Nashville Personal Injury Lawyer

Were you injured in a personal injury accident in Nashville?

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

If you have been seriously injured because someone else was careless, reckless, or negligent, the consequences reach into every part of your life. Medical bills, time away from work, chronic pain, and the stress of dealing with insurance companies are all part of what follows a serious accident. A Nashville, TN personal injury lawyer at Patterson Bray PLLC can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. We represent plaintiffs only, offer free consultations, and handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis.

Personal Injury Lawyer Nashville, TN

Personal injury law covers claims brought by individuals who have been physically or emotionally harmed due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct of another person, company, or entity. A personal injury lawyer investigates the circumstances of the injury, identifies the responsible parties, calculates the client’s losses, and pursues compensation through negotiation or litigation.

These cases arise from a wide variety of situations, from motor vehicle collisions and workplace incidents to dangerous property conditions and defective products. What connects them is the legal principle of negligence: when someone fails to act with reasonable care and that failure causes harm, the injured person has the right to seek accountability. A Nashville personal injury attorney can evaluate your claim and explain what recovery may be available.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Nashville

Personal injury claims span a broad range of accident types. The nature of the injury, how it occurred, and who bears responsibility all influence how a case is built. Our attorneys handle personal injury cases throughout Nashville, TN and the surrounding areas.

Car accidents. Motor vehicle collisions are among the most common sources of personal injury claims in Nashville. We represent drivers, passengers, and occupants injured by negligent motorists and pursue full compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Truck accidents. Collisions involving tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles produce some of the most severe injuries. These cases often involve federal regulations, driver fatigue, and multiple liable parties.
Motorcycle accidents. Riders face a disproportionate risk of catastrophic injury because motorcycles offer virtually no structural protection. We fight to overcome the bias riders sometimes face from adjusters and pursue full compensation.
Pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle has almost no ability to protect themselves from impact. These claims require analysis of crosswalk conditions, driver behavior, and signal timing to establish liability.
Bicycle accidents. Tennessee law gives cyclists the same rights as motor vehicles. When a negligent driver causes a collision with a cyclist, the injuries are often severe and the recovery can be lengthy.
Wrongful death. When negligence results in the death of a loved one, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. We help families seek compensation for funeral costs, lost income, and the loss of companionship.
Slip and fall accidents. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions for visitors. When hazards such as wet floors, broken staircases, or poor lighting cause a fall, the owner may be liable for the resulting injuries.
Medical malpractice. When a healthcare provider’s negligence causes injury or death, the victim or their family may have a claim. These cases involve surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, and breaches of the standard of care.
Product liability. Defective or unreasonably dangerous products that cause injury may give rise to a claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer. We investigate product design, manufacturing, and any failure to warn consumers.

Why Choose Patterson Bray PLLC as My Personal Injury Lawyer in Nashville, TN?

Two Decades of Recovering Compensation for Injured Clients

Patterson Bray PLLC was built to represent people who have been hurt through no fault of their own. Every case we take is handled on the plaintiff’s side, and every case benefits from the same level of preparation whether it resolves in settlement or goes to trial.

Chris Patterson founded the firm and serves as its Managing Partner. He has spent over 20 years litigating catastrophic personal injury and death cases. Chris earned his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Tennessee and his J.D. from the University of Memphis School of Law. He is a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation, a member of the American Bar Association and the National Crime Victim Bar Association, and was appointed to the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees by Governor Bill Lee.

Will Patterson concentrates his practice in tort litigation and personal injury. Will has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America across multiple consecutive editions in both Personal Injury Litigation for Plaintiffs and Commercial Litigation. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Mississippi, and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Eighth Circuits and the United States District Court for the Western and Middle Districts of Tennessee. He earned his J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Freed-Hardeman University.

Patterson Bray PLLC has helped injured clients recover millions of dollars in personal injury and wrongful death cases across Tennessee. We handle every case on a contingency-fee basis, and we collect no attorney fees unless we obtain a recovery on your behalf.

What Is Important to Understand About a Personal Injury Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Personal Injury Cases

Tennessee personal injury law allows injured individuals to pursue compensation for the full scope of harm caused by another party’s negligence. Damages in a Nashville personal injury case may include:

Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and anticipated future treatment
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity resulting from time missed at work or an inability to return to prior employment
Pain and suffering, encompassing both physical pain and the emotional toll of living with an injury
Property damage to vehicles, personal belongings, or equipment
Loss of enjoyment of life when injuries prevent participation in activities that were part of daily living before the incident
In fatal cases, funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship for surviving family members

Liability in Tennessee personal injury cases is governed by a modified comparative fault standard under T.C.A. § 29-11-103. If you bear some share of fault for the incident, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. At 50 percent fault or above, you are barred from recovering anything. Insurance companies use this rule aggressively to shift blame onto the injured party.

What Are Important Aspects of a Personal Injury Case?

Several factors shape the outcome of a personal injury claim. Understanding them early is important.

Establishing that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and that the breach directly caused your injuries
Documenting your injuries and treatment thoroughly, including medical records, diagnostic imaging, and physician notes from the date of the incident forward
Preserving evidence from the scene, including photographs, video footage, witness contact information, and relevant reports
Avoiding common mistakes such as giving a recorded statement to the opposing insurer, posting about your case on social media, or accepting a settlement before understanding the full value of your claim
Retaining an attorney who can calculate your damages accurately, including future medical costs and long-term financial impacts

What Is the Personal Injury Case Timeline?

Personal injury cases in Nashville follow a general progression, though the timeline depends on injury type, liability complexity, and the insurer’s willingness to negotiate.

The investigation phase begins shortly after the incident and involves gathering police or incident reports, medical records, photographs, and witness statements
Medical treatment continues until maximum medical improvement is reached, when your physician determines that your condition has stabilized
Your attorney prepares a demand and submits it to the at-fault party’s insurance carrier, outlining the basis for liability and the full scope of damages
Settlement negotiations take place, and a substantial number of personal injury cases in Tennessee resolve during this phase
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, the case is filed in court and prepared for trial

Under Tennessee personal injury law, the statute of limitations for most claims is one year from the date of injury under T.C.A. § 28-3-104. That is one of the shortest filing deadlines in the country, and missing it permanently eliminates your right to pursue compensation.

What Should You Bring to Your Personal Injury Consultation?

Preparing for your first meeting with a personal injury attorney helps ensure a thorough evaluation of your case.

The police report, incident report, or the name of the responding agency
Photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, and any hazardous conditions that contributed to the incident
All medical records and bills from treatment related to your injuries
Documentation of lost wages, including pay stubs or employer correspondence
Any written or recorded communication from insurance companies

We offer free consultations for personal injury cases in Nashville. During the meeting, we review the facts, explain how Tennessee law applies, and outline the steps to protect your claim.

What Are Important Tennessee Legal Resources for Personal Injury Cases?

Understanding Tennessee’s personal injury laws begins with knowing where to find the relevant statutes and resources. The following can help Nashville residents learn about their legal rights after an injury.

The Tennessee General Assembly publishes the Tennessee Code, including Title 28 on limitations of actions and Title 29 on remedies, comparative fault, and damages
The Tennessee Bar Association provides a lawyer referral service and public resources on civil litigation in the state
NHTSA publishes crash data, vehicle safety ratings, and recall information relevant to motor vehicle injury cases
The CDC transportation safety page offers national data on crash-related injuries and fatalities
Tennessee’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is one year from the date of injury under T.C.A. § 28-3-104
The state’s modified comparative fault rule under T.C.A. § 29-11-103 reduces recovery by the plaintiff’s share of fault and bars recovery entirely at 50 percent or above

Reach Out to Patterson Bray PLLC to Schedule a Consultation

If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence in Nashville, TN, Patterson Bray PLLC is ready to evaluate your claim. We offer free consultations, handle every personal injury case on a contingency basis, and charge no fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to speak with a Nashville personal injury attorney about your case.