Car Accident Lawyers in Chattanooga

Tennessee's one-year deadline is unforgiving

Tennessee gives you just one year from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, one of the shortest deadlines in the country. It extends to two years only if the at-fault driver is criminally charged and that case begins within the first year. Evidence disappears fast, so we begin building the case immediately, before camera footage is overwritten and the vehicles are repaired.

Which state's law applies near the Georgia line

Chattanooga sits right on the Georgia border, and its suburbs of Rossville, Fort Oglethorpe, and Ringgold are across the line in Georgia. Where your crash happened decides which state's law governs, and the difference is significant. A wreck on the Tennessee side falls under Tennessee's one-year deadline, while a crash a few miles south in Georgia is governed by Georgia law and a two-year deadline. We determine exactly where the collision occurred and apply the law that protects your claim.

Tennessee's fifty percent rule

Under the rule from McIntyre v. Balentine, you recover nothing if you are found fifty percent or more at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share below that line. Insurers push blame onto injured drivers to reach that threshold, and we answer with the physical evidence, the crash report, and reconstruction so fault is assigned accurately. The most seriously injured are treated at Erlanger Baroness Hospital, the region's only Level I trauma center.

Serving injured drivers across Southeast Tennessee

Our team represents people injured in crashes throughout the Chattanooga area, handling claims across Hamilton, Bradley, Marion, Sequatchie, Rhea, and Bledsoe counties. We serve drivers hurt in Chattanooga, Cleveland, East Ridge, Red Bank, Soddy-Daisy, Signal Mountain, Collegedale, Ooltewah, and Hixson.

Reports, treatment, and filing your case

A crash inside the city is investigated by the Chattanooga Police Department, one in the unincorporated county by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, and a wreck on I-24, I-75, or US-27 by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. We obtain the correct report along with your records from Erlanger, and when a fair settlement cannot be reached, we file your lawsuit in Hamilton County Circuit Court.

Speak with a Chattanooga car accident attorney

You should not have to fight an insurer while a one-year clock runs. Call (844) 876-4357 for a free consultation about your crash. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Common questions

My crash happened just across the state line in Georgia. Does Tennessee's one-year deadline still apply?

Generally the law of the state where the crash occurred governs, so a collision on the Georgia side is subject to Georgia's rules and its two-year deadline rather than Tennessee's one year. Because Chattanooga's suburbs cross the line, we pin down exactly where the wreck happened and apply the correct state's law.

How soon should I act after a Chattanooga crash?

Right away. Tennessee's one-year deadline is among the shortest in the nation, and the evidence that proves fault, including footage from nearby businesses and the roadway, is often gone within days. Early action lets us preserve it while you focus on recovery.

The other driver's insurer says I was partly at fault. Can I still recover?

Yes, as long as you are less than fifty percent at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your share, so the insurer has an incentive to exaggerate your role. We build the evidence to keep your share as low as the facts allow.