Portland Car Accident Lawyer
There were 350 auto accidents reported in Sumner County in 2023 alone [1], and unfortunately, Portland, TN, was not immune to them. Over our 40 years of legal practice, our personal injury lawyers have handled hundreds of Portland car accident cases, helping victims through the compensation process and ensuring that a negligent driver is held accountable.
A personal injury attorney from Mitch Grissim & Associates ensures that the other driver’s insurance company pays what you deserve and that your legal rights are protected at all steps of the process.
If you’ve been in a serious car accident, contact us at 615-255-9999 or through our contact form for a free consultation. We have built our careers around ensuring that personal injury victims receive justice after devastating motor vehicle accidents.
How Much Does It Cost to Retain Legal Services in Portland, TN?
We represent injured victims on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay nothing out of pocket during the personal injury lawsuit process. We will instead deduct a pre-agreed percentage from your settlement — so we don’t get paid if you don’t win.
You have enough to worry about after an auto accident without paying a Portland personal injury attorney from your own funds. We take care of that for you after the process is completed, helping to ease your stress.
Our Lawyers Seek Every Damage Stemming From Your Portland, Tennessee Car Accident
Your Portland car accident lawyer from Mitch Grissim & Associates will consider every aspect of the car crash, both now and in the future, to ensure that you are completely covered. Some types of compensation that you can receive include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future medical bills
- Loss of earning potential
- Bills from auto repair shops
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In wrongful death cases, we can recover compensation for the deceased’s medical treatment, funeral expenses, lost wages, loss of consortium, and emotional damage.
Types of Claims Our Car Accident Attorneys Handle
Our personal injury lawyers are well-versed in the many types of car accidents that may occur in Portland, TN. Some common types of car accident claims include:
- Head-on collisions – Head-on collisions are some of the most devastating car accidents, often with fatal outcomes. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one, we will help you handle the insurance and legal process, while doing our best to reduce the stress you’re under.
- Intersection accidents – Our team will gather all the evidence and consult our network of accident reconstruction experts to make sure you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve been in an intersection accident.
- Trucking accidents – There were three Portland car accidents involving large trucks that caused serious injuries and death last year alone [2]. As trucking companies sometimes also fail to ensure safety, our experienced attorneys will also seek compensation from them.
- Rideshare accidents – Rideshare drivers are responsible for the safety of their passengers. If you were injured in a rideshare, you need experienced Portland car accident attorneys so you can get maximum compensation.
- Distracted driving cases – In THP District 3, there’s an accident caused by distracted driving every 1 hour 38 minutes [3]. If the other person was texting and it caused you to suffer injury, we will help you get compensation to recover with less stress.
- DUI accidents – There were 166 alcohol- and drug-related car accidents and four fatalities in Sumner County in 2023 [4]. Intoxicated drivers need to be held responsible for their reckless behavior, and we will help you get justice.
- Fatal car accidents – Unfortunately, there were 23 fatal crashes in 2023 in Sumner County [5]. If you lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, we can help you receive compensation so you at least don’t have to worry about finances.
What Should I Do After Suffering a Car Accident in Portland, Tennessee?
As soon as you have been in an auto accident, move the car to a safe place and call the police. You should always stay at the scene until you are cleared to leave by medical personnel.
Gather the contact details of everyone involved, including the at-fault driver, other accident victims, first responders, and eyewitnesses. Take pictures of your injuries and of the damage to all involved vehicles, getting interior and exterior shots if possible.
Even if you believe that you have only minor injuries, you should seek medical attention. Not only do some victims go into shock and not realize that they have severe injuries, but this also helps to improve your case through documentation.
Once you have been cleared by medical staff, you should notify your insurance and then call a Portland car accident attorney from Mitch Grissim & Associates. We will gather details, provide car accident resources, and guide you through the next steps in your case.
Do not speak to the other driver’s insurance company or to others involved in the case. After car crashes, insurance companies will attempt to get you to admit that you were liable, but personal injury lawyers will be able to counter their manipulation and ensure that you are not held responsible for something that was not your fault. Let a Portland car accident lawyer from Mitch Grissim & Associates handle these discussions on your behalf.
Throughout this process, keep all correspondence related to the accident so that we can use the evidence to support your claim.
How Statute of Limitations Impacts Personal Injury Laws
The statute of limitations is essentially an expiration date on when you can file a lawsuit. In Tennessee, this is one year after an accident, including a fatal accident.
However, the statute of limitations extends to two years if the responsible driver is also being held criminally liable for their actions, such as if they were driving drunk.
It’s important to note that much of the time after the accident will be used in negotiating with the insurance companies for a settlement. we understand how stressful a car accident in Portland is and want to reduce the stress for you.
As such, we need to get started right away to ensure that we can file a lawsuit within the time limit, making it critical that you call us as soon as possible.
Discuss Your Case With a Portland Car Accident Attorney
Those harmed by the irresponsible actions of another should not have to pay for their journey toward recovery. We will hold insurance companies and negligent drivers accountable, ensuring that you have the funds you need to heal.
Mitch Grissim & Associates is an award-winning law firm that has been in business for over 40 years, representing hundreds of clients injured in Portland, TN. We are a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating and are ranked as AV Preeminent Lawyers, demonstrating our esteem amongst our peers.
We want to help you recover in comfort, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis. You pay us nothing upfront, and we deduct our legal fees from your settlement. Clients appreciate our prompt, compassionate communication and our fierce dedication to victims, always prioritizing their needs.
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle crash in Portland, TN, or throughout the Middle Tennessee area, call us at 615-255-9999 right away to discuss your options for compensation. You can contact us any time through our website to share details of your case.
We look forward to helping you get justice for a car accident, leveraging our years of experience for your benefit.
FAQs
How much to expect from a car accident settlement in Tennessee?
There is no set amount for an accident, though there is a non-economic damage cap of $750,000 for most cases and $1 million for catastrophic injury or wrongful death.
A main factor is how many expenses you had related to the injury. If you had serious injuries and were out of work for months while undergoing expensive treatments, you will receive more than someone who only had a broken arm. Similarly, if you were disabled to the point that you could no longer perform your occupation, you would get a higher settlement.
The other person’s insurance coverage will partially dictate how much you can receive. If they have comprehensive bodily injury/liability coverage, then you can expect to receive more than if the motorist was uninsured.
When you speak to a member of our team, we will explain the factors that will contribute to your settlement and share what we believe you may be eligible for based on our experience.
Is Tennessee a no-fault state for car accidents?
No, Tennessee is not a no-fault state. As an at-fault state, Tennessee works on modified comparative negligence, meaning that a personal injury case always involves finding out who was at fault and to what extent.
In complex car accident cases, there may be numerous people who all share part of the blame and, thus, part of the responsibility for paying an injury claim.
What is the Tennessee Law on Car Accidents?
Firstly, any car accident that results in death or serious injury must be reported to the police as soon as possible. Anyone who has been in a wreck should file a police report, regardless of its severity. An accident will stay on your driving record for three years, though tickets will remain on your record indefinitely.
Tennessee is an at-fault state, which means that the person who is held responsible will have to pay the damages. This differs from a no-fault state, where all drivers involved in a wreck file separately with their own insurance companies. This makes it easier to recover damages from a negligent driver than it would be in a no-fault state.
In terms of the personal injury process, Tennessee uses the 49% rule, meaning that a person who was less than 50% responsible for an accident can claim damages. Your damages will then be reduced proportionate to the blame that you share.
How long after a car accident can you claim injury in Tennessee?
The statute of limitations for a Tennessee car accident is one year, or two years if the defendant is held criminally liable in a separate case. This means that any lawsuits must be filed within 1 year of the accident date, regardless of whether it was a fatal or non-fatal wreck.
Because your lawyer will spend much of this time trying to negotiate with insurance before choosing to file a lawsuit, you need to begin the process as soon as possible to ensure that you can recover damages.
What causes most collisions in Portland, TN?
Distracted driving is the number one cause of accidents in Portland and one of the top causes of car accidents nationwide. While most people think of texting and driving, this also includes talking on a hands-free device, checking directions on your phone, chatting with a passenger, eating or drinking, and changing the radio station. Anything that takes your attention off the road, even for a few seconds, is considered a distraction.
The second most common cause of accidents is speeding, which reduces your ability to stop should there be a sudden road hazard. Speeding is sadly quite prevalent — 9 in 10 drivers admit to speeding at least once, particularly if they are attempting to beat a red light. Following the speed limit is a crucial way to prevent accidents.
What to do if the other driver is uninsured?
If you have uninsured motorist coverage (UIM), then your insurance will cover care for injuries sustained in the accident. Your general insurance will take care of car repair or replacement. Your insurance will then collect payment from the driver themselves.
Tennessee does not have personal injury protection (PIP), but you may have medical payment coverage that will cover your medical expenses regardless of who was responsible for the accident.
If you don’t have UIM or medical payments coverage, you can still seek compensation by working with Portland car accident lawyers like Mitch Grissim & Associates. We will work with your insurance company to ensure that they cover everything they are obligated to in Portland car accidents, and we will also seek damages from the at-fault driver as well.
What is the next step after establishing grounds for a car accident case?
Once we have determined that you have grounds for a car accident lawsuit, we will help you file a claim, then begin investigating every element of the car crash in order to develop a strong case. This includes gathering medical records, police reports, and eyewitness testimony about the motor vehicle accident.
Once we have completed that process and identified all the relevant factors in your case, we will submit a formal claim to the relevant parties, officially informing them that we intend to seek compensation. We will share information with them and utilize the evidence we have gathered to argue that you deserve maximum compensation.
We will skillfully represent both your emotional and physical injuries when negotiating with insurance companies, ensuring that your financial compensation considers every aspect of the auto accident. Many times, we can successfully receive a settlement without going to court, but if necessary, we will file a lawsuit and seek justice through the court system.
When should a person who has been injured in an auto accident consult an attorney?
Car accident victims should contact car accident lawyers as soon as possible after an accident in order to begin the claims process, even if they only had small injuries. Because the statute of limitations is so short, we need every day possible in order to ensure that we can file a lawsuit in time should negotiations with insurance companies fail.
Once you have been medically cleared, call us at 615-255-9999 so that we can begin gathering evidence and creating a strong case on your behalf.
What should you do when contacted by an insurance provider after an accident?
If you’re contacted by insurance adjusters, tell them to speak to your Portland personal injury attorneys. The insurance company will do everything they can to reduce their liability for your car accident injuries. This includes asking seemingly harmless questions that are actually ways to make you admit fault, thus releasing them from responsibility for your medical expenses.
Our Portland car accident attorneys have deep experience with insurance company tactics, and we will be able to prevent injured victims from accidentally reducing their own chances of getting fair insurance claims.
Is it possible to receive compensation if I am partially at fault for a car accident in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee law uses modified comparative negligence, meaning that you can open a car accident claim as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. However, your financial compensation will be reduced by the amount that you are held responsible for.
For example, if a drunk driver hit you in a sideswipe collision and you sustained serious injuries, but you were reaching for the radio at the time of impact, you may be found 10% responsible. As such, you will not get the maximum compensation as your compensation will be reduced by 10%.
Resources: [1] Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security; [2] Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security; [3] Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security; [4], [5] Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
