Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers

Top-Rated Nashville, Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers

The long road of personal injury litigation is overwhelming for victims, especially those still trying to recover. When the unthinkable happens, our Nashville personal injury lawyers are prepared to take a case from complaint to trial so that you can focus on family, recovery, and rebuilding your life.

Do you have a case?

Understanding Your Personal Injury Claim

While every claim is unique, there are four key elements that are required to bring a successful personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee. Knowing these elements, and how your case can meet each one, will give you an idea of how an experienced attorney will approach your case.

 

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Element 1

Duty of Care

When one party is responsible for an individual’s safety or well-being, they owe that individual a duty of care. Many human relationships establish a duty of care, such as parent/child, doctor/patient, or business/customer relationships.

In order to bring a successful personal injury claim, the first thing a plaintiff must prove is that the defendant owed them a duty of care by assuming some degree of responsibility for the plaintiff’s safety.

Element 2

Breach of Duty

The second element that a personal injury plaintiff must prove is that the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff. A breach occurs when a defendant fails to adequately provide for the plaintiff’s safety, as required by their duty of care. Examples of such breaches include unmarked wet surfaces in a grocery store, a doctor operating on the wrong limb, or a driver running a red light.

Element 3

Damages

A plaintiff must be able to show some type of damages in order to bring a personal injury claim. Damages may include pain and suffering, medical expenses, psychological or emotional trauma, or permanent disability.  Obtaining your medical records and bills will be crucial to your personal injury lawsuit.

Even if a defendant breaches their duty of care, a plaintiff will not have a valid personal injury claim if no damages are shown. Likewise, if the damages are very small—a few bruises or scratches—it is generally not worth the time and expense to bring a personal injury lawsuit.

 

Element 4

Causation

Finally, a plaintiff must prove that their damages were caused by the defendant’s breach of duty. The causation element is the link between the defendant’s wrongful action and the plaintiff’s harm; if no causation can be shown, then the defendant’s act and the plaintiff’s harm are unrelated, and the plaintiff cannot recover.

When establishing causation, a plaintiff must show that the defendant’s action was both the proximate or legal cause, as well as the “but-for” or actual cause, of the plaintiff’s harm. Proximate cause means that the defendant’s action was sufficient to cause the plaintiff’s harm, and “but-for” cause means that the plaintiff’s harm would not have occurred without the defendant’s action. If a plaintiff cannot prove both proximate and “but-for” cause, the link between the defendant’s action and the plaintiff’s harm will not be strong enough to support a personal injury claim.

What are the stages of a personal injury lawsuit?

For a detailed description of the stages of a personal injury lawsuit, please check out this post, which includes a video.  Our Nashville personal injury lawyers will:

  • Investigate your case
  • Identify all potential defendants
  • Prepare your lawsuit
  • Handle all stages of your lawsuit, including discovery, despoitions, motions
  • Prepare your case for settlement or mediation, and
  • Prepare your case for trial

What do I need to know about Tennessee law for my personal injury case?

Here are four important things to know about Tennessee law for your personal injury case in Nashville or any of the surrounding areas.

  • The Statute of Limitations is generally one year
  • There are caps on damages you can recover
  • The jury must be unanimous in your case
  • Tennessee follows the rule of modified comparative fault

For a deeper explanation of the concepts above, click here and watch the video at the link.

What areas of Tennessee do your personal injury lawyers serve?

Our Nashville personal injury law firm provides services throughout the entire state of Tennessee.  Below is a non-exhaustive list of Tennessee towns, counties, and cities, where we have helped injured Tennesseeans get the justice they deserve:

 

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Over $500 Million
Recovered Since 1993

We've Helped Thousands of People Just Like You

We are known for getting life-changing results and fighting to make our communities safer.

Why Choose Us As Your Nashville Personal Injury Attorney

With us on your side, you can focus on what’s most important – your recovery.

Decades Of Experience

Decades Of Experience

Our Nashville personal injury and accident attorneys have over 75 years of combined practice handling cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, civil rights, medical device lawsuits, wrongful death, trucking accidents, and much more.

Excellent Reputation

Excellent Reputation

DRS Law is a well-respected Nashville personal injury law firm. For over 35 years, our founder, David Randolph Smith, has been named as a Mid-South Super Lawyer and one of the best personal injury attorneys in Nashville and Tennessee.

Small Case Volume

Small Case Volume

Unlike many Nashville personal injury lawyers who handle a large volume of cases, we concentrate on a select few cases. As a result, we ensure that every step is taken to obtain the most favorable outcomes for our clients.

We Prepare For Trial

We Prepare For Trial

To maximize the recovery for our clients, we prepare every case meticulously for trial. Because of this dedicated approach, we have obtained multi-million-dollar settlements and judgments in a variety of personal injury cases.

What to Expect

Our Legal Services Are Completely Personalized To You And Your Unique Needs

01  Free Consultation

Our dedicated personal injury and accident lawyers provide free, no-pressure case evaluations. We will help you determine if you have a case and will answer all your questions in plain English. We never charge any fees until we win your case.

 

02  Personalized Service

If we take your case, it’s because we believe we can help you. We will get to work outlining a strategic plan of action. We want you to feel taken care of during this difficult time — whatever questions you have, we’re here with answers. Frequent check-ins ensure you are comfortable with the progress of your case.

03  You Get Paid

We are passionate about the success of your case and will give it the close attention and focus it deserves. We find solutions that other lawyers miss, discovering key facts that help you win. We call upon our gifts in storytelling to argue your case with passion and conviction so you get the compensation and justice you deserve.

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