Hurt in a Car Wreck in Chattanooga?
A car accident can turn your life upside down in a few seconds. Medical bills, missed work, a damaged car, and calls from insurance adjusters can start right away, often while you are still hurting.
Attorney "Crash" Carson Royal and the Crash Carson team help people injured in car accidents across the Chattanooga area. We handle the legal side of your claim, so you can focus on getting better.
Areas We Serve in Tennessee
Chattanooga, East Ridge, Red Bank, Hixson, Soddy-Daisy, Ooltewah, Collegedale, Harrison, Lookout Valley, Cleveland, Jasper, South Pittsburg, Kimball, Whitwell, New Hope and Dunlap: Hamilton, Bradley, Marion and Sequatchie counties, plus Dayton in Rhea County.
If you live in Cleveland or elsewhere in Bradley County, we serve you from the same Rossville office, just across the state line from Chattanooga.
Also serving Georgia: North Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
Wrecks on Chattanooga's Busiest Roads
Interstates 24, 75 and 59 all meet in or near Chattanooga. That brings heavy through traffic, including tractor-trailers, onto the same roads people use to get to work and school.
We help people hurt in crashes on roads like these:
- I-24 and I-75, including stop-and-go traffic near the interchanges
- I-75 between Chattanooga and Cleveland
- US-27 north through Soddy-Daisy toward Dayton
- US-41/72 west toward Jasper, and TN-28 up the Sequatchie Valley to Dunlap
- Highway 153 through Hixson
- Rossville Boulevard (US-27), which runs from Chattanooga to the Georgia line at Rossville
- Busy intersections in East Ridge, Red Bank, Hixson and Ooltewah
Different crashes involve different evidence and different insurance policies. A wreck with a commercial truck, for example, can involve the trucking company and its insurer. Learn more: Truck Accident Lawyer
Investigation
We gather the police report, photos, witness statements and medical records, and we look at who owned the vehicles involved and whether the other driver was working at the time.
We Deal With the Insurance Companies
Once we take your case, we handle communication with the insurance companies for you. You do not have to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
Free Consultation, Contingency Fee
Your first consultation is free. We take injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee comes from what we recover for you.
Tennessee Car Accident Law Basics
You have a short deadline
In Tennessee, the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident is generally one year. That is shorter than in many states, so it pays to talk to a lawyer early.
Fault is shared
Tennessee follows modified comparative fault. If you are partly at fault, what you can recover is reduced by your share. If you are found 50% or more at fault, you cannot recover. This is one reason insurance adjusters try to get you to admit fault.
Hamilton County courts
Most Chattanooga-area accident cases are settled without going to court. If a lawsuit is needed, Tennessee law generally allows it to be filed in the county where the crash happened or where the at-fault driver lives. For a crash in Chattanooga, that is often Hamilton County, where the Circuit Court Clerk's office is in the county courthouse at 625 Georgia Avenue.
If a fair settlement isn't offered, we are prepared to take your case to trial.
What Happens When You Call Us
If you've never worked with a lawyer before, here is what to expect.
- Free consultation. Tell us what happened. We listen, answer your questions and explain your options. There is no cost to talk with us.
- No upfront fees. If we take your case, we work on a contingency fee basis. We never ask for attorney's fees or a retainer up front.
- Investigation. We gather the police report, photos, witness statements and medical records, and we look at every insurance policy that could apply.
- We handle the insurance companies. Calls, paperwork and requests for recorded statements come to us, so you can focus on getting better.
- Demand and negotiation. Once the full picture of your injuries is clear, we present your claim to the insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement.
- Ready for trial if needed. Most accident injury cases are settled without going to court. If the insurer won't make a fair offer, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial.
Crash Carson is licensed to practice in both Tennessee and Georgia, so we can help whichever side of the state line your crash happened on.
Ready to talk? Start your free consultation and tell us what happened.
Questions We Hear Often
Do I need a lawyer for a car accident in Chattanooga?
You are not required to have one. But if you were hurt, if fault is disputed, or if an insurer has made you an offer, a free consultation can help you understand your options before you sign anything.
Learn more: Why You Need an Attorney
Your office is in Rossville, Georgia. Can you handle a Tennessee case?
Yes. Crash Carson is licensed to practice in Tennessee and Georgia. Our Rossville office is just across the state line from Chattanooga.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
Report the accident to your own insurer, but avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Talk to a lawyer first.
Learn more: Car Accident Insurance Claims and Settlements
How much does a car accident lawyer cost?
Your consultation is free. If we take your case, we work on a contingency fee, which means our fee comes from what we recover for you. We don't ask for money up front, and we'll explain the fee before you decide anything.
What is the average car accident settlement?
There isn't a reliable average. Every case depends on your injuries, your medical treatment, lost income, who was at fault and how much insurance is available. Be careful with "average settlement" numbers you find online. We can talk through what matters in your case at a free consultation.
How long do I have to call a lawyer after a car accident?
There's no rule about when to call, but there is a deadline to file a lawsuit. In Tennessee, it is generally one year after the accident. Calling early also makes it easier to save evidence like photos, video and witness memories.
What should I tell a lawyer about my accident?
Tell us everything, including the parts you're worried about, like whether you might be partly at fault or had an earlier injury. Honest details help us give you a clear answer, and surprises later can hurt a claim.