Nashville Slip and Fall Lawyer
Were you injured in a slip and fall accident in Nashville?
At Patterson Bray PLLC, we handle slip and fall cases on a contingency basis with no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
If you were hurt in a fall on someone else’s property in Nashville, the property owner or manager may be legally responsible for your injuries. Broken bones, head injuries, back damage, and soft tissue tears are common results of these incidents, and the costs of treatment add up quickly. A Nashville, TN slip and fall lawyer at Patterson Bray PLLC can investigate what happened, determine who is liable, and pursue the compensation you are owed. Our firm has over 20 years of experience representing injured plaintiffs and offers free consultations for slip and fall cases.
Slip and Fall Lawyer Nashville, TN
A slip and fall lawyer handles premises liability claims on behalf of individuals who are injured because a property owner or occupier failed to maintain safe conditions. Tennessee law requires property owners to exercise reasonable care in keeping their premises free of known hazards or warning visitors about dangers they cannot immediately correct.
These cases are not always straightforward. Property owners and their insurance carriers routinely argue that the injured person was not paying attention, that the hazard was open and obvious, or that the owner had no notice of the condition. A Nashville slip and fall attorney knows how to gather the evidence needed to overcome those defenses and prove that the property owner’s negligence caused the injury.
Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in Nashville
Falls can happen in any setting where a property owner has failed to address a known hazard or neglected routine maintenance. The circumstances of the fall affect how the claim is built. Our attorneys handle slip and fall cases throughout Nashville, TN and the surrounding communities.
- Wet floor accidents. Spilled liquids, recently mopped surfaces, leaking refrigeration units, and rainwater tracked into entryways are among the most frequent causes of slip and fall injuries. When a business fails to clean up a spill or post warning signs, it may be held liable for the resulting injuries.
- Uneven surface and tripping hazards. Cracked sidewalks, raised pavement, loose carpet, torn floor mats, and protruding thresholds create slip and fall hazards that property owners are expected to identify and repair. These conditions are especially dangerous in high-traffic areas where visitors are less likely to look down.
- Stairway and handrail falls. Broken steps, missing handrails, inadequate lighting, and worn treads contribute to serious stair-related falls. Property owners are required to maintain stairways in compliance with building codes, and a failure to do so can establish negligence.
- Parking lot falls. Potholes, uneven pavement, poor drainage, and inadequate lighting in parking lots can lead to serious falls. Businesses and landlords who manage these areas owe visitors a duty to keep them safe.
- Retail and grocery store falls. Customers injured in stores due to spilled products, cluttered aisles, or freshly waxed floors may have a claim against the business. The critical question in these cases is whether the store knew about the hazard or whether it existed long enough that the store should have known.
- Restaurant and bar falls. Grease on a kitchen floor, a broken tile, or a wet restroom floor can cause a fall that leads to serious injuries. We represent patrons hurt because an establishment failed to maintain safe conditions.
- Apartment and rental property falls. Tenants and visitors who fall due to broken stairs, missing lighting, or deteriorating walkways may have a premises liability claim against the landlord or management company.
- Construction site falls. Workers and visitors who fall on active construction sites may have claims against a general contractor, subcontractor, or site owner. When a fall results in death, the family may pursue a wrongful death claim. According to OSHA, falls are the leading cause of death in construction.
Why Choose Patterson Bray PLLC as My Slip and Fall Lawyer in Nashville, TN?
Building Strong Cases in a Practice Area Where Details Matter
Slip and fall claims require more than just showing that you were injured on someone else’s property. You have to prove that the property owner knew about the dangerous condition, or should have known, and failed to act. Proving negligence in a premises liability case takes detailed investigation and a legal team that understands how to assemble the evidence.
Will Patterson focuses his practice on tort litigation, personal injury, and construction litigation. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation on behalf of Plaintiffs and is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Mississippi. Will graduated from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
Chris Patterson, the firm’s Managing Partner, brings more than 20 years of courtroom experience to premises liability matters. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association and was appointed to the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees by Governor Bill Lee.
Patterson Bray PLLC has helped clients recover millions of dollars in personal injury cases in Nashville, TN. We handle every slip and fall case on a contingency-fee basis and do not collect fees unless we recover compensation for you.
What Is Important to Understand About a Slip and Fall Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall injuries range from bruises and sprains to fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. Tennessee law allows injured individuals to seek compensation for harm caused by a property owner’s negligence.
- Medical expenses, including emergency treatment, surgery, physical therapy, and any ongoing care related to the fall
- Lost wages while recovering and reduced earning capacity if the injury prevents a return to prior work
- Pain and suffering from both the physical injuries and the emotional toll of a sudden loss of mobility or independence
- Disfigurement or permanent scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life when the fall results in lasting physical limitations
Tennessee’s modified comparative fault rule under T.C.A. § 29-11-103 applies to slip and fall claims. If the injured person is found to share responsibility for the fall, their recovery is reduced by that percentage. At 50 percent fault or above, recovery is barred entirely. Property owners frequently raise comparative fault as a defense, arguing the visitor should have noticed the hazard. An attorney who understands how to counter that argument with evidence of the owner’s negligence can make a meaningful difference.
What Are Important Aspects of a Slip and Fall Case?
Several key factors influence the strength of a premises liability claim. Addressing them early protects your case.
- Establishing that the property owner had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition, meaning they either knew about it or it existed long enough that a reasonable person would have discovered and corrected it
- Documenting the scene as soon as possible after the fall, including photographs of the hazard, the surrounding area, lighting conditions, and any warning signs or lack thereof
- Identifying witnesses who saw the fall or who can confirm that the hazardous condition existed before the incident
- Retail and grocery store falls present common challenges in proving how long a hazard existed before the fall occurred
What Is the Slip and Fall Case Timeline?
Slip and fall cases in Nashville generally follow a progression similar to other personal injury claims, though the investigation into the property owner’s notice adds complexity.
- The investigation phase begins promptly and includes photographing the scene, requesting incident reports, reviewing maintenance records, and identifying surveillance cameras that may have captured the fall
- Medical treatment continues until the injured person reaches maximum medical improvement, when the treating physician determines that the injuries have stabilized
- A demand is prepared and sent to the property owner’s insurance carrier, supported by the evidence of negligence and the full scope of documented damages
- Settlement negotiations follow, and many premises liability cases resolve during this stage
- If the insurer refuses to offer a fair amount, the case is filed in court and prepared for trial
Tennessee’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including slip and fall cases, is one year from the date of the fall under T.C.A. § 28-3-104.
What Should You Bring to Your Slip and Fall Consultation?
Having documentation ready for your first meeting with a slip and fall attorney allows for a more thorough evaluation.
- Photographs of the hazard, the location of the fall, and your injuries taken as close to the time of the incident as possible
- The incident report filed with the property owner, business, or landlord
- Medical records and bills for all treatment related to the fall
- The shoes and clothing you were wearing at the time, which may be relevant to the property owner’s comparative fault defense
- Any correspondence from the property owner’s insurance company
We provide free consultations for Nashville slip and fall cases. During the meeting, we review the facts, discuss Tennessee premises liability law, and explain what options are available to you.
What Are Important Tennessee Legal Resources for Slip and Fall Cases?
Tennessee premises liability law requires property owners to maintain reasonably safe conditions for invited visitors. The following resources are helpful starting points for anyone injured in a fall on someone else’s property in Nashville.
- The Tennessee General Assembly publishes the Tennessee Code, including statutes addressing premises liability, the duty of care owed to different categories of visitors, and the limitations period for personal injury claims
- The CDC falls prevention page provides data on fall-related injuries and fatalities across the United States
- OSHA publishes workplace safety standards relevant to construction site falls and employer obligations
- Tennessee’s statute of limitations for slip and fall injury claims is one year from the date of the fall under T.C.A. § 28-3-104
- The state’s modified comparative fault rule under T.C.A. § 29-11-103 reduces compensation by the injured person’s share of fault and bars recovery at 50 percent or above
Reach Out to Patterson Bray PLLC to Schedule a Consultation
If you were injured in a slip and fall on someone else’s property in Nashville, TN, Patterson Bray PLLC can evaluate your claim. We offer free consultations, handle every premises liability case on a contingency basis, and charge no fees unless we recover on your behalf. Contact us to schedule a meeting with a slip and fall lawyer who will take the time to understand what happened.


