Memphis Personal Injury
Experience, Compassion, Commitment
Memphis Personal Injury & Accident Attorneys
Were you or a loved one injured near Memphis or Shelby County, TN?
You don't have to navigate your recovery alone. Our award-winning law firm has represented Tennessee families for over 40 years.
The population of Memphis and Shelby County as a whole has steadily grown for the last 70 years, and this trend shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. With more people comes more opportunities for businesses, jobs and the community. However, it also leads to more traffic and higher rates of accidents and injuries.
Take crash data, for instance.
According to the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, Shelby County ranked number 2 in the state for the highest overall crash rate from 2015 to 2019. (source)
Auto accidents are just one of the many common causes of personal injury. As the local economy has grown and the city has become a hub of commerce in the southeast, Memphis has simultaneously seen rising rates of claims related to workers' compensation, defective products, premises liability, medical malpractice and more.
At Gilreath & Associates, our Memphis injury attorneys have proudly served residents of Memphis, Shelby County and West Tennessee for over 40 years. In that time, Gilreath lawyers have been successful in thousands of cases, helping clients receive just 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 Memphis accident lawyers to discuss your legal options and seek justice in your case.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Personal injury is a broad area of law, with specialty practice areas ranging from auto accidents to medical malpractice. When searching for the best Memphis personal injury attorney, it's important that the lawyer you choose has both experience and knowledge in delivering results in cases similar to yours. This helps improve the likelihood of reaching a favorable outcome in your case and maximizes your odds of success.
Over the last decades, our Memphis law office has delivered positive outcomes in a wide variety of personal injury cases for our clients, including:
Car Accidents
More than 100 car accidents happen every day in and around Memphis, on average. Some of these crashes are serious, involving catastrophic injuries and even death. Over 1,100 people died on Tennessee roads in 2019. Our Tennessee car accident lawyers have secured positive verdicts and settlements for many clients, ranging from $15,000 to $5 million. Whether your injury was caused by a distracted driver, hit and run, uninsured driver or another cause, we can help.
Truck Accidents
Tennessee is ranked 6th in the nation in ton-miles of freight carried by trucks and the value of commodities carried by trucks. With busy highways and interstates like I-40, I-240, I-55 and I-59 packed with commercial trucks, semis and tractor-trailers, Memphis drivers experience a higher risk of a truck accident injury or fatality. Our law firm has secured sizable payouts for truck accident victims across the state, including a $2 million settlement for a family rear-ended by a tractor-trailer.
Motorcycle Accidents
Shelby County ranked as the number 1 county in the state for the number of motorcycle crashes in 2018, and the county had the 4th highest average crash rate from 2015-2019 with around 285 motorcycle accidents per year. Motorcycle wrecks are often serious, which is why our Memphis law firm seeks to help injured motorists through skillful representation and fighting against the negative bias commonly experienced by motorcyclists.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents
In the last decade (between 2010 and 2020), 358 pedestrians and 96 cyclists were involved in traffic crashes in Shelby County—the highest of any county in Tennessee by a long shot. These types of collisions often result in catastrophic injuries and higher fatality rates since pedestrians and bicyclists have little protection. At Gilreath & Associates, we regularly represent individuals and families who are seeking justice and compensation from an at-fault driver.
Aviation Accidents
From Memphis International to Delta Regional, there are several airports in and around Shelby County. Our attorneys have successfully resolved countless aviation accident cases, including fatal and non-fatal crashes due to pilot error and/or faulty maintenance and repair by FOBs of certified aircraft mechanics. Sid Gilreath, our founder, is a licensed pilot who has logged more than 4,000 hours as a pilot-in-command and he's a member of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association.
Medical Malpractice
Due to the high concentration of nationally-recognized hospitals and health facilities in the Memphis Medical District (including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Regional One Health, Methodist University Hospital and Baptist Memorial Hospital), the city is a hub for healthcare and bioscience. Our Tennessee medical malpractice attorneys have resolved a number of medical negligence cases in the area, such as $7.6 million to a woman paralyzed during neck surgery and $3 million to a child severely disabled at birth due to medical error.
Defective Products
Memphis is home to a number of major medical manufacturers, including Medtronic, Smith & Nephew, Microport, Wright Medical Group and Olympus. Gilreath attorneys have served as lead counsel in several high-profile defective medical device and unsafe pharmaceutical drug cases. In addition, we've represented clients suffering from many other defective products and we are prepared to help you. For example, we secured $44 million for a child who was paralyzed due to a defective seat belt system.
Premises Liability (Slip and Falls)
Tennessee premises liability laws can be difficult to decipher when it comes to cases involving a slip and fall, swimming pool accident, negligent security, dog bite or animal attack. Our Memphis slip and fall lawyers have experience in these complex types of cases. In the past, we've won $600,000 for a person who was injured due to falling on improperly stacked merchandise at a retail store, $500,000 for a teenager with a broken back caused by a climbing wall support system that failed and more.
Workers' Compensation
Over 70,000 non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported among Tennessee's private industry and government employers in 2016. The industries with the highest injury rates included local government, education and health services, transportation and manufacturing—all industries with a heavy presence in Memphis and Shelby County. Gilreath & Associates has obtained settlements and verdicts ranging from $5,000 for a hand injury to awards of lifetime disability and medical benefits for catastrophically injured workers.
Railroad Injuries (FELA)
The proud history of the railroad industry in Memphis goes way back to the completion of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in 1857, which was the first railroad in the U.S. to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mississippi River. Nowadays, companies like BNSF Railway, River City Railroad and others employ thousands of people in the area. Our attorneys regularly help injured railroad workers file FELA claims. For example, we secured $2.25 million for a railroad worker who lost his leg after being crushed by a train wheel assembly.
Toxic Exposure (Torts)
With nearby chemical plants like Du Pont, Penn A Kem and Delta, as well as many other industrial factories, Memphis residents frequently approach our firm about filing chemical exposure lawsuits (also known as "toxic torts"). We've been proud to serve numerous plaintiffs in these complex cases—including securing $21 million for multiple residents who were exposed to toxic chemical waste via air and water. We also won $10.5 million for multiple residents exposed to toxic chemical waste in groundwater, which was affirmed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Wrongful Death
There's no greater injury than a loss of life. When grieving individuals and families in Memphis, and across the state, tragically lose a loved one due to the negligence of a person or company, our compassionate wrongful death attorneys are here to help make sure that justice is served and just compensation is granted. Whether your loved one's death happened in an auto accident, due to medical negligence or while they were on the job, let us help you secure your family's financial future.
Personal Injury: Verdicts & Settlements
Case
Truck AccidentVerdict
$2 million to family rear-endedby tractor-trailer
Case
Medical MalpracticeVerdict
$7.6 million to woman paralyzedduring neck surgery
Case
Defective Product - Seat Belt SystemVerdict
$44 million recovered forparalyzed child
Case
Railroad Injury (FELA)Verdict
$2.25 million to railroad worker who lost his leg after being crushed by train wheel assemblyCase
Toxic ExposureVerdict
$21 million to multiple residents exposed to toxic chemical waste via air and waterCase
Slip and Fall (Premises Liability)Verdict
$600,000 to person injured due to falling or improperly stacked merchandise at retail storeTennessee Personal Injury Laws: Deadlines and Damages
Personal injury lawsuits and cases have deadlines, known as the "statute of limitations." These time limits vary by state and depend on the type of case you wish to file. Tennessee is one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit.
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.
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 only a few exceptions to these deadlines. If you delay too long and the statute of limitations expires on your case, then you will be barred from pursuing compensation regardless of whether or not your case is justified. This is one of the most important reasons why you should consult with an attorney near you as soon as possible.
The sooner you schedule a consultation at our Memphis law office, the sooner we can start building a strong case and secure the best possible outcome.
If your case is filed in time, you may be eligible for a number of damages to provide financial compensation for:
- 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
Tennessee also places certain limitations on how much compensation you can recover. These damage caps apply to non-economic damages only (such as pain and suffering) and are placed 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.
Why Talk to Our Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers?
In the aftermath of a life-changing accident or injury, the physical, emotional and financial pressures you might be facing right now can seem overwhelming. When you should be focusing on your recovery, instead you may be struggling with stress, anxiety and depression about the future. You also might be experiencing anger, confusion and frustration that those responsible for your situation haven't been held accountable for their negligence.
At Gilreath & Associates, we understand the many personal and financial burdens that accident victims face—from medical bills piling up to missing work to learning to live with the new normal post-injury.
We want you to know that you're not alone.
For the last 40+ years, we've stood alongside victims of negligence and fought vigorously for their right to justice and compensation. 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 Memphis on Jefferson Ave., we serve people in West Tennessee and across the southeast 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.
Ready to discuss your case?
Contact our Tennessee personal injury attorneys today for your free consultation.
Frequently Asked Personal Injury Questions
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More Answers to Common Personal Injury Questions
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Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers at Gilreath & Associates offer free and personal consultation to help you evaluate your legal options.
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