If you were hurt in a wreck in Morristown or anywhere in Hamblen County, attorney Robert Bates can help. Robert is a trial lawyer who handles injury cases and nothing else, and he has represented injured people across East Tennessee for more than 15 years. Call or text him at (423) 765-1215.
Where Hamblen County wrecks happen
Morristown sits on Interstate 81 with two U.S. highways running through it: 11E, the Andrew Johnson Highway, and 25E. Add State Routes 66 and 160 and the truck traffic headed to Morristown’s plants and warehouses, and you get crowded intersections and long stretches of interstate where one distracted driver can cause a chain-reaction crash. See the truck wreck page.
Where your case is filed
Hamblen County is part of Tennessee’s Third Judicial District, with Greene, Hancock and Hawkins counties. A lawsuit over a Hamblen County wreck is usually filed in Hamblen County Circuit Court in Morristown.
A tractor-trailer crossed the median on I-81. $625,000.
Robert’s client was driving south on Interstate 81 in Morristown when a tractor-trailer crossed the median and hit his pickup head-on. He suffered a broken neck, a torn artery in his neck, severe head trauma and a broken leg at the knee that needed surgery. The trucking company moved the case to federal court. Robert settled it for $625,000.
Every case is different. A past result does not guarantee the same outcome in your case.
After the wreck
Injured drivers and passengers in Morristown are usually treated at Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen, and the most serious trauma cases are often sent on to Knoxville or Johnson City. Keep every bill, photo and insurance letter. Tennessee generally gives you only one year from the date of the wreck to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Drivers coming from the Tri-Cities reach Morristown by I-26 and I-81, and Robert handles wrecks on both.
You never have to come to Robert’s office. 99 out of 100 of his clients hire him without leaving home. You call or text, you talk with Robert, and you sign the paperwork on your phone, even from a hospital bed.
Common questions after a Morristown wreck
What is different about a tractor-trailer wreck on I-81?
Almost everything. Trucking companies must follow federal rules on driver hours, rest, inspections and maintenance, and most trucks record speed and braking data. Interstate carriers also have to carry far more insurance than a car driver, often $750,000 or more. The trucking company usually has investigators at the scene within hours, so Robert moves fast to lock down the truck data, the driver’s logs and the company’s records.
The trucking company moved my case to federal court. Is that bad?
Not necessarily. When the trucking company is from another state, it can often move the case from state court to federal court. The rules for proving your case are a little different there, but the law that decides fault and damages is still Tennessee law. Robert handled an I-81 truck case that was moved to federal court, and it settled for $625,000.
Who pays my medical bills while my case is open?
While the case is open, your own health insurance and any medical payments coverage on your car policy usually pay first. The at-fault driver’s insurance company does not pay as you go. It pays once at the end. Your health insurer may then want to be paid back, and Robert negotiates that number down so more of the money stays with you.
How long do I have to file?
Most Tennessee injury claims must be filed within one year of the wreck. If the at-fault driver was criminally charged, the deadline may stretch to two years, but that exception is read strictly. Call Robert early so the evidence can be saved.
Hurt in a wreck? Don’t wait. Call Bates.
Call or text Robert directly at (423) 765-1215. Free consultation. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.