Gilreath & Associates

Nashville Personal Injury Attorneys

Free Consultation

Call Toll Free 800-637-7024

Or fill out the form below.

Injured in Davidson County or Middle Tennessee?

You don't have to navigate your recovery alone.

Our award-winning law firm has represented Tennessee families for over 40 years.


The Nashville-Davidson, Murfreesboro and Franklin area repeatedly ranks among the 10th fastest-growing metros in the United States. The booming local economy, lower cost of living compared to other major cities, good schools and popular attractions have made Music City U.S.A a popular destination spot and—as of 2017—the largest city in Tennessee, followed by Memphis and Knoxville.

With so many people visiting and moving to Nashville each year, it naturally follows that rates of accidents and personal injuries are on the rise as well. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in such an accident, or you lost a spouse or family member due to negligence, you might be searching for the best personal injury law firm in Nashville to give your case the attention, care and dedication it deserves.

Above all else, make sure that the attorney you hire specializes in your specific case type. Just like you wouldn't hire a plumber to fix an electrical issue, don't make the mistake of hiring a criminal lawyer for a personal injury legal matter.

At Gilreath & Associates, our Nashville injury attorneys have proudly served residents of Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro and Davidson County for over 40 years. From our law office conveniently located in downtown Nashville, across from Public Square Park and 2 blocks from the Cumberland River, our experienced lawyers have successfully resolved thousands of personal injury cases, helping clients receive maximum compensation for their injuries and restore their quality of life.

If you or a loved one have suffered a personal injury due to negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss.

Contact our Nashville accident lawyers to discuss your legal options and seek justice in your case.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Awards
Awards

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

The term "personal injury" encompasses a wide range of civil (non-criminal) cases. Whether your physical, emotional or financial injury arose from personal injury, a defective product, medical malpractice, a workplace accident or an auto wreck, it's important to find an attorney near you who specializes in your type of case to improve the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

Over the last few decades, our Nashville law office has delivered positive outcomes in a wide variety of personal injury cases for our clients:

Personal Injury: Verdicts & Settlements

Case
Truck Accident

Verdict

$2 million to family rear-ended by tractor-trailer

Case
Medical Malpractice

Verdict

$7.6 million to woman paralyzed during neck surgery

Case
Defective Product - Seat Belt System

Verdict

$44 million recovered for paralyzed child

Case
Railroad Injury (FELA)

Verdict

$2.25 million to railroad worker who lost his leg after being crushed by train wheel assembly

Case
Toxic Exposure

Verdict

$21 million to multiple residents exposed to toxic chemical waste via air and water

Case
Slip and Fall (Premises Liability)

Verdict

$600,000 to person injured due to falling or improperly stacked merchandise at retail store

Tennessee Negligence and Comparative Liability Laws

How to determine fault in a Nashville accident


Reckless. Careless. Irresponsible. Stupid. These are terms you might use when someone else's actions (or failure to act) result in a serious injury to you or a loved one. In the legal world, "negligence" is the word used as a basis for most personal injury torts.

In Tennessee, you must prove 4 distinct elements to established negligence in your personal injury claim:

  1. Duty. That there was a duty of care owed by the defendant to the plaintiff (the injury victim).
  2. Breach. That the conduct of the defendant fell below a reasonable standard of care that amounted to a breach of that duty.
  3. Causation. That the breach of duty was the cause of the damage.
  4. Damages. That the breach of duty resulted in quantifiable injury or loss.

What's more, each state follows 1 of 4 systems for assigning a percentage (or degree) of liability. Tennessee follows the comparative fault 50 percent rule, which means damages for personal injury claims arising out of negligence are reduced by the plaintiff's degree of fault (as determined by a judge or jury). If the plaintiff is 50% or more at fault for the injury (assuming there are 2 parties), then they are banned from recovering damages.

For example, if a person suffers a traumatic brain injury in a truck accident on I-40 and sues the truck driver for $100,000, the judge may find that the plaintiff is 20 percent responsible. Therefore, the plaintiff would only be able to recover a maximum of 80 percent of his damages ($80,000). If, on the other hand, the plaintiff was determined to be 50 percent at fault for the truck collision, he would be barred from pursuing any damages whatsoever under Tennessee's comparative fault law.

In personal injury cases, fault is not always easy to prove. Our injury attorneys can present key facts to support your negligence claim through police reports, witness statements, photographs and video, cell phone data and other evidence to establish liability against the other party.

Tennessee Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

How long do you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Davidson County?


Unfortunately, you don't have all the time in the world to file a personal injury claim for your Nashville accident.

Under Tennessee law (TN Code § 28-3-104), most personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within 1 year from the date the accident happened. Property damage claims must be filed within 3 years.

The statute of repose for medical malpractice cases is 3 years from the date you suffered your injury.

Any product liability action against a manufacturer or seller in Tennessee must be brought within 6 years of the date of the injury—or 10 years from the date on which the product was first purchased or used by the consumer.

There are few exceptions to these deadlines.

The sooner you schedule a consultation at our law office, the sooner we can start building a strong case and secure the best possible outcome.

Tennessee Personal Injury Damages

What compensation can you receive in your Nashville accident lawsuit?


Once your lawsuit is filed within the statute of limitations and negligence is established, personal injury plaintiffs can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. These damages will reimburse you for any and all "costs" related to your accident, including:

  • Medical expenses (past and future)
  • Lost wages (past and future)
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Funeral and burial expenses (in the event of wrongful death)
  • Punitive damages

It's important to realize that Tennessee places certain "caps" on how much you can receive in your lawsuit. These monetary limits apply to non-economic damages only (such as pain and suffering) and are capped at $750,000. However, this cap can be raised to $1 million in cases involving catastrophic injuries (such as amputation, paralysis, severe burns) and wrongful death.

Calculating the true value of your case can be challenging when you factor in non-economic damages and future economic damages. Our attorneys are skilled at making sure you get the best possible settlement or outcome in your case.

Take the Next Step

Talk to Us About Your Personal Injury Case Today


We understand that this is probably a difficult time for you and your family. Following a life-changing accident or injury, you undoubtedly feel immense pressure, stress and worry about the future of your physical, emotional and financial well-being. The added stress of a legal battle can seem overwhelming.

Unfortunately, the statute of limitations doesn't wait for you to fully heal and recover, so it's vital you act now. The longer you delay, the more challenges your case must overcome.

At Gilreath & Associates, we serve personal injury and accident victims across Tennessee by helping them navigate the complicated legal system in order to secure the financial compensation they are entitled to—that way they can get back to focusing on their recovery. When you hire us, you can rest easy knowing that you're not alone in this fight.

For the last 40+ years, we've dedicated our entire practice to seeking justice and compensation for our clients. Whether it's holding a private individual or deep-pocketed corporations accountable for your damages, we aren't afraid to go after any at-fault party.

Personal injury plaintiffs commonly find themselves at a disadvantage when they're forced to go head-to-head against massive insurance companies and wealthy companies that spare no expense to dispute their claim. Right now, these teams of corporate attorneys are looking for any misstep or mistake to dismiss your case (such as a missed deadline or incorrect paperwork), and they'll go to great lengths to conceal the true value of your claim and convince you to settle far below what your case is really worth.

By hiring an experienced and professional attorney to represent you, you can even the playing field and turn the odds of winning in your favor.

From our law office in the heart of downtown Nashville in the Stahlman building, we serve residents in Davidson County and across Middle Tennessee by securing the best possible outcome in their personal injury and accident cases. When you're ready to learn more about how we can help you, we invite you to reach out.