Nashville Car Accident Lawyer
Car Accident Lawyer Nashville, TN
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Nashville, you already know how quickly things get out of Patterson Bray PLLC has been fighting for injured Tennesseans for more than two decades. Our Nashville, TN car accident lawyer will handle the insurance company, preserve critical evidence, and build a case aimed at recovering the full value of your claim. Consultations are free. You pay nothing unless we win.
Why Choose Patterson Bray for Car Accident Cases in Nashville, TN?
Attorneys Who Know Tennessee Courts
Will Patterson handles personal injury and tort litigation throughout Tennessee. He earned his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and his undergraduate degree in Finance from Freed-Hardeman University. Will has been admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Tennessee, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. That federal court access matters when a car accident case involves interstate commerce, out-of-state defendants, or complex jurisdictional questions.
The 27th through 32nd editions of Best Lawyers in America have recognized Will for Personal Injury Litigation, and the 30th through 32nd editions have recognized him for Commercial Litigation. He received the 2017 Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Service Award and was named a Top 10 Under 40 attorney by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys in both 2017 and 2018. These recognitions come from peer evaluations, not advertising, and they speak to the quality of work our firm delivers.
Managing Partner Chris Patterson focuses on catastrophic personal injury and business transactions alongside general litigation. With over 20 years in practice, Chris brings trial-tested judgment to every Nashville car accident case the firm handles. He serves on the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees by appointment of the Governor, is a member of the American Bar Association, and is a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation. If you need a car accident attorney in Nashville who will actually prepare for trial, Patterson Bray is built for that.
Compensation Recovered for Clients
Patterson Bray has recovered millions of dollars for clients injured in car wrecks and other accidents across Tennessee. Our firm was named a Tier 1 law firm by U.S. News & World Report, a distinction based on case results, peer recognition, and client references. We approach every auto accident case in Nashville with the assumption it may go to trial. That preparation is what drives better settlements, because insurers know we mean it.
No Fees Unless We Win
All car accident cases at Patterson Bray are handled on a contingency fee basis. We front the costs of investigation, we pay for records and filings, and you owe us nothing if we don’t recover money for you.
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“I recently reached out to Patterson Bray PLLC with a few questions. I was extremely impressed with how quickly Rachel Meadows, one of their attorneys, got back to me, and how thorough, empathetic, detailed, and kind she was.”
— Mary Henderson
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Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Nashville
Nashville traffic continues to grow, and with it, the frequency and severity of car crashes on our highways and surface streets. Our Nashville car accident lawyers handle a wide range of collision types, including:
- Rear-end collisions. Often caused by distracted or tailgating drivers, rear-end crashes are common on Nashville’s congested corridors like I-24 and I-440. Even at moderate speeds, the impact can cause whiplash, herniated discs, and concussions that require months of treatment.
- Intersection crashes. Red-light runners and drivers who fail to yield cause some of Nashville’s most serious collisions. T-bone impacts at intersections frequently result in broken bones, internal organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries.
- Drunk driving accidents. A driver who causes a crash while impaired may face both criminal charges and civil liability. We pursue compensation from impaired drivers and, where applicable, from establishments that over-served them under Tennessee’s dram shop laws.
- Distracted driving crashes. Texting, scrolling, eating behind the wheel. According to NHTSA data, distraction-related crashes caused over 3,300 deaths nationwide in 2022. Tennessee law prohibits texting while driving, and violating that statute strengthens the injured party’s negligence claim.
- Hit-and-run accidents. When a driver flees after a collision, your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply. We help Nashville car wreck victims navigate the claims process and pursue all available sources of compensation, including UM/UIM policies many drivers don’t realize they carry.
- Multi-vehicle pileups. Chain-reaction crashes on I-24, I-40, or I-65 involve multiple drivers, multiple insurers, and competing arguments about who caused what. We have handled complex multi-party auto accident claims and know how to sort through the chaos to identify every responsible party.
Tennessee Legal Requirements for Car Accident Claims
The statute of limitations for car accident injuries in Tennessee is one year from the date of the crash, under Tenn. Code § 28-3-104. This applies to claims for bodily injury. Property damage claims have a three-year window under Tenn. Code § 28-3-105, but the injury deadline is the one that matters most. One year passes faster than people expect, especially when you’re focused on medical care and daily survival.
Tennessee’s modified comparative fault rule means you can still recover damages even if you were partly responsible for the accident, as long as your fault doesn’t reach 50%. If it does, you’re barred from recovery entirely. This rule gives insurance adjusters a powerful incentive to argue that you contributed to the crash. Having an attorney who can counter that argument with police reports, witness statements, and accident reconstruction analysis makes a real difference in your final recovery.
Tennessee law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $15,000 for property damage, per Tennessee insurance requirements. Those minimums are often far below the actual cost of serious injuries. A single hospital stay after a Nashville car wreck can exceed $25,000 before you’ve even started rehabilitation. Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy can fill that gap, and we help clients identify every available coverage source.
According to NHTSA crash data, roughly 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes across the country in 2023. Nashville, as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the Southeast, sees a significant volume of those incidents on its interstates and surface roads. Taking legal action quickly preserves evidence and strengthens your position against insurers who want to wait you out.
What Damages Are Recoverable in a Nashville Car Accident Case?
Economic Damages
These cover measurable financial losses: emergency room costs, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medication, medical bills, lost wages, future lost earnings, and vehicle repair or replacement. For a Nashville car wreck that results in a back surgery and six months of rehabilitation, economic damages alone can easily exceed $100,000. Future medical costs and diminished earning capacity must be calculated by qualified professionals and included in your demand.
Non-Economic Damages
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and loss of consortium are all compensable under Tennessee law. The state caps non-economic damages at $750,000 for most injury cases, increasing to $1,000,000 when the injury qualifies as catastrophic under Tenn. Code § 29-39-102. Catastrophic injuries include spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis, amputation of two or more limbs, and severe burns covering 40% or more of the body.
Punitive Damages
When the at-fault driver acted with intentional misconduct or extreme recklessness, such as driving while severely impaired or street racing on Nashville roads, Tennessee law allows punitive damages. These are awarded above and beyond compensatory damages and serve to punish egregious conduct. Courts evaluate the severity of the misconduct and the defendant’s financial condition when setting the amount.
We work with your medical providers, employment records, and accident documentation to build a damages case that accurately reflects the full impact the crash has had on your life. That thorough preparation is what separates an adequate settlement from one that actually covers your losses.
Contact Patterson Bray PLLC
A car accident in Nashville can turn your life upside down in a matter of seconds. Patterson Bray PLLC offers free consultations and takes car accident cases on contingency. There is no cost to talk to us, and no fees unless we recover compensation for you.
We will review the facts of your collision, identify every available source of recovery, and give you a straightforward assessment of your case. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a Nashville car accident attorney at Patterson Bray.