Franklin Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal Injury Lawyer Franklin, TN
If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Franklin, you may be dealing with mounting medical bills, missed time at work, and phone calls from an insurance adjuster who wants you to settle before you know the full extent of your injuries. That pressure is intentional. Insurance companies profit by closing claims fast and cheap.
The longer you wait to get legal advice, the more leverage the insurer gains. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget details. And Tennessee’s one-year filing deadline gets closer every day.
Patterson Bray PLLC has represented injured people across Tennessee for more than 20 years. Our Franklin, TN personal injury lawyer will evaluate your case for free, explain your rights in plain terms, and fight for every dollar of compensation you’re owed. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Why Choose Patterson Bray for Personal Injury in Franklin, TN?
Two Decades of Injury Law in Tennessee
Patterson Bray’s Managing Partner, Chris Patterson, has been handling catastrophic personal injury cases and general litigation for over 20 years. He graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law and earned dual undergraduate degrees from the University of Tennessee. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Memphis Bar Association, and the National Crime Victim Bar Association. He serves as a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation.
Chris was appointed by Governor Bill Lee to the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees and previously served as a director of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation. Those appointments reflect the trust the Tennessee legal and government community places in his judgment.
Will Patterson concentrates on tort litigation, business disputes, personal injury, and construction litigation. He earned his J.D. from the University of Memphis and his undergraduate degree from Freed-Hardeman University. Best Lawyers in America has recognized Will in Personal Injury Litigation from the 27th through 32nd editions and in Commercial Litigation from the 30th through 32nd editions. He earned the 2017 Tennessee Supreme Court Pro Bono Service Award and was twice named a Top 10 Under 40 attorney by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. Will is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Tennessee and the Sixth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeals. If you need a personal injury attorney serving the Franklin area, our team has the courtroom track record to take your case as far as it needs to go.
A Track Record of Recovering Compensation
Our attorneys have helped clients recover millions of dollars in personal injury settlements and verdicts across Tennessee. We prepare every case for trial. Insurance companies know the difference between a firm that files lawsuits and one that doesn’t. That distinction directly affects the offers they put on the table. A firm recognized as Tier 1 by U.S. News & World Report carries weight in negotiations that a volume settlement operation simply does not.
No Upfront Costs
We take personal injury cases on contingency. You pay no legal fees until we win your case. We advance the costs of investigation, medical records, depositions, and court filings. This means everyone has access to quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation, especially when they’re already buried under medical bills and lost income.
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“I appreciate that the team was open to speaking directly with clients. The representative explained everything thoroughly about personal injury cases and what a new client should expect.”
— MN
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Franklin
Personal injury is a broad category. The cause of your accident and the type of negligence involved shape the legal strategy. We handle claims involving:
- Car accidents. From rear-end collisions to multi-vehicle pileups on I-65, car wrecks are the most common source of personal injury claims in the Franklin area. We deal with the at-fault driver’s insurer so you can concentrate on getting better.
- Truck accidents. Commercial truck crashes often involve severe injuries and complicated liability questions. The trucking company, the driver, the maintenance provider, and the cargo loader may all share responsibility. Federal trucking regulations add another layer of complexity.
- Motorcycle accidents. Riders face a disproportionate risk of serious injury. We fight the bias that insurance adjusters often bring to motorcycle claims, where they assume the rider was at fault simply because they were on two wheels.
- Slip and fall injuries. Property owners in Franklin have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors. When they fail to fix known hazards, whether it’s a wet floor, broken stairway, or uneven sidewalk, they can be held liable for the injuries that result. We investigate the property owner’s prior knowledge of the danger.
- Construction accidents. Construction sites are inherently dangerous. When OSHA safety protocols are ignored, workers and bystanders pay the price. Falls from scaffolding, equipment malfunctions, and electrocution are among the most common construction site injuries we see. We pursue claims against negligent contractors, subcontractors, and property owners.
- Wrongful death. When someone dies due to another party’s negligence, Tennessee law allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future earnings, and loss of companionship under Tenn. Code § 20-5-106.
Tennessee Legal Requirements for Personal Injury Cases
Tennessee’s statute of limitations for personal injury is one year. Under Tenn. Code § 28-3-104, you must file your lawsuit within 12 months of the date you were hurt. This is among the shortest deadlines in the country, and Tennessee courts enforce it strictly. If you miss the deadline, your case is over. No exceptions for good intentions or ongoing settlement talks.
Tennessee uses a modified comparative fault system under the Comparative Fault Act. You can recover damages if you’re less than 50% at fault for the accident. Your total compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. So if a jury determines you were 30% responsible and your total damages are $200,000, your recovery would be $140,000. Insurance adjusters use this rule aggressively, looking for any evidence that you contributed to the accident. An attorney who knows how to counter fault-shifting arguments can protect thousands of dollars of your recovery.
According to NHTSA’s 2023 data, approximately 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes nationwide that year. Tennessee’s roads, including corridors through Franklin and Williamson County, continue to see significant crash activity. Filing a claim promptly preserves evidence and protects your legal rights.
Certain claims, such as those against government entities, have even shorter notice requirements. If a defective road condition or a government vehicle contributed to your accident, consulting a personal injury attorney in Franklin, TN immediately is essential. Missing the notice deadline on a government claim can bar your case entirely, even if you still have time under the general statute of limitations.
What Damages Are Recoverable in a Franklin Personal Injury Case?
Economic Damages
These are your out-of-pocket losses such as medical bills (past and future), surgical costs, physical therapy, prescription drugs, lost wages, and diminished future earning capacity. In serious injury cases, these numbers climb rapidly. A single back surgery and six months of rehabilitation can cost more than most people earn in a year. Future medical costs must be projected by qualified professionals and included in your demand. Your attorney can walk you through how this is calculated for your specific case.
Non-Economic Damages
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium fall into this category. Tennessee caps non-economic damages at $750,000 for most cases, with a $1,000,000 cap for catastrophic injuries like paralysis or amputation under Tenn. Code § 29-39-102. These caps apply per plaintiff, and the catastrophic injury exception can significantly increase the total recovery in the most severe cases.
Punitive Damages
Available only in cases involving intentional misconduct or gross negligence, punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct. A drunk driver who causes a serious crash in Franklin, for instance, may face punitive liability beyond what compensatory damages would cover.
Documenting damages thoroughly from the beginning of your case is critical. We coordinate with your medical providers, collect employment records, and work with financial professionals to present a complete damages picture that holds up under cross-examination and withstands the scrutiny of the insurance company’s adjusters and defense attorneys.
Contact Patterson Bray PLLC
If you were injured in an accident in Franklin, TN, don’t let the one-year deadline pass without understanding your rights. Patterson Bray offers free consultations and handles personal injury cases on a contingency basis. You pay no fees unless we recover compensation for you.
We’ll review the details of your accident, explain the relevant Tennessee law, and give you an honest assessment of your case. Contact us to speak with a Franklin personal injury attorney who will work to get you the compensation you deserve.