Personal Injury Cases

Our Focus

The primary focus of McDonald, Levy, Taylor and Crotwell has always been personal injury cases. Our firm has successfully handled hundreds of cases involving a multitude of injuries.

Farrell A. Levy is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Specialization and as Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Marty McDonald is certified by the Tennessee Supreme Court as a Rule 31 Mediator.

Attorneys from the firm have been asked to speak at numerous seminars concerning the trial of personal injury lawsuits. The firm has participated in many cases involving significant verdicts or settlements.

The firm handles all types of personal injury cases, including:

• Automobile Accidents
• Trucking Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Injuries Caused by Drunk Drivers
• Medical Malpractice Cases
• Improperly Filled Prescriptions
• Pharmacy Malpractice Cases
• Nursing Home Neglect
• Products Liability Cases
• Premises Liability Cases
• Slip and Fall Injuries
• Aviation Accidents
• Injuries from Pollution or Toxic Substances
• Federal Employment Liability Act (FELA)

General Information

If you, or someone you love, has been injured in an automobile accident, truck accident, slip and fall accident, or through other means, as a result of someone else’s negligence or reckless conduct, you may be entitled to recover money damages from the person or persons who caused the injury. Negligence, in the simplest terms, is the failure of a person to act as a reasonably careful person would do.

In Tennessee personal injury cases, damages are determined by several factors, including:

• Mental and physical pain and suffering
• Economic loss/impact
• Future earning capacity (impairment or inability)
• Physical impairment and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Medical expenses

If you have been injured, it is important to your case to:

• Make sure you get the medical treatment you need and inform the doctors of all of your injuries.
• Report the accident to your insurance company.
• Photograph any visible injuries, the damages to the vehicles involved in the accident, and the accident scene.
• Obtain the name, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses.
• Save your receipts for your prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, medical bills, braces, and other bills you incur as a result of your accident.
• Do not sign anything or give any interviews or recorded statements without first consulting an attorney.

Important Warnings:

Tennessee has a one (1) year statute of limitations for most personal injury actions. If you fail to file suit within the statute of limitations, you may lose all your rights to bring suit for your injuries. The sooner you involve our team of personal injury attorneys, the faster we can preserve the evidence in your case and protect your rights. In certain rare situations, the statute of limitations may be longer than one (1) year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What do I need to do if I have been injured?

A. It is recommended that you perform the following actions:

• Contact your insurance company immediately and advise them you have been involved in an accident.
• Medical Treatment - Often after an accident, the nagging pain you thought would go away didn’t. Injuries can show up a day or two - or even longer - after the accident. Make sure you immediately get the medical treatment you need and inform the doctors of all your injuries. I suggest writing down your injuries so you don't forget anything. If your complaints are not in your medical records, a judge or jury will wonder why it took so long for you to report them to your doctor.
• Avoid discussing your case with strangers and/or representatives from the opposing party’s insurance company.
• Often one photograph is worth a thousand words. Take photographs of any visible injuries, damaged automobiles, and the accident scene.

Q: What are my attorney fees?

A. Attorney fees in personal injury cases are normally based on a percentage of the amount recovered for you. Therefore, if we do not receive a recovery for you - we do not receive a fee. You may be responsible for costs that we advance to prepare you case. The contingency fee arrangement will be discussed with you at the first meeting and you will be provided with a written contract that sets forth all the terms clearly. Again, if we do not obtain a recovery for you - we do not receive a fee.

Q. What is my personal injury case worth?

A. There are many factors involved in valuing an injury case. A few of those factors include: the type of injury you received, the amount of your medical bills, how the accident happened, how long it took you to recover, and lost wages both current and future. Our firm has years of experience in valuing personal injury cases. However, you can be assured that you will be advised of the progress of your case, and any settlement offers made regarding your case. We will never settle your injury case without discussing the case with you. It is ultimately your decision whether to accept any offers made by the opposing party.