Distracted Driving Lawyers in Murfreesboro

What the Hands-Free Tennessee Act prohibits

The Hands-Free Tennessee Act at T.C.A. Section 55-8-199 makes it unlawful to hold a phone or any wireless device while driving, to write or read a text, or to watch or record video from behind the wheel. A driver who breaks that law and causes a crash has committed a plain act of negligence, and we use that violation as the foundation for proving fault.

Proving the distraction after the fact

Drivers rarely admit they looked away, so the proof usually comes from the record around the crash. Phone logs, app activity, in-car and roadside camera footage, and witness accounts can each reveal where the driver's attention was. We move quickly to request and preserve those records before they are erased.

The one-year deadline to file

An injured person in Tennessee has one year from the date of the crash to bring suit under T.C.A. Section 28-3-104. That is a narrow window for a case that leans on records held by phone companies and other third parties. We open the investigation early so the evidence of distraction is secured while it still exists.

The fifty percent rule and the excuses that follow

The fifty percent bar from McIntyre v. Balentine wipes out a recovery for anyone half or more at fault and reduces it for a smaller share. A distracted driver will often try to turn the story around on you to dodge responsibility. We meet that with the phone and app evidence that shows who was actually watching the road.

Distraction is more than a phone

Texting draws the headlines, but a driver can be just as distracted programming a navigation system, eating, reaching for something, grooming, or working an infotainment screen. Any of these can pull a driver's eyes and mind from the road long enough to cause real harm, and each can support a negligence claim even with no phone involved. We look at everything that took the driver's focus away.

Serving crash victims across Rutherford County

We represent people hurt by distracted drivers throughout Rutherford County and the surrounding communities, including Smyrna, La Vergne, and Eagleville. The most serious injuries are transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, the region's Level I trauma center, and we help clients across Middle Tennessee pursue full recovery.

Talk to a Murfreesboro distracted driving lawyer

If a distracted driver caused your injuries, call (615) 880-6327 for a free and confidential case review. Our fee comes only out of a recovery, so you owe nothing up front.

Speak with a Murfreesboro distracted driving attorney

Tennessee's hands-free law hands an injured person a strong way to prove a distracted driver was at fault, but the evidence disappears quickly. If a distracted driver hurt you around Murfreesboro, call (615) 880-6327 now for a free review of your claim. We handle these cases on a contingency fee, with no charge unless we recover for you.

Common questions

How can you show the other driver was on a phone?

Phone records and app data can reveal calls, texts, and screen use at the moment of the crash, and we can obtain them through the legal process. Traffic and dashboard cameras, along with witnesses, often fill in the rest. We act early so this evidence is preserved.

Is holding a phone while driving actually illegal in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee's hands-free law bars holding a phone or device while driving, as well as texting and watching video. A driver who breaks the law and causes a crash has committed a clear act of negligence that strengthens your claim.

What if the driver was distracted by something other than a phone?

A claim may still be available. Distraction from eating, grooming, a navigation screen, or the infotainment system counts as negligence just as texting does. We look into whatever pulled the driver's attention from the road and use it to prove fault.