Nashville Wrongful Death Lawyer

Were you injured in a wrongful death accident in Nashville?

At Patterson Bray PLLC, we are wrongful death lawyers who pursue full recovery for injured clients and their families.

If someone you love was killed because of another person’s negligence or reckless conduct, the grief alone is overwhelming. Adding financial pressure from medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost household income makes it worse. A Nashville, TN wrongful death lawyer at Patterson Bray PLLC can help your family pursue accountability and compensation. We have represented plaintiffs in serious injury and death cases for over 20 years, and we handle wrongful death claims on a contingency-fee basis with no upfront costs.

Wrongful Death Lawyer Nashville, TN

A wrongful death claim arises when a person dies as a result of another party’s wrongful act, omission, or negligence. Under Tennessee law, the right of action that the deceased would have had passes to specific surviving family members, allowing them to seek compensation for both the losses the deceased suffered and the impact of the death on the family.

These cases carry legal and emotional weight that personal injury claims do not. The person who was harmed cannot speak for themselves, so the evidence, the testimony, and the legal strategy have to be built around what can be documented and proven. A wrongful death attorney in Nashville can guide a family through that process while they are still grieving.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Nashville

Fatal incidents can result from many forms of negligent or reckless conduct. The cause of death shapes the investigation, the liable parties, and the damages surviving family members can pursue. Our attorneys handle wrongful death cases throughout Nashville, TN and the surrounding areas.

Car accidents. Motor vehicle collisions are among the most common causes of wrongful death in Tennessee. Speeding, impaired driving, running red lights, and distracted driving contribute to fatal crashes across Nashville every year. We investigate the full circumstances of the collision to identify all liable parties.
Truck accidents. A crash involving a commercial truck or 18-wheeler is more likely to be fatal due to the size and weight disparity between commercial vehicles and passenger cars. Trucking companies, drivers, and maintenance providers may all share liability depending on the facts.
Motorcycle accidents. Fatal motorcycle crashes often involve a driver who failed to yield, turned into the rider’s path, or did not check mirrors before changing lanes. We work to hold negligent drivers accountable when a rider’s life is lost.
Pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle has almost no physical protection from the impact. According to NHTSA crash data, pedestrian fatalities remain a significant portion of all traffic deaths nationwide. We represent families who have lost a loved one in these collisions.
Bicycle accidents. Cyclists killed by negligent drivers leave behind families who deserve answers and financial support. We handle wrongful death claims arising from bicycle collisions caused by driver inattention, failure to share the road, and dooring incidents.
Medical malpractice. When a healthcare provider’s error leads to a patient’s death, the surviving family may have a wrongful death claim. Misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes, medication errors, and failures in post-operative care are among the circumstances we evaluate.
Workplace accidents. Fatal incidents at construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and industrial operations can give rise to wrongful death claims against third parties other than the employer. These cases often involve defective equipment, unsafe conditions, or contractor negligence.
Defective products. A fatally flawed product, whether a vehicle component, a medical device, or a consumer good, can form the basis of a wrongful death case against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer.

Why Choose Patterson Bray PLLC as My Wrongful Death Lawyer in Nashville, TN?

Decades of Plaintiff-Side Trial Work

Wrongful death litigation demands a different kind of preparation. The stakes are high, the defendants are often well-funded corporations or insured parties, and the emotional toll on the family is constant. Patterson Bray PLLC brings more than two decades of courtroom experience to these cases.

Will Patterson focuses his practice on tort litigation and personal injury, including wrongful death claims. Will has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America across multiple editions for Personal Injury Litigation on behalf of Plaintiffs. He is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Mississippi, and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Eighth Circuits. He earned his J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Freed-Hardeman University.

Chris Patterson, the firm’s Managing Partner, has spent over 20 years litigating catastrophic personal injury and death cases. Chris 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.

Patterson Bray PLLC has helped families recover millions of dollars in wrongful death and personal injury cases in Nashville, TN. We work on a contingency-fee basis. There are no attorney fees unless we obtain a recovery for your family.

What Is Important to Understand About a Wrongful Death Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases

Tennessee law allows surviving family members to recover both the damages the deceased person suffered before death and the losses the family has experienced as a result of the death itself. The categories of compensation in a Nashville wrongful death case can include:

Medical expenses the deceased incurred between the injury and the date of death
Funeral and burial costs
Lost future earnings and benefits the deceased would have provided to the family
Pain and suffering the deceased experienced prior to death
Loss of companionship, consortium, guidance, and parental care
Loss of enjoyment of life

Tennessee’s modified comparative fault rule under T.C.A. § 29-11-103 applies to wrongful death claims. If the deceased bears 50 percent or more of the fault, the family is barred from recovering compensation. Below that threshold, recovery is reduced proportionally.

What Are Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case?

Wrongful death cases differ from personal injury claims in several important ways. Understanding those differences early in the process is essential for families considering legal action.

Determining who has standing to file is the first step. Tennessee law establishes a priority order: the surviving spouse has the first right, followed by children or next of kin, followed by a personal representative of the deceased’s estate
Building the liability case without the testimony of the person who was harmed requires thorough investigation, including accident reconstruction, medical records, witness interviews, and sometimes retained professionals
Quantifying damages involves projecting the deceased’s future earnings, evaluating the financial and emotional support they provided, and documenting the family’s losses over time
In cases involving multiple defendants, each party’s share of fault must be established separately, which adds complexity to both the investigation and any settlement negotiations
The emotional burden on the family throughout litigation is real, and having an attorney who manages the legal demands while the family focuses on healing matters

What Is the Wrongful Death Case Timeline?

Wrongful death cases tend to move more slowly than standard personal injury claims because of the complexity of the evidence and the number of parties involved.

An initial investigation is conducted to gather police reports, medical records, accident scene evidence, and any available surveillance or witness accounts
An estate may need to be opened if one does not already exist, so that a personal representative can be appointed to pursue the claim on the family’s behalf
Once the investigation is complete, a demand is presented to the responsible party’s insurance carrier or legal counsel
Settlement negotiations take place, and a significant number of wrongful death cases resolve at this stage
If a fair resolution is not reached, the case moves to litigation, which includes discovery, depositions, and trial preparation

Tennessee’s statute of limitations under T.C.A. § 28-3-104 gives surviving family members one year from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing that deadline permanently eliminates the right to pursue a claim.

What Should You Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation?

The first meeting with a wrongful death attorney is an opportunity to share what happened and to begin evaluating whether the family has a viable claim. Bringing the following materials, if available, can help:

The death certificate
Any police report, incident report, or accident documentation related to the death
Medical records and bills from the deceased’s treatment prior to death
Information about the deceased’s employment, income, and financial contributions to the household
Any correspondence from insurance companies, opposing attorneys, or government agencies

Patterson Bray PLLC offers free consultations for wrongful death cases. We will review the facts, explain how Tennessee’s wrongful death statutes apply, and outline the steps your family can take to pursue accountability.

What Are Important Tennessee Legal Resources for Wrongful Death Cases?

Families pursuing a wrongful death claim in Nashville should be aware of the state statutes and agencies that govern these cases. The following resources can help you begin to understand your rights.

The Tennessee General Assembly publishes the Tennessee Code, including Title 20, Chapter 5, which addresses wrongful death actions, the order of eligible claimants, and recoverable damages
The Tennessee Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service and public resources on civil litigation procedures in the state
The CDC transportation safety page provides national data on motor vehicle crash fatalities and contributing factors
Tennessee applies a one-year statute of limitations to wrongful death claims, running from the date of death under T.C.A. § 28-3-104
The state’s modified comparative fault rule under T.C.A. § 29-11-103 bars recovery if the deceased bore 50 percent or more of the fault for the incident

Reach Out to Patterson Bray PLLC to Schedule a Consultation

Losing a family member because of someone else’s negligence is something no one should face alone. Patterson Bray PLLC offers free, confidential consultations for families considering a wrongful death claim in Nashville, TN. We charge no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us to schedule a meeting with a wrongful death attorney who will listen to your family’s story and explain the legal options available to you.