Nashville Car Accident Lawyer

At Patterson Bray, PLLC, we are trusted car accident lawyers with over 20 years of experience.

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Nashville and an insurance company is already pressuring you to accept a quick settlement, you need to understand your rights before agreeing to anything. What the adjuster offers in the first few weeks rarely accounts for the true cost of your injuries.

Patterson Bray PLLC has spent more than two decades representing injured plaintiffs in Tennessee. Our Nashville, TN car accident lawyer will review your situation, handle insurance negotiations, and work to recover the compensation you deserve. Reach out for a free consultation.

Car Accident Lawyer Nashville, TN

A car accident claim arises when one driver’s negligence causes a collision that injures another person. In Tennessee, the injured party has the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier or through a civil lawsuit. The goal is to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and other losses that result from the crash.

Nashville sees a high volume of traffic along I-24, I-40, I-65, and the congested corridors downtown and through surrounding neighborhoods. Accidents at busy intersections, on-ramps, and construction zones are common. Many of these crashes involve disputed liability, multiple vehicles, or drivers without adequate insurance. An experienced car wreck attorney in Nashville, TN can identify every available source of recovery and push back against insurers who try to minimize what they owe.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Nashville

Patterson Bray PLLC represents plaintiffs across a broad range of motor vehicle collision claims in the Nashville area. The facts behind each crash are different, and the legal strategy has to reflect that. Below are the categories of auto accident cases we handle most often.

Rear-end collisions. These crashes are among the most frequent on Nashville highways. Neck and back injuries, including whiplash, herniated discs, and common car accident injuries involving soft tissue damage, often show up days or weeks after the impact.
T-bone collisions. Side-impact crashes at intersections can produce broken bones, internal organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries. Fault often depends on who had the right of way, which makes witness statements and traffic camera footage critical.
Head-on collisions. When two vehicles collide front to front, the combined force causes some of the most severe injuries of any crash type. Wrong-way drivers on interstates and impaired motorists on two-lane roads are frequent causes.
Hit-and-run accidents. Tennessee law requires drivers involved in an accident to stop and exchange information. When a driver flees, the injured person may need to pursue a claim through their own uninsured motorist coverage to recover compensation.
Distracted driving crashes. Texting, phone use, and other driver distractions cause thousands of crashes in Tennessee each year. According to NHTSA distracted driving data, 3,208 people were killed nationally in distraction-related crashes in 2024.
Drunk driving crashes. Drivers operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs cause collisions that often result in catastrophic injuries or death. Federal data from the NHTSA impaired driving program shows that impaired motorists remain a leading cause of fatal crashes nationwide.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. Not every driver on Nashville roads carries adequate insurance. When the at-fault driver lacks coverage, your own policy’s UM/UIM provisions may be the only path to fair compensation.
Multi-vehicle pileups. Chain-reaction crashes on I-24 or I-40 involve multiple drivers, multiple insurers, and disputed fault among several parties. Sorting out liability requires a careful reconstruction of the sequence of events.
Intersection collisions. Running red lights and failing to yield cause a disproportionate share of serious-injury crashes in Nashville. Evidence from traffic signals, surveillance cameras, and witness accounts is essential to proving fault.
Rideshare accidents. Crashes involving Uber or Lyft vehicles raise unique insurance coverage questions. Liability depends on whether the rideshare driver was logged into the app, en route to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting someone at the time of the collision.

Why Choose Patterson Bray PLLC as My Car Accident Lawyer in Nashville, TN?

Recognized Personal Injury Representation

Will Patterson practices in the areas of tort litigation, personal injury, commercial litigation, and construction disputes. Best Lawyers has recognized Will from the 27th through 32nd editions for Personal Injury Litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee, Mississippi, the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Tennessee, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Eighth Circuits.

Chris Patterson, the firm’s Managing Partner, has handled catastrophic personal injury and general litigation matters for over 20 years. Chris is a member of the American Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the National Crime Victim Bar Association, among other organizations. He earned his J.D. from the University of Memphis School of Law and was appointed by Governor Bill Lee to the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees.

Contingency Fees and Proven Results

We take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney fees unless Patterson Bray PLLC recovers compensation for you. Our firm has helped clients recover millions of dollars in personal injury matters across Tennessee.

As a personal injury lawyer in Nashville, TN, our priority is making sure each client’s claim accounts for the full scope of losses, not just the bills that have already arrived. Future medical treatment, ongoing rehabilitation, and diminished earning capacity all factor into what we pursue on your behalf.

What Is Important to Understand About a Car Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases

Liability in a Nashville car accident case rests on proving that the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries as a result. Tennessee applies a modified comparative fault standard. If you are partially at fault for the crash, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If your fault reaches 50 percent or more, you are barred from recovery entirely.

The damages available in a Tennessee car accident claim fall into two broad categories. Economic damages include hospital bills, surgery costs, physical therapy, prescription medications, lost wages, and reduced future earning capacity. Noneconomic damages cover pain, emotional distress, scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, and similar harms that do not carry a fixed dollar amount.

Medical expenses, both current and anticipated future costs
Lost income during recovery
Diminished earning capacity if injuries are permanent
Pain and suffering
Property damage, including repair or replacement of your vehicle

When insurers challenge the value of these losses, an attorney familiar with Tennessee personal injury law can identify the evidence and arguments needed to support the full amount. Carriers will often try lowballing the claim to close the file cheaply.

What Are Important Aspects of a Car Accident Case?

Several factors influence the strength and value of a car accident claim in Nashville. Understanding them early can help preserve your rights and improve your position.

Police reports document the responding officer’s observations about the crash, road conditions, and potential traffic violations. This report is often the first piece of evidence reviewed by both sides.
Medical records connect your injuries directly to the collision. Gaps in treatment or delays in seeking care can give the insurance company grounds to argue that your injuries are not as serious as claimed.
Witness statements from passengers, bystanders, or other drivers can corroborate your version of events and help establish fault.
Photos and video from the scene, dashcam footage, and nearby surveillance cameras can all provide objective evidence of how the crash occurred.

What Is the Car Accident Case Timeline?

Most car accident claims in Nashville take several months to over a year to resolve. More complex cases involving disputed liability or severe injuries may take considerably longer.

Immediately after the accident, the priority is medical treatment and evidence preservation, including photographs, the police report, and contact information for witnesses.
A demand letter is typically sent to the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier once your medical treatment concludes or your injuries stabilize.
Insurance negotiations follow. Many claims settle during this phase, though settlement offers are not always adequate.
If negotiations fail, a lawsuit is filed. Discovery, depositions, and pretrial motions typically take 12 to 18 months before the case reaches trial, depending on the court’s schedule.
Some cases resolve through mediation before trial. Others proceed to a jury verdict.

What Should You Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation?

Having relevant documents on hand at your first meeting allows our attorneys to evaluate your claim and provide specific guidance.

A copy of the police report or the case number so we can obtain it
Photos of the vehicles, the accident scene, and visible injuries
All medical records and bills from treatment related to the crash
Pay stubs or employer documentation showing time missed from work
Your auto insurance declarations page showing coverage limits

We will walk you through how the process works, answer your questions about recoverable damages, and explain what to expect at each stage of the case.

What Are Important Tennessee Legal Resources for Car Accident Cases?

Tennessee has specific statutes governing personal injury claims arising from car accidents. The following resources can help you begin reviewing the rules that apply.

The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Tennessee is one year from the date of the accident under Tennessee Code Annotated § 28-3-104. Filing even one day late will almost certainly result in dismissal.
Tennessee follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Tennessee Code Annotated § 29-11-103. You can recover compensation only if your share of fault is less than 50 percent. Your award is reduced proportionally by any fault assigned to you.
Tennessee law allows recovery for both economic and noneconomic damages. Noneconomic damages may be subject to statutory caps depending on the severity of the injuries involved.
The Tennessee courts website provides information about case filings, court procedures, and locations for Davidson County and other jurisdictions statewide.

Reach Out to Patterson Bray PLLC to Schedule a Consultation

If you have been injured in a car accident in Nashville, TN, Patterson Bray PLLC is ready to help. We take auto accident cases on a contingency basis, so you owe nothing unless we obtain a recovery on your behalf. During your free consultation, we will review the facts of the crash, assess the strength of your claim, and discuss next steps. Contact us to speak with a Nashville car accident attorney about your case.