If you were hurt in a wreck in Rogersville or anywhere in Hawkins County, attorney Robert Bates can help. Robert is a Kingsport trial lawyer who handles injury cases and nothing else, and he has represented injured people across Northeast Tennessee for more than 15 years. Call or text him at (423) 765-1215.
Where Hawkins County wrecks happen
U.S. 11W, the Lee Highway, is Rogersville’s main road, and locals know how dangerous it is. It runs from Knoxville through Rogersville and Church Hill into Kingsport, where Interstate 26 begins. Heavy commuter traffic, trucks, and turns across fast lanes make 11W wrecks far too common.
Where your case is filed
Hawkins County is part of Tennessee’s Third Judicial District, with Greene, Hamblen and Hancock counties. A lawsuit over a Hawkins County wreck is usually filed in Hawkins County Circuit Court in Rogersville, at the 1836 courthouse on Main Street, one of the oldest courthouses still in use in Tennessee.
Hit by a driver who ran a red light. $180,000.
A driver ran a red light and hit the passenger side of Robert’s client’s car. His wife, riding beside him, was killed. He was badly hurt himself and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from watching her die.
Robert and Tony Seaton pushed for the earliest trial date the court would give them in Hawkins County, and the case settled for $180,000. When the insurance company then sent a check made out to his late wife, Robert filed a motion to make it honor the deal.
Every case is different. A past result does not guarantee the same outcome in your case.
After the wreck
Hawkins County Memorial Hospital on Locust Street treats many people hurt in Rogersville wrecks, and serious injuries often go to Kingsport or Johnson City. If you were flown out, see our helicopter transport page. 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.
Rogersville is Tennessee’s second-oldest town, and its people expect a lawyer who shows up.
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 Rogersville wreck
A driver turned left across 11W in front of me. Who is at fault?
Usually the turning driver. Tennessee law requires a driver turning left to yield to oncoming traffic that is close enough to be a hazard. Insurance companies will still look for ways to blame you, such as your speed or whether your headlights were on, so it helps to have the crash report, photos and witness names early.
I lost a family member in a wreck. Who can bring the case?
In Tennessee, a wrongful death claim usually belongs first to the surviving spouse, then to the children or next of kin. The family can recover for medical and funeral bills, lost earnings and the value of the life that was lost, including the loss of love and companionship. The one-year deadline applies here too. See the wrongful death page for more.
The other driver only had the minimum insurance. Is that all I can get?
Not always. Tennessee’s minimum is only $25,000 per person, and a hospital stay can use that up fast. Your own policy may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that pays after the other driver’s limit runs out. In Tennessee that coverage comes with your policy unless you turned it down in writing, so Robert checks for it in every case.
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.