Frequently Asked Questions

In most Tennessee personal injury cases, you have one year from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit, one of the shortest deadlines in the country (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104). A few situations can shift that date, but they are the exception, not the rule. Talking to a lawyer early protects both the deadline and the evidence.

Labrum Law Firm handles injury cases on a contingency fee: the consultation is free, you pay nothing up front, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. You’ll see the fee agreement in writing before anything begins, so there are no surprises.

Check for injuries and call 911, then get medical care even if you feel fine, because some injuries show up days later. If you safely can, photograph the vehicles and the scene, collect witness contact information, and get the police report number. Avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before you understand your rights. Our Nashville car accident lawyer page has a complete guide.

There is no honest formula. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical treatment and bills, lost income, how the crash happened, and the insurance coverage available. A careful evaluation uses your medical records, wage documentation, and evidence of how the injury affects your daily life. No credible lawyer promises a number up front. Our car accident practice page explains what goes into it.

It depends on your medical recovery, the evidence, and how the insurer responds. Many claims resolve within months once treatment is complete and damages are documented; cases that require filing a lawsuit take longer. Settling before you know the full extent of your injuries is usually the costlier mistake.

Tennessee uses modified comparative fault. If you were less than 50% at fault, you can still recover, and your compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. At 50% or more, you recover nothing, which is exactly why insurance companies work so hard to shift blame. Organizing photos, witness statements, and records early keeps your percentage honest.

The liability insurance of the driver who caused the crash is the usual starting point. Depending on the facts, other sources can apply too, including your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, or a company’s policy when a commercial vehicle is involved. Part of our job is finding every policy that applies. More on our Nashville car accident page.

Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can step in, and it is one of the most important protections on a Tennessee auto policy. There may be other recovery routes depending on the facts. Bring your policy’s declarations page to the consultation and we will walk through exactly what applies.

Riders often face real bias from insurers who assume the motorcyclist was reckless, and injuries tend to be more severe. A strong claim is built on early evidence, thorough medical documentation, and a clear liability theory. If you were hurt riding in Nashville, start with our motorcycle accident lawyer page.

Truck crashes can involve several responsible parties, including the driver, the trucking company, maintenance contractors, and cargo loaders, along with layered insurance coverage. Critical evidence like driver logs and onboard data can disappear quickly, so preservation letters go out fast. Learn more on our truck accident lawyer page.

Pedestrian collisions often mean serious injuries and long recoveries. These claims typically turn on roadway evidence, witness accounts, and medical proof of your damages. Tennessee’s comparative fault rule applies here too, so documenting what actually happened matters. Our pedestrian accident lawyer page explains what matters most.

Get medical care as soon as possible and follow through with every recommended test and treatment. Brain injuries are often invisible at first, and the medical record you build early becomes the backbone of the claim. For more on these cases, see our brain injury lawyer page.

Tennessee law holds dog owners responsible in many situations, and the details depend on where and how the bite happened. Document the incident, identify the owner, and get medical care promptly, because infection and scarring risks are real, especially for children. Our dog bite lawyer page covers the next steps.

When a death is caused by someone’s negligence, Tennessee law allows certain surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim. These cases carry their own deadlines and their own rules about who may file, so early guidance protects the family’s rights. Learn more on our wrongful death lawyer page.

Most injury cases settle without a trial. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, filing suit is what moves the claim forward, and most Nashville cases are filed in Davidson County Circuit Court. We prepare every case as if it will be tried, because that preparation is what produces fair settlement offers.