Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Chattanooga

The one-year window to bring a pedestrian claim

Tennessee law under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104 gives an injured pedestrian only one year from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit, one of the shortest deadlines in the nation, and it does not pause while you recover. Camera footage from downtown businesses and the tourist corridors is often overwritten within days. We begin investigating immediately to preserve the evidence and protect the deadline.

How the fifty percent bar can end a pedestrian claim

In Tennessee a pedestrian who is fifty percent or more at fault recovers nothing, and the driver's insurer builds its case around getting you there. Under the modified comparative fault rule from McIntyre v. Balentine, anything below fifty percent still allows recovery, reduced by your share, but at the line the claim ends. Adjusters reflexively argue that the pedestrian stepped out suddenly or crossed against the signal. We gather the evidence that shows the driver was the one who failed to look. The most seriously injured are treated at Erlanger Baroness Hospital, the region's only Level I trauma center.

Downtown crossings, tourist crowds, and the riverfront

The busiest pedestrian areas in Chattanooga mix large crowds with drivers hunting for parking and looking at the scenery instead of the crosswalk. Around the aquarium, the riverfront, and the Bluff View district, a driver rolling through a crossing or turning without looking can seriously hurt someone on foot. We investigate the specific crossing, the signals, and the driver's conduct to establish exactly how the collision happened.

Which state's law applies near the Georgia line

Chattanooga borders Georgia, and its southern suburbs cross the line. Where a pedestrian is struck decides which state's law governs. A collision on the Tennessee side falls under Tennessee's one-year deadline, while one on the Georgia side near Rossville or Fort Oglethorpe is governed by Georgia law and a two-year deadline. We determine exactly where you were hit and apply the law that protects your claim.

Serving injured pedestrians across Southeast Tennessee

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

Reports, treatment, and filing your case

A pedestrian crash inside the city is investigated by the Chattanooga Police Department, which prepares the official report, one in the unincorporated county by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, and one on a highway by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. We help you obtain your report and your records from Erlanger, and when a fair settlement cannot be reached, we file your lawsuit in Hamilton County Circuit Court.

Contact a Chattanooga pedestrian injury attorney

If a driver's carelessness left you injured, you deserve dedicated legal help, and Tennessee's one-year deadline means you have limited time to act. Call (844) 876-4357 for a free, confidential case review. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Speak with a Chattanooga pedestrian accident attorney

Common questions

I was struck downtown near the aquarium while visiting Chattanooga. Can I still bring a claim if I live out of state?

Yes. Where you live does not affect your right to recover for a crash that happened in Tennessee. We handle the report, the records, and the claim for injured visitors, and we account for the one-year Tennessee deadline that applies to a crash here.

The driver says I stepped out against the signal. Is my claim over?

No. A driver always has a duty to exercise care to avoid hitting a pedestrian, and how you entered the crossing is one factor a jury weighs, not an automatic bar. We evaluate the driver's speed, attention, and the signal timing to determine the strongest path forward.

What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?

If the driver was uninsured, we look to the uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy, which can apply even when you were injured on foot rather than in your vehicle. We review every policy that might respond to your injuries.