by the Metro Police Department on suspicion of drunk driving. According to police, Cassasa had failed to make a turn when she was crossing over 11th Street. This resulted in her driving across the Five Points Intersection and slamming into the brick wall of the building, head on. The incident occurred at 3:46 p.m, and one patron inside the bar was struck by Cassasa’s car. The victim was treated on site, and refused transport.
Amazingly enough, this is evidently not the first time someone has driven their car into 3 Crow Bar’s building. The bar’s owner, Bill Carney told press that another drunk driver had wedged their car between a car and the corner of the building before. It was reported that the bar continued to serve patrons who were inside during the time of the crash. The bar’s owner had also announced that the bar’s popular trivia night was to remain on schedule and the bar was to remain open.
Property Damage from Car Accidents
Car-to-building crashes occur more frequently than many people think. These crashes have the potential to severely injure someone or take the livelihoods away from local businesses and their employees. According to the Storefront Safety Council, a nonprofit dedicated to the education of vehicle into building crashes, incidences like this occur 60 times a day.
The first thing you should do if you are a business owner with property damage is to contact both your insurance company, and the at-fault driver’s insurance company. When it comes to car accidents and auto insurance, Tennessee is a “fault” state, meaning that the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for damage resulting from an accident. However, to the extent the driver’s insurance caps the amount of damages it pays out, you may be looking at a separate civil lawsuit against the driver, to try to recover the rest of the damages.
For business owners who are stuck with the property damage, Tennessee Statutes § 28-3-105 gives you three years to file a civil lawsuit for car accidents involving property damage. However, the statute of limitations does not apply to the claims one files with their own insurance company, or with the other driver’s insurance company (insurance companies set their own deadlines, which are usually listed in the insurance policy).
A Firm Prepared to Meet All of Your Personal and Business Needs
At Calhoun Law, PLC in Nashville, we are dedicated to representing our clients in their personal and business needs, including situations in which business property has been damaged by a car accident. We will quickly identify your needs and identify a strategic plan of action, utilizing a mixture of insurance claims, claims against your own insurance company, civil litigation, etc. If you or your loved one has been affected by a serious accident, contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.
