Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers

After a car crash in Tennessee, you should call 911. Tennessee law (TN Code § 55-10-106 (2015)) states that you must report a crash if it involves injuries or serious property damage.

You should also exchange contact information with the other driver and gather information from witnesses so that you or your lawyer can contact them. Document the scene, if possible, by taking photos of the vehicles and the surrounding area.

Even if you don’t think you suffered any serious injuries, you should get medical attention. Some injuries don’t immediately appear.

As soon as possible, you should also contact a Tennessee car accident lawyer near you to discuss the crash and to protect your rights.

Tennessee has a one-year statute of limitations, which means that you have only one year to file your claim, with limited exceptions. Under Tenn. Code § 28-3-104, if you don’t file on time, the court will not hear your case. The law applies to car accidents, slip and falls, and most other personal injury cases in Tennessee, making it extremely important that you speak to a Nashville car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

After a crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover economic, non-economic, and in rare cases, punitive damages. Here is a breakdown of these types of damages:

• Economic damages: These cover financial losses related to the accident, such as medical bills, lost wages, and future medical expenses.
• Non-economic damages: These allow for the collection of losses that are more difficult to quantify, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive damages: Punitive damages are completely separate and apply in cases where the person who caused the accident engaged in egregious conduct, for instance, drunk driving.

Yes, in many cases, Tennessee law allows you to recover even if you share liability for the accident. However, you must be less than 50% to blame. Additionally, the court will reduce your damages based on your percentage of fault. In other words, if you are 20% at fault, and your damages are $100,000, you could collect $80,000.

While it’s not required, you will be in a much better situation to recover the damages you are actually owed if you have an attorney. Insurance companies are more likely to play fair if you have someone representing you. Your lawyer can negotiate for you, gather evidence to support your case, and show that you are willing to take legal action through the courts if they don’t make a reasonable offer. If you’re concerned about costs, note that we offer free consultations and represent clients on a contingency basis, which means we only recover if we win.

Tragically, negligence doesn’t just cause injuries, it may also cause fatal results. A wrongful death claim is a lawsuit that allows certain surviving family members to recover damages for medical costs, funeral expenses, lost future income, and emotional suffering. Remember that Tennessee has a short statute of limitations, so you only have one year to file this type of claim.

Your case could settle in a matter of months or take years to resolve in court. Several factors influence cases and can result in longer or shorter timelines. If the insurance company is willing to offer a fair settlement, it can expedite the process. In cases with severe injuries, the claims process might also take longer.

Look for attorneys who have experience in the same type of case you have–car accident, slip and fall, dog bites, or whatever your case may be. Read their reviews and client testimonials to learn more about how their past clients felt about their representation. Once you find a potential attorney, schedule a consultation with them. During that consultation, see how you feel about the attorney–do they listen to you? Are they compassionate? Do they seem knowledgeable about the type of case you have and your options? Are they communicating with you effectively? All of this matters. You should feel confident in your legal advocate.