Nashville Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt because of someone else’s negligence, a Nashville personal injury lawyer at Grissim & Waterman can help you understand your rights and the next steps.
Our law firm represents injury victims in Nashville, TN, and throughout Middle Tennessee after car accident injuries, truck accidents, unsafe property conditions, serious injury events, and other preventable harm.
An accident can leave you managing medical bills, lost wages, medical treatment, insurance calls, and uncertainty about what comes next. Our Nashville injury attorneys are here to provide experienced representation while you focus on recovery.
We investigate the facts, identify the negligent party and other liable parties, document your losses, negotiate with insurance companies, and prepare cases for litigation when a fair settlement cannot be reached.
Call our law offices at 615-255-9999 to book a free consultation and discuss your legal options with a personal injury attorney.
A Personal Injury Law Firm With Decades of Experience in Nashville
Grissim & Waterman continues a Nashville legal practice shaped by more than four decades of providing quality service to the Middle Tennessee community. Our attorneys have experience in personal injury litigation ranging from motor vehicle accident cases and workers’ compensation claims to medical malpractice lawsuits and premises liability claims.
This experience allows our Nashville personal injury attorneys to handle a claim from the initial investigation and insurance negotiations through litigation when a case cannot be resolved fairly.
Why Nashville Personal Injury Victims Choose Grissim & Waterman
A Local Law Firm That Knows Nashville
Grissim & Waterman is based in downtown Nashville, TN. Our lawyers serve injured victims throughout Davidson County and surrounding communities. Our familiarity with local roads, courts, and procedures can make the legal process easier to understand.
Personal Attention Without the High-Volume Model
Law firms with very high case volumes can struggle to provide individual attention. Our approach is built around communication and accessibility, as injured clients should understand what is happening and what decisions are coming next.
Experienced Representation From Trial Attorneys
While a settlement is often the right case outcome, the ability to litigate still matters. Our Nashville personal injury attorneys prepare each claim around the evidence, applicable Tennessee law, and the damages that can actually be proven. If insurance companies refuse to negotiate a fair settlement, our trial attorneys can pursue the next appropriate step through the civil justice system.
No Upfront Attorney Fee
At Grissim & Waterman, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning attorney fees are tied to a recovery rather than charged upfront. We offer a free initial consultation so you can discuss your situation before deciding whether to move forward.
Personal Injury Cases Handled by Our Nashville Attorneys
Personal injury law covers harm caused by another person’s, company’s, or organization’s negligence, recklessness, or other wrongful conduct. Our attorneys handle a broad range of personal injury cases.
Car Accidents
Car accident cases are among the most common claims our law firm handles. A car accident may involve an at-fault driver who was speeding, impaired, distracted, following too closely, or failing to yield.
A Nashville car accident lawyer from our team can obtain police reports, review photographs and video, identify insurance coverage, document medical bills and lost wages, and evaluate who may be responsible. Vehicle damage, electronic data, witnesses, and accident reconstruction may also help establish what occurred.
Our personal injury lawyers handle auto accident claims involving uninsured or underinsured motorists, commercial vehicles, rollovers, and other serious crash scenarios.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can cause severe injuries as commercial vehicles are far heavier than passenger cars. These cases may involve negligent truck drivers, carrier companies, maintenance contractors, shippers, or another negligent party. A Nashville truck accident lawyer from our team can investigate driver conduct, company records, maintenance, and other liability evidence to build and support the claim.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists have little physical protection in a collision, typically resulting in claims with high medical costs, lost wages, future medical care, and other consequences of a serious injury. A Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer can help riders injured by unsafe turns, lane changes, following distances, and other driver errors recover the compensation they rightfully deserve.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are vulnerable to severe injuries even in lower-speed collisions. We represent pedestrians struck in crosswalks, intersections, parking areas, and other Nashville locations.
These personal injury claims may turn on right-of-way rules, visibility, driver distraction, surveillance footage, witnesses, and police reports. A Nashville pedestrian accident lawyer can help preserve that evidence and pursue fair compensation.
Bicycle Accidents
A collision with a bicycle can leave a rider facing serious injuries and damaged equipment. We represent cyclists injured on city streets, at intersections, in bike lanes, on greenways, and in parking areas.
Bicycle accident claims may depend on vehicle positioning, lane use, turning movements, road conditions, driver distraction, helmet and equipment evidence, video footage, witness statements, and crash reports. A Nashville bicycle accident lawyer can help document the collision and protect the evidence needed to evaluate the claim.
Public Transportation Accidents
Passengers and other people may be injured in public transportation accidents involving WeGo Public Transit buses, WeGo Star commuter rail, Nashville International Airport transportation services, negligent drivers, unsafe conditions, inadequate maintenance, or other failures.
A Nashville bus accident lawyer from our team can help passengers and other injured people pursue compensation after a sudden stop, unsafe boarding or exiting, or another incident.
A train accident lawyer may help injured passengers, pedestrians, motorists, or others pursue compensation after a WeGo Star derailment, crossing collision, platform accident, or another incident.
Rideshare Accidents
Traffic accident cases involving rideshare vehicles such as Uber or Lyft can involve multiple insurance policies depending on the driver’s app status. A Nashville rideshare accident lawyer from our team can identify the at-fault party, evaluate coverage, and address efforts by insurance companies to shift responsibility.
Premises Liability Claims
A successful premises liability claim generally requires evidence that a dangerous condition existed, the property owner or responsible party created the condition or knew or should have known about it, and the condition caused the injury. A Nashville slip and fall lawyer from our team handles cases involving unsafe walking surfaces, inadequate maintenance, negligent security, and other hazardous conditions.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
Animal bite claims can depend on where the attack occurred and the circumstances surrounding the attack. A Nashville dog bite lawyer from our team can evaluate potential liability and explain your legal options.
Workplace Accidents
Tennessee workers’ compensation addresses many on-the-job injuries, while some incidents also support claims against third parties. For example, a Nashville construction accident lawyer from our team can evaluate whether an injured worker may be eligible for both workers’ compensation benefits and a separate personal injury claim against another negligent party.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice involves allegations that a healthcare provider failed to meet the applicable standard of care and caused injury. These cases have procedural and timing requirements that differ from ordinary negligence claims. A Nashville medical malpractice lawyer can evaluate the alleged error, causation, and available documentation and ensure your claim is filed within the statutory deadline.
Product Liability
Dangerous or defective products may support legal action against manufacturers or other businesses. A Nashville product liability lawyer can assess whether design, manufacture, warnings, or another product issue contributed to the injury and what evidence should be preserved.
Boating Accidents
A boating accident can cause life-changing injuries, whether it occurs on a lake, river, or other Tennessee waterway. We represent people injured in collisions, falls overboard, capsizing incidents, and other boating accidents.
These cases may involve questions about operator attention, speed, alcohol or drug use, navigation rules, life jackets, vessel maintenance, weather conditions, visibility, witness accounts, and law enforcement documentation. A Nashville boat accident lawyer from our team can help investigate what happened and preserve important evidence before it disappears.
Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can change nearly every part of a person’s life, from physical independence and medical needs to work, family responsibilities, and future plans.
A Nashville brain injury lawyer from our team can help evaluate a claim based on the cognitive changes, memory problems, personality changes, and the need for ongoing neurological care or supervision.
A Nashville spinal cord injury lawyer will assess paralysis or loss of sensation, as well as rehabilitation, wheelchair needs, home modifications, and assistance with daily activities.
A Nashville amputation injury lawyer can evaluate the consequences of losing a limb, including prosthetic devices, replacement costs, rehabilitation, and changes to employment.
A Nashville burn injury lawyer will help assess extensive burns caused by a fire, explosion, or chemical exposure, including surgeries, skin grafts, scarring, pain treatment, and emotional trauma.
Our Nashville catastrophic injury lawyers can also evaluate other life-altering injuries, such as multiple fractures or organ damage, when the person requires prolonged hospitalization, repeated procedures, and continuing care.
Wrongful Death
When a death results from another party’s negligence, eligible family members or representatives may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim and recover compensation for qualifying losses, including final medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost earning capacity. A Nashville wrongful death lawyer from our team can help families investigate what happened and pursue accountability from the negligent party.
What Does Personal Injury Law Require in Tennessee?
For a successful personal injury lawsuit, the claimant must establish a valid legal basis for holding another person or entity responsible.
Duty, Breach, Causation, and Damages
In a negligence case, the evidence generally must establish that the defendant owed a duty, failed to meet the applicable standard of care, caused the injury, and produced legally recognizable damages.
For example, after a car accident, proof may include police reports, photographs, witness statements, treatment documentation, repair evidence, and testimony about how the collision affected the injured person’s health and work.
Tennessee’s Modified Comparative Fault Rule
Tennessee uses modified comparative fault, whereby an injured person who is less than 50% at fault may still recover compensation. The recovery, however, can be reduced by that person’s percentage of fault. If the injured person is 50% or more at fault, recovery is barred.
To minimize compensation, an insurance company may argue that the injured person contributed to a car accident or failed to avoid a hazard. A skilled attorney from Grissim & Waterman can examine the evidence rather than accepting an insurer’s fault assessment at face value.
Tennessee’s One-Year Statute of Limitations
Tennessee has an unusually short deadline for many personal injury lawsuits. Under Tennessee Code § 28-3-104, most actions for injuries to the person must be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrues.
There are exceptions, such as a statutory two-year period in certain cases involving a qualifying criminal prosecution, so the deadline should be evaluated for the individual case.
Waiting can create another problem even before the legal deadline arrives, and that is losing evidence. Video can be overwritten, vehicles can be repaired, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and records can be harder to obtain.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered in a Personal Injury Claim?
Personal injury damages address losses caused by the defendant’s conduct. The available categories depend on the facts of the case.
Medical Bills and Other Economic Losses
Economic damages may include current and future medical expenses and past medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and other measurable losses. In cases involving serious injury, future medical needs and future lost income may also be significant.
Keeping bills, wage information, receipts, and medical documentation helps establish the financial effect of the injury.
Pain, Suffering, and Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages can address losses that do not come with a simple invoice, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Tennessee Code § 29-39-102 generally limits non-economic damages in civil actions to $750,000 per injured plaintiff, with a higher $1 million limit for certain statutorily defined catastrophic injuries. The statute also provides other exceptions to these rules.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are different from compensatory damages. Their primary purpose is to punish and deter particularly wrongful conduct. Under §29-39-104, Tennessee requires clear and convincing proof of malicious, intentional, fraudulent, or reckless conduct before punitive damages may be awarded.
Because damage rules can be technical and exceptions matter, a Tennessee personal injury attorney from Grissim & Waterman should evaluate the categories that actually apply rather than relying on a generic settlement calculator.
What Should You Do After Sustaining an Injury Due to Someone Else’s Negligence
The steps taken after an accident can affect both your health and the outcome of a later claim.
Get Medical Attention
Seek appropriate medical attention as soon as possible. Prompt care addresses health concerns and documents symptoms, diagnosis, and medical treatment. Gaps in care can become an issue when insurance companies evaluate causation.
Document the Accident Scene
If you can do so safely, photograph vehicles, property conditions, debris, visible injuries, road signs, skid marks, and the surrounding area. Save contact information for witnesses. In a car accident, obtain the other driver’s identity and insurance information.
Obtain Police Reports and Preserve Evidence
For Nashville traffic collisions investigated by law enforcement, crash reports can be obtained through the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Depending on the accident, police reports are not the only evidence available or needed, but they often provide important incident information.
Do not assume other evidence will remain available indefinitely. Businesses may overwrite surveillance video, vehicles may be repaired, and electronic information may be lost if preservation steps are not taken.
Be Careful With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies may request recorded statements, broad medical authorizations, or a quick settlement. An early offer may arrive before the full course of treatment or future medical care is known.
While you should not misrepresent or withhold required information, you also do not have to guess about injuries or accept a settlement before understanding the value of your claim. Legal representation can help organize communications and prevent avoidable mistakes.
Speak With a Nashville Personal Injury Lawyer
Speaking with a personal injury lawyer from Grissim & Waterman early gives you an opportunity to learn whether a claim may exist, what deadlines apply, and what evidence should be preserved. We can take over most of the claims work while you concentrate on recovery.
How Our Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers Build Injury Claims
Strong personal injury cases require evidence and a disciplined process. Here’s how that looks at Grissim & Waterman.
Free Consultation and Case Review
During the free consultation, an experienced attorney will ask what happened, what injuries you suffered, what insurance is involved, and what treatment you received.
Case Investigation and Evidence Preservation
Depending on the case, evidence may include photographs, police reports, witnesses, vehicle data, and accident reconstruction. Other cases may require surveillance footage, inspection records, incident reports, or maintenance information.
Our Nashville personal injury attorneys help identify, preserve, and evaluate the evidence needed to build a strong claim and pursue fair compensation.
Documentation of Injuries and Financial Losses
Medical records, medical bills, wage statements, employment records, and expert analysis may establish the extent of a loss. For injured clients with long-term limitations, future medical expenses and diminished earning ability may also matter.
Our role is to help gather and organize this evidence, work with appropriate professionals when needed, and present a clear account of how the injury has affected the client’s life and finances.
Identification of the Negligent Party and Coverage
Some accidents involve several potentially liable parties or insurance policies. Our Nashville personal injury lawyers investigate who may share responsibility.
We identify potentially responsible parties, review available insurance coverage, and develop the facts needed to support the client’s claim.
Settlement Negotiation
Our personal injury lawyers present evidence-backed claims and negotiate with insurance companies for fair compensation. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, a lawsuit may be appropriate.
Throughout the process, we communicate with the insurers, evaluate settlement offers, and advise the client about whether continued negotiations or litigation may best protect the client’s interests.
Litigation and Trial When Necessary
Our personal injury lawyers evaluate litigation based on the evidence, governing law, defendants, coverage, and the client’s goals. We are experienced in both insurance claims and court litigation and can provide continuity throughout the process, including discovery, depositions, motions, experts, mediation, and trial.
Who Are the Nashville Personal Injury Attorneys at Grissim & Waterman?
Mitch Grissim
Mitch Grissim practiced law in Tennessee beginning in 1981 and helped establish the foundation of the firm that is now Grissim & Waterman. A Certified Civil Trial Specialist through the National Board of Trial Advocacy, he spent more than four decades representing injured people in Nashville and throughout Tennessee.
His work in personal injury law and commitment to direct, accessible client service remain part of the firm’s legacy following his retirement and the transition of leadership to Jesse Waterman.
Jesse Waterman
Jesse Waterman joined the firm in 2011 as a paralegal while attending law school. He later earned his law degree from Nashville School of Law and was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 2013. Since then, he has represented clients through both the claims and litigation process for a variety of personal injury cases, including automobile collision lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims.
Jesse has served as Managing Attorney since 2018, overseeing the firm’s daily operations while maintaining a hands-on approach with clients. He later assumed the firm’s leadership role as Mitch Grissim & Associates became Grissim & Waterman.
Sarah Stein
Sarah Stein has practiced law in Tennessee since 1992. She is certified as both a Civil Trial Specialist and Civil Pretrial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has taken more than 60 personal injury cases to trial or arbitration since joining the firm. She has also taught legal education seminars to the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and the Nashville Bar Association, reflecting her longstanding involvement in Tennessee’s legal community.
How Choosing the Right Personal Injury Attorney Can Affect Your Case
The lawyer you hire does not change the facts of your case, but choosing an experienced personal injury attorney can change how effectively those facts are investigated, documented, and presented.
A skilled personal injury lawyer can identify missing evidence, evaluate coverage, calculate damages, communicate with insurance companies, and advise whether a proposed settlement is reasonable. When necessary, personal injury attorneys can file suit and use formal discovery to obtain information unavailable during an informal claim.
The best personal injury lawyer for a particular case is not necessarily at the largest law firm or the loudest advertiser. What’s important is who will handle your case, how communication works, whether the attorney has relevant litigation experience, and whether the strategy fits your needs.
Contact Grissim & Waterman to schedule a free consultation with a Nashville personal injury attorney and discuss your case, the legal options available, and what you can expect from us if you decide to move forward together.
Nashville Personal Injury FAQs
Where Are Nashville Personal Injury Lawsuits Filed?
Depending on the amount in controversy and other jurisdictional requirements, a personal injury case in Nashville may be filed in Davidson County General Sessions Court or Davidson County Circuit Court. General Sessions Court has civil jurisdiction over claims of up to $25,000, while the Davidson County Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction that hear civil tort claims. The appropriate court and venue depend on the facts of the individual case.
How Do I Know Whether I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
You may have a claim if another person or entity owed you a legal duty, breached that duty, and caused an injury that resulted in damages. A free consultation with a Nashville personal injury lawyer from Grissim & Waterman can help clarify your legal options.
How Much Does a Nashville Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Our Tennessee personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That structure means the attorney fee is paid from compensation recovered rather than charged upfront. Book a free consultation with the team at Grissim & Waterman to discuss a specific agreement, case expenses, and how costs are handled before signing.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Tennessee?
Many Tennessee personal injury cases are subject to a one-year limitations period under Tennessee Code § 28-3-104, but exceptions can apply, and some claims have different procedural rules. Because waiting can result in lost evidence and even your ability to recover compensation altogether, speak with a personal injury lawyer promptly.
Can I Recover Lost Wages Through a Personal Injury Claim?
Yes, lost wages may be recoverable when they are caused by an accident for which another party is legally responsible. Documentation may include employer records, pay statements, tax information, and medical evidence connecting time away from work to the injuries.
What If I Was Partly at Fault for the Car Accident?
Tennessee’s modified comparative fault rule may still allow you to recover compensation if your share of fault is less than 50%, although the award can be reduced in proportion to your fault. If you are 50% or more at fault, recovery is barred.
Do I Have to Accept the Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer?
No. You can evaluate the offer, negotiate, or reject it. Before accepting, consider whether the proposed amount accounts for medical bills, lost wages, future needs, and other damages. Once a claim is fully released, reopening it is generally difficult or impossible.
Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Many personal injury claims resolve through settlement, but no responsible personal injury attorney can promise a particular outcome. The path depends on liability, damages, coverage, the positions taken by insurance companies, and whether the parties can agree on fair compensation.
When Can a Family File a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim may be available when an injury caused by another party results in death. Who may bring it and what damages may be recovered depend on Tennessee law and the family’s circumstances. Contact Grissim & Waterman to discuss the specifics of your case.
What Should I Bring to a Free Consultation?
Bring documents you already have, such as police reports, photographs, insurance correspondence, medical bills, witness information, and wage-loss documents. Do not delay a free consultation because you do not yet have every record.
Contact Our Nashville Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
After a serious injury, you should have clear information before making decisions that can affect your health and financial future. Grissim & Waterman provides legal assistance to people injured because of someone else’s negligence in Nashville, Tennessee, and surrounding communities.
Our Nashville personal injury lawyers can review what happened, identify potential defendants and insurance coverage, explain Tennessee law, and determine what steps may be appropriate. If we take your case, our legal team will pursue the evidence and compensation supported by the facts while keeping you informed.
Call 615-255-9999 to schedule a free consultation with a Nashville personal injury lawyer at Grissim & Waterman.
