Personal Injury Lawyers
Serving Middle Tennessee and Beyond
If you have suffered an injury because of another’s negligence or misconduct, you may be entitled to compensation. It is important to speak with a knowledgeable attorney to learn about your rights and your options. You could receive payment for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, lost past and future wages, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Helping Honest People Collect the Money They Deserve
At Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, our Franklin personal injury lawyers are dedicated to helping injured people. Whether you were injured on the job or in a car wreck, we can help you get your life back on track.
How Can I Afford a Lawyer?
Most injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. This means that you don’t have to pay an attorney’s fee until you win your case; if you do not win, you owe us nothing. In addition, your initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer is free and without obligation. You have nothing to lose by talking with an attorney to learn if you have a case.
Examples of Our Personal Injury Cases
We handle cases involving:
- Motor vehicle crashes, including auto, bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Workplace accidents
Our Franklin personal injury lawyers are well regarded by insurance company adjusters, judges and other attorneys. They know that if we take a personal injury case, we have evaluated it fully and are committed to seeing it through, whether it results in a settlement or proceeds to trial.
Fatal Accidents
If you lost a loved one in an accident, no amount of money can take away your pain. However, it can give you time to heal without worrying how you are going to pay the bills and care for your children. Our attorneys handle wrongful death cases that provide survivors with compensation for the lost wages of the deceased and other expenses that arise because your loved one is no longer around.
Contact our office to speak with a Franklin personal injury lawyer. Your consultation is free and you owe no attorneys’ fee until we win your case.
Motor Vehicle Crashes
Franklin Car Accident Lawyer Serving Middle Tennessee and Beyond
People who have been injured in auto accidents and other motor vehicle accidents wonder how they will pay their medical bills and get their cars repaired. They want to know whether their insurance will cover their lost wages while they are unable to work. They need answers to these and many other questions.
Helping Clients Obtain Needed Compensation
At Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, our Franklin, Tennessee, lawyers help people who were injured because of the negligence or misconduct of another. We seek compensation for their medical bills, lost past and future income, and pain and suffering. We take our clients’ cases all the way to trial if necessary to obtain the resources they need. We stand by them throughout the legal process, protecting their rights and keeping them informed about the progress of the case.
Examples of Motor Vehicle Accident Cases
Our experienced attorneys have helped many people in Middle Tennessee and beyond obtain the payment they need after motor vehicle accidents. Our cases have involved:
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Car wrecks
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
How We Help
Our attorneys work with experts and specialists to identify the liable parties and understand the facts of the accident. We consult with medical specialists to learn about the nature and extent of your injuries and their impact on your ability to work and enjoy life as you once did. We explore all sources of payment, including workers’ compensation, your insurance and the other driver’s insurance, dealing with the insurance companies so that you can focus on recovering. We determine whether an insurance claim or a lawsuit is the best approach. We prepare thoroughly, so if the case goes to trial, our attorneys are ready.
Wrongful Death
If a family member died in a motor vehicle accident, our attorneys will file a wrongful death claim so that you can be relieved of anxiety about the future. The death of a family member leaves the survivors worried about paying the bills and raising the children. Our lawyers will vigorously pursue your case so that you can receive compensation for your terrible loss and focus on healing yourself and your family.
Contact us to speak with a Franklin car accident attorney. Your consultation is free and you owe no attorneys’ fee until we win your case.
Distracted Driving Accidents
Texting, eating and drinking cause thousands of injuries every year
Statistics on distracted driving are alarming. In 2011, across the country, 3,331 people were killed and 387,000 were injured in crashes that involved a distracted driver. These accidents could have been prevented. Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, believes the best way to stop this reckless driving is to hold negligent drivers responsible.
What constitutes distracted driving
The attorneys take a hard line when an injury accident involves any of the following:
- Texting
- E-mailing
- Dialing or talking on a cell phone
- Adjusting the radio station
- Adjusting heating or other internal controls
- Conversing with a passenger
- Watching a video
- Drinking or eating
- Reading
- Viewing a map
- Using a navigation system
- Reaching for something
- Looking at something outside of the vehicle
- Grooming
- Applying makeup
The attorneys investigate and build a strong case by interviewing all parties involved, subpoenaing cell phone call and text records, reviewing police reports and using other investigative tools. When needed, experts provide insight into the cause and mechanics of an accident.
Attorneys who know motor vehicle law
If you text while driving in Tennessee, it is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a $50 fine. But if you cause an injury or a wrongful death while texting, the civil penalties can cost you and your insurance company considerably more. A victim of distracted driving has the same right to seek compensation as a victim of any other type of negligent driving.
Lawyers in the association pursue full damages in distracted driving cases involving auto accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents. Injuries can range from broken bones to severe brain injuries and paralysis. Regardless of the severity of the injury, each auto accident attorney does the utmost to seek the compensation clients require.
When an accident victim was distracted
In some cases, a negligent driver may try to claim that the injured person was distracted. In such cases, attorneys on both sides negotiate to determine whether the victim’s distraction contributed to the accident. A jury may have to decide that question. A victim whose distraction made the accident worse may be entitled to less than full compensation.
Find an attorney who can sort out the facts
Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, is aggressive in pursuing full compensation. Contact the attorneys online. Clients in Franklin, Spring Hill, Columbia, Brentwood and across middle Tennessee receive a free initial consultation.
Speeding and Wreckless Driving
Serving Spring Hill, Columbia, Brentwood and Williamson County, TN
Laws against speeding exist to protect the public. Unfortunately, drivers exceed the speed limit all of the time, despite the threat of high fines and almost-certain increases in auto insurance premiums if they are caught. Often, those speeding drivers cause accidents. When a speed-related or reckless driving accident results in injury or wrongful death, Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, champions the rights of victims and their families.
Why speeds are regulated
More than 7,000 speeding-related crashes were reported in Tennessee in 2012, 207 of them in Williamson County, according to state data. Speed limits are set based on road design, traffic patterns and vehicle capabilities. Driving in excess of posted speed limits or driving too fast for conditions — wet, icy, low-visibility, high-traffic — can result in:
- Increased stopping distances
- Reduced response times for both drivers
- Locked brakes
- Rollovers
- Hydroplaning
Combining speeding with driving under the influence (DUI), distracted driving or fatigued drivingcan be deadly.
If any of those situations results in injuries to a passenger or another driver, the attorneys may be able to demonstrate that the speeding driver was negligent.
Proving a reckless driving case
If you were injured in a speed-related crash, an auto accident lawyer must prove three things to establish negligence and obtain compensation:
- The driver owed you a duty
- Violation of that duty took place and caused your injury
- The injury caused you financial or other damages
The attorneys have a track record of aggressively pursuing and obtaining compensation for victims of speed-related crashes and reckless driving involving, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents and truck accidents.
Their investigations include thorough interviews of witnesses and involved parties, reviewing police reports, examining medical records and consulting with experts. Some vehicles are equipped with devices that record speed, braking and maneuvers. The attorneys can request the device’s information.
The attorneys’ considerable experience involves injuries of all types, from whiplash and broken bones to brain injuries, paralysis and wrongful death.
Find an attorney with a unique perspective on motor vehicle law
To discuss your case, call Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, online. They offer a free case evaluation and can visit you in the hospital or at home if needed.
Trucking Accidents
Sending a message when truckers in Tennessee fail to follow federal regulations
Large truck and bus crashes kill about 4,000 people and injure about 100,000 every year. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that driver fatigue is a factor in 13 percent of crashes.
Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, vigorously pursues claims and litigation when a tired truck driver causes injury orwrongful death.
Typically, more than one factor is involved in a crash. Experienced truck accident attorneys can ferret out all possible explanations and build a case of negligence against the driver and his company.
How many hours can a trucker drive?
The FMCSA makes it illegal for a trucking company to require a driver, or for a driver to violate the following regulations:
- A driver cannot operate a commercial vehicle without 10 hours’ rest.
- A driver may drive only during 14 consecutive hours.
- Of that 14-hour shift, a driver may drive a total of 11 hours only. Drivers must take rest breaks.
- Drivers must not be on duty more than 60 hours in seven consecutive days, if driving for a company that does not operate every day of the week, or 70 hours in an 8-day period if the company operates every day
When truck drivers cause auto accidents, one of the first factors to consider is fatigue.
How to prove driver fatigue
Federal law requires truckers and their companies to keep signed driving logs to ensure drivers obtain required rest. Failure to do so is a violation of federal regulations, as is altering driving logs.
The attorneys obtain and verify critical driving logs and computer records. The sooner you contact them, the sooner they can preserve evidence that supports your case for injury compensation.
In addition to driving too many hours, a driver may be fatigued by sleep disorders and poor sleeping habits. Even a driver who complies with federal resting and driving regulations is responsible for recognizing fatigue and its impact on driving ability. The attorneys explore every possible cause of fatigue and hold the driver and the trucking company responsible for negligent conduct.
Count on truck accident attorneys who earn clients’ trust
Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, provides prompt, personal attention in every accident case. Contact the attorneys online for a free initial consultation with lawyers who make a difference in cases in Franklin, Spring Hill, Columbia, Brentwood and throughout Middle Tennessee.
Motorcycle Accidents
Franklin, Tennessee, Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Serving Middle Tennessee and Beyond
Motorcycle accident injuries are usually severe, even if the rider was wearing protective gear such as a helmet or leathers. People injured in motorcycle accidents may be unable to work for weeks or months. They may be permanently disabled. Many motorcycle accidents are fatal, causing unbelievable grief and pain to those left behind.
At Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, we help people who were injured in motorcycle accidents caused by negligence. We seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs of the crash. If the rider died in a fatal accident, we file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation so that survivors cope with their losses.
Examples of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Our attorneys have handled cases involving serious injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Significant orthopedic injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Significant skin abrasions, also known as road rash
- Multiple fractures
Investigating All Possible Sources of Compensation
Our lawyers look at all possible sources of compensation, starting with the rider’s insurance coverage. We evaluate the other driver’s coverage and determine whether some other factor, such as road conditions or defects in the motorcycle, may have contributed to the accident. We are thorough in our investigations and aggressive in our pursuit of a remedy for a client’s losses.
Contact us to speak with a Franklin, Tennessee, motorcycle accident attorney. Your consultation is free and you owe no attorneys’ fee until we win your case
Slip and Fall Accidents
Experienced, dedicated legal counsel in Franklin, Spring Hill, Columbia and Brentwood, TN
Whenever you visit a place that is open to the public, such as a store, business, hospital or a school, you expect to find conditions that are safe. The same is true if you visit someone’s home. Unfortunately, unsafe conditions cause slip-and-fall injuries every day.
Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, is an experienced group of litigators who take property owners and tenants to task when their failure to adhere to accepted safety standards causes an injury.
What is an unsafe condition?
A slip-and-fall accident is one type of premises liability case. Most slip-and-fall injuries stem from the condition of the walking surface. Hazardous surfaces include those that are:
- Wet
- Icy
- Slippery
- Blocked
- Unrepaired, with holes
- Uneven
- Cracked or crumbling
The lack of these protective devices or their poor condition may also cause an injury:
- Floor mats
- Lighting
- Handrails or railings
Other types of premises liability claims can be based on inadequate security, falling objects, faulty equipment, broken seating and uncontrolled animals. Personal injuries can range from a cut or broken bone, to brain injuries, paralysis or wrongful death.
How to prove negligence in Tennessee
Demonstrating negligence requires proof that:
- The property owner or tenant owed you a duty: Were you invited to the property, or was it open to the public? Or did your presence qualify as trespassing or an uninvited visit?
- Violation of that duty occurred and caused your injury: Did you trip or slip due to your physical condition or something you did? Or was it the condition of the property? Was that condition below standards for similar properties?
- Your injury resulted in financial or other damages: How serious was the injury — were you required to obtain medical care or miss time at work?
Establishing each of these requires knowledge of the facts, knowledge of the law and the resources and experience to build that knowledge into a viable case.
A skilled injury lawyer is the key to prevailing in a premises liability case. Property insurance, not the property owner, typically is responsible for paying a fall claim. Insurance company lawyers are tough negotiators and are difficult adversaries in court. You need an attorney who can bargain aggressively to protect your rights to recover damages.
Have questions about a fall? Find attorneys with answers.
In Franklin, Spring Hill, Columbia, Brentwood and all of Williamson County,TN, Story, Abernathy, Ashworth, and McGill, an Association of Attorneys, offers clients the caliber of representation they trust and require in an injury accident. Contact the attorneysonline for a free initial consultation about your case.