A fatal car accident lawyer in Memphis helps your family hold the at-fault driver accountable after a deadly crash. We handle Tennessee wrongful death claims from our downtown Court Avenue office. Call our Memphis office at (901) 402-2000 for a free case review. You owe no attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Why Talk to a Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in Memphis?
In 2025, the Tennessee Highway Patrol's Memphis district recorded 169 traffic deaths, according to preliminary figures in Tennessee's 2025 traffic fatality report. Tennessee law lets a family bring a wrongful death claim against the driver or company responsible, but the deadline to file is short.
Cory Watson Attorneys has recovered more than $4 billion for clients over more than 44 years. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case. We handle the investigation, the insurers, and the court filings. Below, you will find the damages Tennessee allows, who can file, and how long you have.
Talk to a lawyer before you talk to an insurance company. Do not give a recorded statement, sign a release, or accept a settlement offer until an attorney has reviewed your case. Once you accept an offer, you usually cannot go back and ask for more.
How Do We Help After a Deadly Memphis Crash?
A fatal crash case asks more of your lawyer than a typical Memphis car accident claim. We:
- Investigate the crash using police reports, camera video, phone records, and vehicle data.
- Find every source of payment, including the at-fault driver's policy, an employer's policy, and your own uninsured motorist coverage.
- Deal with the insurance companies so your family can focus on each other.
What Wrongful Death Damages Are Available Under Tennessee Law?
Tennessee's wrongful death law covers two kinds of losses:
- Losses before death, such as medical bills, the pain your loved one experienced, lost pay, and funeral costs.
- The value of your loved one's life, including the income they would have earned and the love, companionship, and guidance your family lost.
Punitive damages are the exception, not the rule. They are not part of an ordinary wrongful death recovery, and a court can award them only when a statute expressly authorizes them. The Tennessee Code allows them only in rare cases with strong proof that the driver acted intentionally, maliciously, fraudulently, or recklessly. Ordinary carelessness does not qualify. Unlike other damages, punitive damages punish the driver rather than repay your family.
Why Do Memphis Families Choose Us?
We Know Memphis Roads and Courts
We know the roads Memphis families drive every day, from I-240 to Lamar Avenue's mix of freight and commuter traffic. We also know how Memphis Police and state troopers handle fatal crash reports and how Shelby County courts work.
You Can Reach Us Any Time
Call us 24/7 at (901) 402-2000. We give you straight answers in plain language.
No Attorney's Fee Unless We Recover
Cory Watson Attorneys works on a contingency fee. Our fee is a share of what we recover, and if we do not win, you owe us no attorney's fee. You may still be responsible for certain case costs and expenses, as explained in our written fee agreement.
How Do You Get Started?
- Contact us. Call (901) 402-2000 or use our free case review form.
- Get a free case review. We explain your options and who in your family can bring the claim.
- Let us take over. We investigate the crash and handle the insurance companies.
How Do Our Attorneys Support Your Family Through the Process?
Our Memphis wrongful death lawyers manage the whole process, from gathering evidence and medical records to negotiating with insurers and representing your family in court if needed. If your family needs a personal representative for the estate, we explain how that works.
How Long Does a Fatal Crash Case Take?
Some cases resolve in a few months, while others take a year or more, especially if a trial is needed. Your case review is free, and our phone lines are open 24/7. You can explore our services for Memphis families at any time.
What Do Memphis Families Ask Us Most?
Who Can File a Fatal Car Accident Claim in Memphis?
In Tennessee, the surviving spouse usually has the first right to bring the claim. If there is no spouse, the children or other next of kin can step in. When a child dies, the parents usually bring it. The estate's personal representative may also file under Tennessee's wrongful death statutes.
What Is Tennessee's Statute of Limitations for Fatal Accident Claims?
A statute of limitations is the deadline to file a lawsuit, and Tennessee's deadline for wrongful death claims is short. Because Tennessee courts treat a wrongful death claim as your loved one's own injury claim, the clock generally starts on the day of the crash, even if your loved one died later. The deadline can be longer in some cases where the at-fault driver faces criminal charges, so call us early.
More Questions Families Ask
What should you do first after a fatal crash in Memphis?
Write down what you know about the crash, keep any photos or texts, and save the names of witnesses. Avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Contact us early so we can ask nearby businesses to save their camera video, since many systems record over old footage.
How do you get the crash report in Memphis?
Ask the agency that worked the crash. Inside the city, that is usually the Memphis Police Department. On interstates such as I-40 or I-240, the Tennessee Highway Patrol may handle it. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office covers some areas outside the city. We can request the report for you.
What if your loved one was partly at fault?
You may still recover. Tennessee uses a modified comparative fault rule. If your loved one's share of the fault was smaller than that of the others involved, your family can still recover, but the award is reduced by your loved one's share. If their share was equal to or greater than the others', the family recovers nothing. Insurers often push this argument, so talk with us before you accept their version of events.
What if the at-fault driver had little or no insurance?
Your family may still have options. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your loved one's own policy, or a household member's policy, may help pay the claim, depending on the policy terms. A driver working for a company may also bring that company's insurance into the case. We review every policy that could apply.
Will your case go to trial in Memphis?
Most cases settle without a trial, but we prepare each case as if it will go to court. If a lawsuit is filed over a Memphis crash, it is usually heard in a Shelby County court. We explain every option before you decide whether to settle.
How Do You Find Our Downtown Office?
From I-40 or I-240, follow the signs into downtown Memphis. Our office is at the corner of Court Avenue and North 4th Street, about one block north of AutoZone Park.
Cory Watson Attorneys, Memphis Office: 254 Court Avenue, Suite 511, Memphis, TN 38103 · (901) 402-2000
Ready to Talk About Your Case?
We are here for your family, whether you live in Midtown, Whitehaven, or Bartlett. Contact us at (901) 402-2000. You can also contact us today through our free case review form.