Nashville Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Have you suffered a life-changing injury in Nashville, Tennessee, because of someone else’s negligence? Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers can help. Call 615-255-9100 to speak with a Nashville catastrophic injury lawyer and learn about your options during a free consultation.

A catastrophic injury can affect nearly every part of your life. You may face major medical expenses, an inability to work, lasting pain, and the need for ongoing care. You deserve a trusted legal advocate on your side to help you recover the compensation you’re entitled to.

Contact Personal Injury Lawyers You Can Trust

Free Case Consultation CALL now 800-800-4600

Why Choose Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers for Help After a Catastrophic Injury in Nashville, TN?

Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers has been serving injured clients for more than 40 years. During that time, we have built a strong record of handling serious injury cases and have recovered billions for past clients.

Some qualities that set our firm apart include:

• More than 40 years of service: Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers has served injured people and their families for over four decades.
• Decades of combined experience: Our Nashville personal injury lawyers bring substantial experience to complex personal injury claims.
• Professional recognition: Our attorneys have earned honors that include selection as a Kentucky Super Lawyer in Personal Injury, an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and recognition by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as one of its 10 Best Attorneys for Client Satisfaction.
• Billions recovered for past clients: Our firm has a long history of securing meaningful financial recoveries for injured clients.
• Strong community ties: Team members at Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers are deeply involved in the communities they serve.

When you are dealing with a life-changing injury, experience, resources, and a history of results can matter. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Nashville catastrophic injury attorney.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is generally an injury that causes severe, long-term, or permanent effects. Victims may lose the ability to work, live independently, or perform activities they handled without help before the accident.

Examples can include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Amputations
• Severe burns
• Organ damage
• Loss of vision or hearing
• Serious neurological injuries
• Multiple fractures or crush injuries

Tennessee law also uses a specific definition of “catastrophic loss or injury” in connection with certain limits on non-economic damages. That statutory definition does not necessarily determine whether an injury is considered catastrophic in every personal injury context.

The full impact of an injury may not be clear immediately. Doctors, rehabilitation specialists, vocational professionals, and other professionals may be needed to explain a victim’s long-term prognosis and care needs.

What Is My Nashville Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?

There is no standard value for a catastrophic injury claim. 

Important factors may include:

• The severity of your injuries
• The extent of the medical care you need, now and in the future
• Whether you are able to return to work and in what capacity
• Available insurance coverage
• The strength of the available evidence
• Whether you share responsibility for the accident

Catastrophic injuries can create expenses that continue for years or even a lifetime. For that reason, it is important to consider future losses instead of focusing only on bills that have already arrived.

What Damages Are Available to Nashville Catastrophic Injury Victims?

A person injured by someone else’s negligence may be able to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. The exact damages available depend on the circumstances of the case.

Economic damages compensate victims for measurable financial losses. They may include:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospital stays and surgeries
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Prescription medications
• Medical equipment
• In-home care
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Necessary modifications to a home or vehicle

Records, bills, employment documents, and expert evaluations can help establish these losses.

Non-economic damages address the personal effects of a catastrophic injury and may cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent impairment, and disfigurement. These losses do not come with invoices. A strong claim should explain how the injury has changed the victim’s daily activities, relationships, independence, and quality of life.

What Types of Accidents Cause Catastrophic Injuries in Nashville?

A catastrophic injury can happen whenever a person is exposed to extreme force, trauma, or other dangerous conditions. Some result from a single violent event, while others develop from complications caused by serious injuries.

Common causes include:

• Car accidents
• Commercial truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Dangerous property conditions
• Construction accidents
• Defective products

More than one person or business may be responsible for an accident. An investigation can help determine how the injury happened and identify the parties whose actions contributed to it.

How Do I Prove a Nashville Catastrophic Injury Claim?

Most catastrophic injury claims are based on negligence and typically require proving that another party failed to act with reasonable care and caused the victim’s injuries and losses.

Evidence can vary based on the type of accident. It may include photographs, video footage, police or incident reports, witness statements, medical records, employment records, and expert opinions.

Serious injury cases may require additional evidence about future needs. Medical specialists can address prognosis and treatment, while economic reviews may help assess future expenses and lost earning capacity.

Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Partly at Fault for My Catastrophic Injuries in Tennessee?

It is possible because Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault system. Under Tennessee law, an injured person who is less than 50% at fault may still recover damages, but the award is typically reduced based on that person’s share of responsibility.

For example, if someone is found 20% responsible for an accident, their recoverable damages would generally be reduced by 20%. A person who is 50% or more at fault usually cannot recover under this rule.

Insurance companies may try to place more responsibility on an injured person to reduce what they must pay. Our attorneys are familiar with these tactics and can challenge unfair allegations of fault.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Nashville?

Many personal injury firms, including ours, represent clients on a contingency fee basis. We explain the terms of the contingency fee arrangement before representation begins, including how attorney’s fees and case expenses are handled.

This type of arrangement can allow an injured person to pursue a claim without paying hourly attorney fees while already dealing with medical bills and lost income.

Common Catastrophic Injuries in Nashville, TN

Catastrophic injuries can leave victims with permanent disabilities or the need for long-term medical care. Some people may also lose the ability to work, live independently, or take part in activities they once enjoyed.

Common catastrophic injuries in Nashville, TN, include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Amputations
• Severe burns
• Crush injuries
• Multiple fractures
• Organ damage
• Loss of vision or hearing
• Serious neurological injuries

The effects of these injuries may continue long after the initial accident. Treatment can involve surgery, rehabilitation, medical equipment, and ongoing assistance with daily activities.

How Long Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in Tennessee?

Tennessee has a particularly short deadline for many personal injury lawsuits. Tennessee Code Annotated § 28-3-104 generally requires personal injury actions to be filed within one year after the injuries, although certain circumstances can change the applicable deadline. 

Waiting can also make a case harder to investigate. Video may be erased, physical evidence can disappear, and witnesses may become more difficult to locate.

Speaking with an attorney soon after an injury can help you determine which deadline applies and preserve evidence while it is still available.

What Should I Do After an Accident with Catastrophic Injuries?

Your health should be the priority after an accident involving a catastrophic injury. Get emergency medical care and follow your doctors’ instructions, as serious injuries may require ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.

If possible, you or a family member should also:

• Report the accident to the proper authorities
• Take photos or videos of the scene
• Gather contact information from witnesses
• Keep medical bills and other expense records
• Save documents showing lost income
• Avoid discussing fault with insurance adjusters
• Speak with a personal injury lawyer

Taking these steps can help protect your health and preserve important information about your accident. An attorney can also handle the legal process while you focus on your recovery.

Contact Our Nashville Catastrophic Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation

A catastrophic injury can change your health, career, finances, and family life in an instant. However, you do not have to handle an insurance claim and a complicated legal process without help.

The road forward may involve ongoing treatment, changes to your ability to work, and difficult decisions about your future. Having experienced legal guidance can give you more time to focus on your health and family.

Contact Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with our Nashville catastrophic injury lawyers.