A Memphis distracted driving accident lawyer helps people hurt by drivers who text or look at a screen while driving. We investigate the crash, prove the distraction, and handle the insurance company for you. Contact us at (901) 402-2000 for a free case review.
Hurt by a Distracted Driver in Memphis?
Since July 1, 2019, Tennessee law has barred drivers from holding a phone, texting, or watching video behind the wheel. The state still enforces it through Operation Hands Free, and the 2026 campaign opened with a press event in Memphis. State safety officials report thousands of distracted driving crashes in Tennessee each year.
Cory Watson Attorneys handles these claims from our downtown Court Avenue office, alongside our Memphis personal injury attorneys. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Talk to a lawyer before you give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement, sign a release, or accept a settlement. Once you accept an offer, you typically can't go back and ask for more.
How Do We Help After a Distracted Driving Crash?
We gather the police report, find witnesses and video, document your injuries, and handle every call from the adjuster. A distraction claim builds on the same work as our Memphis car accident cases, with one added step: proving what the driver was doing on the phone.
What Counts as Distracted Driving in Tennessee?
Anything that takes a driver's eyes, hands, or attention off the road counts, including eating, talking to passengers, and adjusting controls. Under Tennessee's Hands-Free Law, drivers may not hold a phone with any part of their body; write, send, or read texts; reach for a phone in a way that takes them out of a seated, belted position; or watch or record video.
How Do Cell Phone and Texting Records Prove Fault?
Carrier records can show calls and data use, and device data may show activity at the moment of impact. We send preservation letters early, request records through the legal process, and match that activity to the crash time in the police report, vehicle data, and camera footage.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Memphis Distracted Driving Accident?
You may recover medical bills and future care, lost wages and lost earning ability, pain and suffering, and vehicle repair or replacement. Tennessee law limits most non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, with a higher limit for catastrophic injuries. Out-of-pocket medical costs, documented lost wages, and other economic losses are not limited.
If a distracted driver took a loved one's life, our Memphis wrongful death attorneys can explain your family's options.
Why Choose Cory Watson Attorneys for Your Memphis Case?
We Know Memphis Roads and Records
We know the city's main routes, from I-40 and the I-240 loop to Sam Cooper Boulevard. Crash reports may come from Memphis Police, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, or the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and we know how to request each one.
You Get Straight Answers
We explain each step of your claim in plain language.
No Attorney Fee Unless We Recover Compensation
We work on contingency and prepare every case as if it may go to trial.
How Do You Get Started?
- Tell us what happened. Contact us at (901) 402-2000. The review is free.
- Share what you have. Send the report number, photos, medical records, and any insurance letters.
- Let us take it from there. We investigate, protect the phone evidence, and deal with the insurer.
What Does It Cost, and When Can You Reach Us?
Case reviews are free, and our phone line is answered 24/7. Some cases settle within months; others take a year or more. Tennessee has one of the shortest deadlines in the country for filing an injury lawsuit, so call early.
Quick Answers for Memphis Drivers
Is texting while driving illegal in Memphis? Yes. The Hands-Free Law applies on every road and highway in Tennessee.
Do I need a police report? It helps, but witnesses, video, and phone records can also prove distraction.
NHTSA's 2024 distracted driving data counts 3,208 deaths nationwide in distraction-affected crashes, including 437 in crashes where a driver was using a cellphone.
Your Questions About Distracted Driving Claims
How long do I have to file a distracted driving claim in Memphis?
Not long. Tennessee's deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is one of the shortest in the country, and some exceptions can change it. Phone records and camera footage can disappear quickly, so calling early protects both your deadline and your proof.
What if the other driver says they weren't on their phone?
Denials are common. We compare the driver's phone activity with the crash time in the police report, vehicle data, and nearby video. Witness accounts and signs such as no braking before impact can also point to distraction. You don't have to prove it alone.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?
Often, yes. Tennessee lets you recover as long as you were less at fault than the other parties combined, but it reduces your award by your share of fault. For example, if you're found 15% at fault, you can still recover 85% of your damages. Insurers often overstate fault, so talk with us before accepting their version.
What should I do right after a crash in Memphis?
Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel fine. Ask for the report number, take photos, and note whether the other driver was holding a phone. Get witness names. Keep insurer calls short, and talk with us before giving any recorded statement.
How much does a Memphis distracted driving accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation. Your case review is free, and we explain the fee agreement in writing before you sign, so there are no surprises later.
How Do You Find Our Office?
From I-40 or I-240, follow signs into downtown Memphis. Our office is at Court Avenue and North 4th Street, a few blocks north of AutoZone Park.
254 Court Avenue, Suite 511, Memphis, TN 38103 · (901) 402-2000
Ready to Talk With a Memphis Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer?
At Cory Watson Attorneys, we're ready to listen and fight for you. Contact us at (901) 402-2000, 24/7, or request a free case review online.