Chattanooga Car Accident Attorney | Gary Massey Injury Lawyers

Car accidents can cause serious injury to Hamilton County residents. Chances are, you or someone you know has been affected by a crash at some point. According to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, 10,534 car crashes occurred across Hamilton County in 2024.

While these numbers reflect broader regional trends, serious collisions on major roads, such as I-24, TN-153, and Brainerd Road, occur in Chattanooga every day. If you were involved in a crash, no matter the location, your case deserves a thorough review.

If you’ve been injured in a car crash, contact Gary Massey Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss potential compensation for your losses. Our experienced Chattanooga car accident attorneys have secured millions in settlements for our clients.

Have You Been Injured in a Car Crash?

If another driver was responsible, you may be able to seek compensation for your medical costs and other losses.

A car accident can dramatically change your life in just a few seconds. Contacting a lawyer plays a crucial role in helping you get the support you need to recover compensation. An experienced Chattanooga car accident lawyer at our firm is ready to guide you every step of the way, from investigating your crash and helping you navigate the complex legal process to negotiating with insurance companies and ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve. We are here to help you.

At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, our track record speaks for itself. We have successfully secured millions in settlements for our clients. Founding attorney, Gary Massey, has built a strong reputation in the courtroom as an advocate for the injured.

Are you ready to explore your legal options? Contact us today to discuss your situation with one of our licensed attorneys. We offer a free consultation to determine how we can assist you. There are no upfront fees or costs associated with hiring our services.

What Car Accident Injuries Should I Watch Out For?

Car crashes in Chattanooga, especially on I‑24, I-75, TN-153, and congested downtown streets, often cause serious injuries. Common injuries to watch for include:

Whiplash and Soft Tissue Damage: Whiplash can cause neck pain, stiffness, and headaches. Other soft tissue injuries may not show up right away, but can lead to chronic discomfort.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Herniated discs, nerve damage, and spinal trauma are common after high-speed crashes. Some cases result in long-term disability or require surgery and rehab.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): TBIs may cause memory loss, dizziness, or confusion. These are serious injuries that can worsen without medical treatment.
Broken Bones: Fractures are especially common in car accidents. Arms, ribs, and legs are most often affected.
Internal Injuries: Damage to organs or internal bleeding may not be obvious right away. Always seek medical care if you feel faint, weak, or experience abdominal pain after a crash.
Emotional Trauma: Many car accident victims experience PTSD, anxiety, or depression.

Where Should I Get Treatment for My Car Accident Injuries?

Chattanooga is home to three highly acclaimed and capable hospitals with top-notch emergency departments and specialists who can handle a wide variety of car accident-related injuries:

CHI Memorial Emergency Department: Named the region’s best emergency room by the Chattanooga Times Free Press for 14 years.
Erlanger Emergency Department: The region’s only Level I trauma center, Erlanger provides life-saving care for serious accidents and injuries.
Parkridge Medical Center Emergency Department: From broken bones and lacerations to traumatic brain and internal injuries, Parkridge Medical Center can assist.

Do I Have a Valid Car Accident Case?

Before we can determine if you may have a valid car crash case, we need to look at several factors, including:

Liability: If the other driver was at fault, you may have a valid claim. Even if you are partially responsible for the car crash, you still may be able to file a claim.
Injuries: You must be able to provide evidence, such as medical documentation, to prove that the other driver caused the crash that injured you.
Damages: You must show that you sustained damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, because of the accident.

It is important to understand your legal rights after a car crash caused by someone else. This includes finding out whether you may be eligible to seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial hardships you have endured.

Compensation cannot change what has happened to you, but it can help to significantly ease your financial burden.

What Should I Know About Crashes in Chattanooga Involving Teen Drivers?

Chattanooga teen driver accidents often involve misunderstanding how traffic flow works. It happens often on the interstates where people are entering and exiting lanes, decreasing to one lane, or changing lanes without looking. It also happens at intersections with different traffic flow. In Chattanooga, there are a lot of roundabouts and special rules for entering and exiting a roundabout. Young drivers and teenage drivers often misunderstand these.

Another common fact pattern with teen drivers is simply not paying attention and not being able to stop in time. There are a lot of rear-end collisions with teen drivers. There are some sideswipe collisions, which is when the sides of two vehicles hit each other, because a teen is on a road with fairly narrow lanes and not as skilled at maintaining their lane or staying out of the lane beside them.

It may be that they are not skilled or not paying as close attention in a high-risk scenario, but there are a lot of sideswipe collisions when it comes to young, inexperienced drivers. A Chattanooga teen driver accident attorney can help protect the rights of young drivers who have been injured in car collisions.

What Are Common Causes of Teen Driver Car Accidents in Chattanooga?

Multiple forms of distractions are one of the most prominent Chattanooga teen driver accident risks on the road.

Other people in the car, a lot of conversation, or things going on inside the car, like choosing music, texting, putting on makeup, and eating and drinking may distract the driver from the road. They are less-skilled drivers, so they make more mistakes. They do not see the risks that are coming or anticipate the dangers that a more experienced driver will anticipate and avoid.

Parents need to make sure that their children habitually follow traffic safety laws and safe driving behavior to avoid Chattanooga teen driver accident risks. If they have a teenager who has not developed safe driving habits, they should limit the teenager’s driving, ride with the teenager frequently, and require the teenager to develop safe habits. As long as the teenager does not follow safe habits, parents should severely limit the amount of time they drive.

Parents need to understand that teen drivers are held to the same standard when it comes to paying for damages in an accident as adult drivers. The age of the driver is not an excuse for the risks that teen drivers pose.

How Do I Know if the Other Driver Was at Fault?

One driver’s negligent behavior is often to blame in many Tennessee car accidents. If you suspect the other driver caused the crash, here are some common signs of fault to look for:

Distracted Driving: Texting, talking on the phone, adjusting GPS, or eating behind the wheel are leading causes of crashes, especially on busy Chattanooga roads like Amnicola Highway and Gunbarrel Road.
Drunk or Drugged Driving: Driving under the influence is illegal. If the other driver was impaired, they may be fully liable for the crash.
Speeding or Reckless Driving: Excessive speed, tailgating, or weaving in and out of traffic can lead to serious collisions.
Failure to Obey Traffic Signals: Running red lights, ignoring stop signs, or failing to yield the right of way are common causes of intersection crashes across Hamilton County.
Improper Lane Changes: Failing to use a turn signal or abruptly cutting across lanes can lead to sideswipes or multi-vehicle accidents.

If you’re unsure who was at fault, the team at Gary Massey Injury Lawyers can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and determine liability so you don’t have to go it alone.

How Does Cell Phone Usage Affect Car Accident Claims?

If a defendant was using their cellphone at the time of the accident, juries usually look at that person as someone not taking safety seriously. Juries are often much more willing to hold that person accountable during Chattanooga car accidents involving cell phone claims.

They have little sympathy for people who are driving while using their cell phone and then run into another person. Often, it makes it easier for the plaintiff to win their case and to win a higher damages award.

There is a wide range of evidence that a person can get from cell phone usage for Chattanooga car accidents involving cell phone claims. Cell phone records will tell if a person was on the phone or sent a text within a few seconds before the wreck happened. This information can be used during the car accident claim.

What Is the Value of My Car Accident Case?

The value of your car accident case depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries and the extent of your economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are losses resulting from your crash that can be easily calculated. These damages may include things like your:

Medical Costs: Related hospital stays, surgeries, doctor follow-ups, medication, future medical care, and more
Lost Wages: Reimbursement for lost income if you were unable to work during your recovery
Property Damage: Costs to repair or replace your vehicle and other damaged property

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are losses that cannot be easily calculated, including:

Pain and Suffering: Compensation for emotional distress and physical pain due to the accident
Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Damages awarded if your injuries prevent you from enjoying daily activities and hobbies
Loss of Consortium: Compensation for injuries affecting your relationship with your partner

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are a form of compensation required to be paid on top of whatever regular damages a reckless driver owes an injured individual as punishment for the especially dangerous ways that they were driving to cause the accident.

Circumstances that typically lead to punitive damages in a Chattanooga car accident case include, for example, driving under the influence of intoxicating substances, traveling at an extremely high rate of speed above the speed limit, and drag racing or running from police. Other examples include if an individual is intentionally running red lights or stop signs and intentionally violating the rules of the road.

While punitive damages are rarely awarded in Chattanooga, like much of the rest of Tennessee, the chance of receiving them can increase with the help of a seasoned Chattanooga car accident attorney on your side.

Comparative Fault System

Tennessee operates under a modified comparative fault system. This means that even if you are partially at fault for an accident, you may still be able to recover damages. However, you must be less than 50% liable. If you are assessed with some fault for the crash, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

How Can Gary Massey Injury Lawyers Help Me?

A car accident can leave victims feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their next steps. Our experienced and committed car accident lawyers provide clarity during difficult times and work tirelessly to protect your rights.

When Gary Massey Injury Lawyers manages your case, you can rest assured you are in good hands. Our firm has extensive knowledge of car crash laws in Tennessee, and we are prepared to fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve.

Some of the types of car accident cases we manage include:

Is There a Time Limit to File a Case?

In Tennessee, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is generally one year from the date of your accident. If a car accident caused the death of your loved one, the statute of limitations is generally one year from the date of their death.

Exceptions are rare, but no matter how long you believe you may have to file a case, you should consult with a lawyer immediately. If you miss the deadline and attempt to file after the statute of limitations has passed, your case will likely be dismissed with no opportunity to recover compensation.

What Should I Know About Filing a Car Accident Claim in Chattanooga?

While filing a car accident claim can seem overwhelming, know that a dedicated Chattanooga injury attorney can help to guide you through the procedure while preparing you for what to expect in court or negotiations.

The main court where car accident cases are filed in Chattanooga is in the Circuit Court, which is a state court. Some cases can also be filed in the general sessions court, but those are small cases. The general sessions court has a limited jurisdiction, and there is an automatic right of appeal to get another trial afterward in the circuit court. Sometimes individuals can also file in federal court, but that is fairly uncommon.

Cases Filed in Circuit Court

The Circuit Court in Tennessee is a court of general jurisdiction. Almost any type of case can be filed in Circuit Court except cases that are equitable in nature. Any personal injury claim, car wreck claim, or claim where another person negligently causes their injury, physical or otherwise, can be filed in circuit court in Tennessee.

Cases Filed in Federal District Court

There are two main types of situations in which a car wreck case can be filed in federal district court. The first is if a federal government agency or employee is involved in the wreck. If a representative of a federal agency is driving a car in the line of duty and causes a wreck, then any individuals injured as a result of that action can sue the representative in federal district court.

The second situation is if the parties in the car wreck live in different states and the injured individual has damages that allow them to claim more than $75,000 in compensation. This circumstance is also known as diversity jurisdiction.

What Steps Should I Take After a Car Crash?

As with any car crash, your first steps are critical to protecting your health and any legal claim you may later pursue.

Contact the Authorities: Immediately dial 911 to report the accident.
Seek Medical Attention: Even if you do not feel any pain, seek medical care right away.
Gather Information: Collect as much information as possible at the scene.
Notify Your Insurance Company: Inform your insurer about the accident as soon as you are able.
Get a Copy of the Accident Report. Contact the Chattanooga Police Department to request a certified copy of your accident report. If the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office handled your crash, you may need to request an incident report through them instead.

Dealing With Auto Insurance Companies

Navigating interactions with auto insurance companies after filing a claim can be challenging.

Be careful when speaking with insurance companies when reporting your accident. Just stick to the facts. Insurers often try to offer quick settlements that are significantly lower than the value of your claim. We do not recommend accepting any offer without first speaking with an attorney.

There have been cases where an insurance company may call and say that you are required to give a recorded statement. They usually call on the phone; other times, they may visit your residence. They do it in many ways, but it is a common practice in just about every case for the insurance company to try to get a recorded statement.

This is also what a car accident attorney does. An attorney may try to find all the witnesses and get recorded statements from those witnesses so that they cannot change their story later and the insurance company cannot get to them to change what they believe they saw.

What if I Get a Check From the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

Accepting a check from the other driver’s insurer may be a mistake because that form will indicate the person is not entitled to any more money. It is a mistake to sign that unless that person is sure that they are not hurt and not going to have any more treatment, and not going to incur any more bills.

If the person is not hurt, then it is not a big deal. If that person’s injuries require further treatment or may require time away from work, then that person has no idea how bad their losses are at that point. It is too early to close out the possibility of the insurance company having to pay the rest of that person’s losses, so it is a big mistake to take that check and sign that release.

What Are Tennessee’s Car Insurance Laws?

Tennessee drivers are required by law to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. The minimum coverage amounts are:

$25,000 for bodily injury per person
$50,000 total for bodily injury to two or more individuals
$15,000 total for property damage

What if the At-Fault Driver Is Uninsured?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is designed to protect you if the at-fault driver lacks insurance. This type of insurance can cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages related to the accident.

Call Our Chattanooga Car Accident Lawyers Today

If you have been involved in a car accident, whether it was on I-75, I-24, Amnicola Highway, Lee Highway, Market Street, or anywhere else in the Scenic City, it is crucial to seek legal advice as soon as possible. The sooner you contact us, the better we can protect your rights.

Let us help you on the road to recovery. Contact Gary Massey Injury Lawyers now.

Chattanooga Car Accident Lawyers