If you were hurt in an accident in Hixson, you do not have to face the insurance company alone.
A Hixson personal injury lawyer at Gary Massey Injury Lawyers can review what happened, explain your options, and fight for the money you deserve. We are a Hamilton County firm, and we know this community, its roads, and the local insurers who will try to pay you as little as possible.
Our founding attorney, Gary Massey, started his career on the defense side, working for the insurance companies. He learned exactly how adjusters review, value, and fight claims. Now he uses that knowledge for injured people instead of against them.
When you work with us, you get someone who knows the other side’s playbook. If you are ready to talk, contact us for a free consultation.
A Local Firm That Knows Hixson and Hamilton County
Hixson sits just north of downtown Chattanooga, across the Tennessee River in Hamilton County. Anyone who drives here knows the trouble spots.
SR-153 carries heavy traffic between I-75 and US-27, and the merges and exits near Northgate Mall see their share of crashes. Hixson Pike stays busy from morning to night, and US-27 moves fast as it heads south toward the river and north toward Soddy-Daisy.
Our office is a short drive away on Lee Highway, and we handle cases throughout Hamilton County and the surrounding area, including Soddy-Daisy and Red Bank. We know the local courts in Tennessee’s 11th Judicial District and how serious injuries are treated here.
When a crash is catastrophic, patients are often taken to CommonSpirit – Memorial Hospital – Hixson or Erlanger North Hospital. That local knowledge helps us build a case that reflects what really happened to you.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Hixson
Personal injury covers far more than car wrecks. If someone else’s carelessness left you hurt, you may have a claim. Our team handles a wide range of cases for people in Hixson and across Hamilton County:
- Car Accidents: Rear-end, intersection, and highway crashes on roads like SR-153 and US-27
- Truck Accidents: Collisions with commercial trucks and tractor-trailers, which often cause severe injuries and involve complex liability
- Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcycle crashes where the rider is left exposed and the injuries tend to be serious
- Slip-and-Fall and Premises Liability: Injuries on unsafe property, from wet floors to poor lighting to neglected hazards
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect: Harm to older adults who deserve safe, attentive care
- Workers’ Compensation: On-the-job injuries that leave you unable to work. Learn more about workers’ compensation claims
- Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death: Life-changing harm, including catastrophic injuries, and the loss of a loved one caused by another party’s negligence
If you are not sure whether you have a case, the simplest step is to ask. A free consultation costs nothing and gives you a clear answer.
How a Lawyer Levels the Field Against the Insurance Adjuster
After an accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company will likely contact you fast. The adjuster may sound friendly and may even offer a quick check. Remember what their job is: to close your claim for as little money as possible. That early offer is rarely what your case is actually worth.
Adjusters look for reasons to reduce or deny a claim. They may argue your injuries were minor, that you were partly to blame, or that you waited too long to get treatment. A recorded statement you give in the first few days can be used against you later.
This is where our background matters. Because Gary Massey once worked in insurance defense, we know how claims get valued and where adjusters push back. We can handle the calls, gather the evidence, and present your losses in a way the insurer has to take seriously.
You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and we work to get you every dollar you deserve. When you are dealing with the insurance company, it helps to have someone who has stood on both sides. Reach out to our team to get started.
Tennessee’s Deadline to File a Personal Injury Claim
In Tennessee, you generally have one year from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. That deadline, set by Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, is one of the shortest in the country. Miss it, and you can lose your right to recover anything, no matter how strong your case is.
One year goes by faster than people expect, especially while you are focused on recovering and dealing with medical appointments. Evidence also fades over time. Skid marks disappear, surveillance footage gets erased, and witnesses forget details. Talking to a lawyer early gives you the best chance to preserve what your case needs.
Tennessee also follows a rule called modified comparative fault. You can still recover money if you were partly at fault for the accident, as long as you were less than 50% responsible.
Your compensation is reduced by your share of the blame. If you are found 20% at fault on a $100,000 claim, for example, you would recover $80,000. At 50% or more, you recover nothing, which is one more reason the insurance company may try to pin part of the blame on you.
How to File a Personal Injury Claim in Hamilton County
Most personal injury claims start long before any lawsuit gets filed. The steps you take right after an accident shape everything that follows. Here is how the process generally works:
- Get medical care first. See a doctor even if you feel okay, because some injuries take days to surface. Your records also tie your injuries to the accident.
- Document what happened. Take photos, get the names of witnesses, and keep a copy of any police or incident report.
- Report the accident. Notify the proper parties but be careful about giving recorded statements to the other side’s insurer before you have legal advice.
- Preserve your evidence. Keep medical bills, pay stubs showing lost wages, and anything related to your injuries in one place.
- Talk to a lawyer before the insurer. A short conversation can help you avoid mistakes that lower the value of your claim.
If your claim does not settle and a lawsuit becomes necessary, most civil personal injury cases in this area are filed in the Hamilton County Circuit Court, part of Tennessee’s 11th Judicial District. You do not have to figure out the court system on your own. We can handle the filing, the deadlines, and the paperwork while you focus on healing.
What to Ask During Your Free Consultation
A consultation is your chance to size up a lawyer before you commit to anything. Come prepared with questions. Good ones include:
- Have you handled cases like mine? Ask about the firm’s experience with your type of accident and injury.
- How do your fees work? A reputable injury firm should explain its contingency fee clearly and in plain terms.
- Who will actually handle my case? Find out who your main point of contact will be and who does the work.
- What is my case worth, and how long might it take? No honest lawyer can promise a number, but an experienced one can walk you through what affects both.
- How will you keep me updated? You deserve to know what is happening with your case without having to chase answers.
We handle most personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay us anything unless we recover money for you. We also stand behind our work with the Massey Promise and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
If you are not satisfied within the first 30 days, you can walk away owing nothing, even for expenses we have already incurred. We take that approach because we are selective about the cases we accept and only take those we believe in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a Hixson personal injury lawyer?
Most personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, so you pay no upfront cost. Our fee comes out of the recovery only if we get money for you, and you do not owe attorney fees if we do not. A consultation is always free.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Tennessee?
You generally have one year from the date of your injury, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104. Some claims have different deadlines, and certain situations can change the clock, so it is best to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to confirm your specific deadline.
What if I was partly at fault for my accident?
You can still recover money in Tennessee as long as you were less than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. At 50% or more, you cannot recover, which is why insurers often try to shift blame onto you.
How much is my personal injury claim worth?
It depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, your medical bills, lost wages, and how the accident has affected your life. No lawyer can promise a specific amount. An experienced attorney can review your situation and give you a realistic picture of what your claim may involve.
What should I do right after an accident in Hixson?
Get medical care first, even if you think your injuries are minor. Then document the scene, gather witness information, and keep copies of any reports. Avoid giving a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer until you have spoken with a lawyer.
How long will my personal injury case take?
Some cases settle in a few months, while others take longer if injuries are serious or the insurer disputes the claim. Cases that go to trial take more time. We work to move your case forward efficiently while still pursuing the full value of your claim.
Do I have to go to court, or will my case settle?
Many personal injury cases settle without a trial. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, though, being ready to go to court strengthens your position. Several of our attorneys have real courtroom and verdict experience, which can help at the negotiating table.
Talk to a Hixson Personal Injury Lawyer Today
An injury can turn your life upside down, and the days right after are when good decisions matter most. You do not have to sort it out alone. At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, we can be honest with you about your case, and we can put our insider knowledge of insurance companies to work for you.
Contact us today for a free consultation. You don’t pay us anything unless we get money for you. Let us fight for the money you deserve.
