Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Knoxville

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. It is one of the shortest deadlines in the nation, and it does not wait while you recover from serious injuries. Evidence such as storefront and traffic camera video is also often overwritten within days, so we begin our investigation immediately to preserve the facts 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 was not paying attention. We gather the evidence that shows the driver was the one who failed to look.

Foot traffic around the University of Tennessee

The area around the University of Tennessee mixes a huge student population on foot with heavy vehicle traffic, tight parking, and drivers in a hurry. Students crossing between campus and nearby housing, especially at night, are at real risk when a driver rolls through a crossing or turns without looking. We investigate the specific intersection or crossing where you were hit, including the signals, the lighting, and the driver's conduct, to establish exactly how the collision happened.

Pedestrian danger in the Smokies tourist corridors

In Sevier County, the roads through Pigeon Forge and Sevierville carry constant foot traffic from visitors crossing between attractions, often unfamiliar with the area and watching the sights instead of the traffic. Drivers who do not know the roads add to the danger. A pedestrian struck in one of these corridors can suffer catastrophic injury, and we pursue the driver and any other responsible party to secure the resources needed for recovery.

Serving injured pedestrians across East Tennessee

Our Knoxville team represents injured pedestrians across Knox, Blount, Sevier, Anderson, Loudon, Roane, Jefferson, and Union counties. We handle claims for people hurt in Knoxville, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Farragut, Clinton, Lenoir City, Sevierville, Alcoa, Pigeon Forge, and Powell.

Reports, trauma care, and filing your case

A pedestrian crash in Knoxville is investigated by the Knoxville Police Department, which prepares the official report, and the most seriously injured victims are treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, the region's Level I trauma center. We help you obtain your report and records, and when a fair settlement cannot be reached, we file your lawsuit in Knox County Circuit Court.

Contact a Knoxville pedestrian injury attorney

If a driver's carelessness left you injured, you deserve dedicated legal help and you have limited time to act. Call (865) 674-4960 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 Knoxville pedestrian accident attorney

Common questions

I was hit as a student walking near campus at night. Does poor lighting help or hurt my case?

Inadequate lighting usually helps establish why a driver failed to see you, and it can also point to responsibility beyond the driver. We examine the lighting and the design of the crossing as part of proving how and why the collision happened.

I was struck while visiting Pigeon Forge and have already gone home to another state. Can you still handle my claim?

Yes. Because the crash happened in Tennessee, your claim proceeds here, and we can obtain the local police report and medical records and manage the case on your behalf while you recover at home. Just be aware the one-year Tennessee deadline still applies.

The driver says I was jaywalking. Is my claim over?

No. A driver always has a duty to exercise due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian, and where you crossed is one factor a jury weighs, not an automatic bar to recovery. We evaluate the full circumstances to determine the strongest path forward.