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Personal Injury Lawyer Memphis, TN

Our Memphis, TN personal injury lawyer is someone who represents people who have suffered because of the negligent or reckless behavior of someone else, or that of an entity such as a company or a government agency. If you have been injured because of someone’s neglect or reckless behavior, you may find it helpful to talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer who has helped people in situations similar to yours. When you enlist the help of a Memphis personal injury lawyer from Patterson Bray PLLC you can count on us to aggressively fight those who wronged you. We will also treat you and your family with the care and respect you deserve.

If you’ve been injured and believe you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, surely you have a lot of questions for a personal injury lawyer Memphis, TN trust. What can be a scary time, can be made a little easier if you know what to expect. We’ve all heard stories of people who received huge settlements for their injuries, but it’s not instantaneous.

Our law firm has many years of experience in fighting for a fair settlement for our clients. We have found that our clients are happier and more able to focus on their own recovery when they understand the elements of a personal injury lawsuit and have a good idea of what to expect and the complexities involved in such a case. We have compiled a detailed outline of the most important steps in a personal injury case so that you understand what is coming and can feel secure in the process.

personal injury lawyer Memphis, TNTable of Contents

Steps In Your Personal Injury Case

There are up to eight major steps in a personal injury lawsuit, sometimes less, if the parties are able to come to a settlement earlier in the negotiation process, and before a trial and/or appeal.

  • Step 1: Consultation With An Attorney. It is crucial that you find a competent, experienced, local personal injury lawyer in Memphis, TN to represent your rights and fight for you to get the best settlement. Never talk to the other parties insurance company or make any statements, without the presence of your attorney.
  • Step 2: Investigation Of Your Case. Your law firm, with a personal injury lawyer in Memphis, TN, will examine the circumstances of your injury, gather evidence, interview potential witnesses, etc. Most firms have investigators on staff who are experienced in gathering the most relevant and comprehensive information
  • Step 3: Demand Package. Once the investigation is completed, your lawyer will send a demand letter/package to the other party and/or their insurance company. Assuming they just don’t agree to your demand, your case will move to the next step.
  • Step 4: Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit. Your law firm will be responsible for all the paperwork and processes needed to file your case in court.
  • Step 5: Discovery Phase. Once your case is filed, both the plaintiff (you) and the defendant have the opportunity to request information from the other side, so that both parties can review all the evidence. This is when witness statements and depositions are typically taken.
  • Step 6: Mediation. In most cases, both parties want to avoid an expensive trial and will try to come to a mutually acceptable agreement. This is often the lengthiest part of a personal injury case, unless it moves onto the trial phase.
  • Step 7: Trial. If all attempts at out of court settlement fail, your personal injury lawyer in Memphis, TN will file a trial motion and schedule the case to be heard in front of a judge and jury. Both the plaintiff and defendant will have the chance to present their testimony, question witnesses, medical professionals, etc.
  • Step 8: Appeal. If you are unhappy with the outcome of your trial, you can always appeal the court’s decision.

No matter what kind of personal injury case you have, the steps are very similar for a personal injury lawyer in Memphis, TN. Sometimes it can take years from the time of injury to the agreement to a settlement. And other times, cases resolve quickly.

Understanding Personal Injury Cases

The injuries or conditions that someone has sustained because of the neglect or reckless behavior of others may be temporary or permanent. These injuries and conditions can appear immediately because of a particular event, or they may occur gradually over a long period of time. The injuries and conditions themselves can be relatively mild or they can be life-changing. In the most extreme cases, someone’s death can be caused by someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior.

If you have been injured because of someone else’s neglect or wrongdoing, you may be in need of an experienced Memphis personal injury lawyer. There are many situations where you may be entitled to compensation if you are injured or unwell because of what someone else did or did not do.

  • You may be concerned about mounting medical bills and lost wages.
  • You may be concerned about future earning ability, and the loss of mobility and/or abilities.
  • You may be in pain and/or suffering because of the loss of a loved one, or because you are witnessing your loved one’s pain and suffering.

It can be scary to face the reality of your situation if you or someone close to you is suffering. Having a compassionate and reputable Memphis personal injury lawyer on your side can help you to make informed decisions about what legal options to pursue.

If you are dealing with a personal injury caused through no fault of your own, you may want to speak to a Memphis personal injury lawyer from Patterson Bray Attorneys. The lawyers at our firm always have our client’s best interests in mind and strive to build good relationships with them. A lawyer may be able to help you gather the evidence and legal documentation you need to obtain the compensation you deserve for your personal injury. Call us today at 901.372.5003 to speak with a personal injury lawyer from our firm who can review your case at no charge. This initial case review can provide you with the information you need to decide if you want to move forward with a claim or lawsuit. Tips for Filing an Injury Claim After a Car Accident.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

When a person gets hurt because of someone else’s negligence, the injured person has the right to file a personal injury lawsuit with the help of an experienced Memphis personal injury lawyer. Every case is different as are the circumstances that led to the accident, but here are some of the most common types of personal injury claims:

  • Slips and Falls

Whether it happens inside a grocery store or outside of someone’s home, slip-and-fall accidents can result in broken bones and other serious injuries. If a slip and fall incident occurs because the environment was unsafe, the injured person may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent property owner. Several criteria must be met for a successful suit. A Memphis personal injury lawyer can examine the details of your case and the events leading up to your injury.

  • Vehicle and Pedestrian Versus Auto Accidents

Vehicle accidents occur every day for a variety of different reasons. Sometimes it’s due to poor weather conditions and other times it’s the result of distracted driving. If a vehicle crash occurs because of a driver’s negligence, that person may be held legally responsible for the driver’s and passengers hurt in the accident. Pedestrians are also at risk and are killed every year in the United States.

  • Medical Malpractice

All medical professionals are expected to provide their patients with the utmost care. Unfortunately, some of them fail to do this. If a doctor prescribes the wrong medication or doesn’t diagnose a condition in time, the patient may suffer. Another common example of medical malpractice is when the surgeon operates on the wrong body part. Or, they may not remember to extract all of their instruments at the conclusion of the surgery. This can lead to severe infection and other complications. In some cases, surgery can leave the victim worse off than they were before the operation. Injuries from any type of medical malpractice may leave serious injuries, so it’s important for victims to talk to a Memphis personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

  • Workplace Accidents

If employers do not ensure that their work environment is safe, workers are at risk of getting hurt on the job. Workplace injuries can result from falling objects, machine entanglement, and slipping and falling, for example. Employees who wish to seek compensation for their injuries may want to contact a Memphis personal injury lawyer. When workers are seriously hurt on the job, they may experience pushback from the insurance company. Or, their employer may subject them to harassment in the hope that the hurt worker will quit and null their workers’ compensation package.

  • Dog Bites

You may be surprised to find out that dog bites result in thousands of serious injury cases every year in the country, and sadly, they are sometimes fatal. Although the majority of dog bites happen during interactions with people and dogs who are familiar with one another, they can happen under almost any circumstance. Some victims are reluctant to pursue legal action against friends, neighbors, or family members whose dog bit them. However, insurance usually covers the damages and filing a lawsuit or injury claim is simply a matter of formality. Because medical costs to treat a serious dog bite can be very expensive, it’s unfair to expect the victim to pay when it was not their fault. In addition, they will already be dealing with the pain and discomfort of the injury.

Memphis Personal Injury Infographic

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

Memphis Personal Injury Law Statistics

According to the United States Bureau of Justice, out of the almost half million personal injury cases that are filed each year, just under 5 percent – or 16,000 – of those cases actually end up being litigated in court. The majority of cases are usually settled long before lawsuits are filed. This is why having a personal injury lawyer who is skilled in negotiations with insurance companies is critical to a successful outcome.

Memphis Personal Injury FAQs

How can a personal injury lawyer help me?

A trusted Memphis personal injury lawyer may be worth consulting with if you have suffered injuries in an accident that you did not cause. When you need to pay for medical expenses such as treatment and rehabilitative services, the costs can quickly add up. With the right legal support, your odds of achieving the ideal results that you want out of your case are much higher. A trusted Memphis personal injury lawyer like one from Patterson Bray PLLC can help you recover the compensation that you are entitled to. 

What cases does a personal injury lawyer work on?

Personal injury is a practice area that covers a wide range of accident scenarios. Car accidents, pedestrian accidents, premises liability, product defects and slip and fall accidents are just some of the common cases that they handle. If your injury was due to one of these types of accidents, you are encouraged to talk to a personal injury lawyer as they can evaluate your case and help you understand your legal options. 

What should I consider when hiring a personal injury lawyer?

When you are looking into personal injury lawyers to handle your case, there are several things that you want to consider. Personal injury is a practice area that includes a variety of topics, such as auto accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, and workplace accidents. Evaluate a lawyer based on their background, skillset, and cases they have achieved great outcomes for. Find a lawyer who has experience handling your particular case. For example, if you are filing a medical malpractice claim, the lawyer you hire should be knowledgeable about the healthcare industry or laws that affect the healthcare system.

What types of damages can I be awarded?

You are entitled to many types of damages if you file a personal injury claim. General damages that claimants are usually awarded in a personal injury case are expenses for immediate and future medical treatment, lost wages, reduced quality of life, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. A lawyer will compute all of the damages so that nothing is missed and you can recover compensation for all damages you are rightfully owed. 

Are there ways to increase my settlement?

Many clients do not know that it is possible to increase their settlement if they just take the recommended steps. These include retaining all records that could be related to your accident and can help support your case. Personal injury accident victims should also not accept the initial settlement offer that the insurance company gives them, and instead ask a lawyer to negotiate on their behalf to increase their settlement amount. 

Finding the right lawyer to assist you with your legal claim is important if you want to obtain the best results that you can. Take the time to do research and hire a lawyer like one from Patterson Bray PLLC who has the right background and experience. They should have had a record of achieving results handling cases that are similar to yours. Meet with a qualified Memphis personal injury lawyer for personalized legal assistance if you need urgent help with your claim. 

How can I prove someone else is responsible for my injuries?

Often, when you seek help from a lawyer you will be getting a whole team of people with different skills who are there to help prove someone else was acting recklessly or negligently. So, when you say that the area you were in was dangerous, your lawyer will make sure someone goes out to examine the area, take pictures, and document it. They will also likely be able to tell if a quick fix happened after your accident to try to cover their tracks. 

That said, it is always best to document as much of the accident scene as you can before leaving. This will provide your lawyer, and the insurance agents involved, with the necessary evidence immediately following the accident to help support your claim. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted lawyer when you need help with your slip-and-fall claim. Many insurance agents are hoping to get in touch with people who have not started talking with a lawyer. To better defend your claim, reach out to our team now. 

Patterson Bray PLLC, Memphis Personal Injury Lawyer

8001 Centerview Pkwy #103, Cordova, TN 38018

Contact Our Memphis Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident that may have been caused by negligence or wrongdoing, you may be able to receive compensation. Patterson Bray has a team of lawyers who understand what you may be going through and are ready to give you the support and guidance you may need. If you would like to schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer Memphis, TN residents can count on, please call 901.372.5003.

At Patterson Bray PLLC, we understand the complexities of Tennessee’s personal injury laws. We are committed to providing personalized, compassionate legal representation to each client. If you have suffered an injury in Memphis due to someone else’s negligence, reach out to us. Together, we will explore your legal options and work tirelessly to secure the compensation and justice you deserve. Get in touch with us today, and see how a Memphis personal injury lawyer from our office can show you your next steps.

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