Brentwood Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Holding Impaired Drivers Accountable When a Preventable Decision Causes Serious Harm

A drunk driving crash is different from an ordinary traffic accident in one important respect: the decision that put others in danger was entirely preventable. A person who chooses to drive after drinking can put everyone around them at risk. When that choice results in a collision, victims may suffer devastating injuries, permanent disabilities, or the loss of someone they love.

For an injured person, the aftermath can be especially difficult. While law enforcement may investigate the driver's conduct and prosecutors may pursue criminal charges, those proceedings do not automatically compensate victims for medical bills, lost income, long-term care, or the other ways the crash has affected their lives. A separate civil claim may be necessary.

At Pritchard Injury Firm, we represent people and families harmed by drunk and impaired drivers throughout Brentwood and Williamson County. We investigate not only the collision itself, but also the circumstances that allowed the impaired driver to get behind the wheel. Tennessee generally gives personal injury victims only one year to file a lawsuit, making prompt investigation particularly important after a serious impaired driving collision.

A Criminal Charge and Your Injury Claim Serve Different Purposes

After a suspected drunk driving accident, victims often assume the criminal justice system will take care of everything. It does not. A criminal prosecution is brought by the government and focuses on whether the driver violated criminal law. Your personal injury case is a separate civil matter focused on the harm that driver's conduct caused you.

That civil claim may seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Future treatment
• Permanent injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Other qualifying losses

You do not necessarily have to wait for a criminal case to conclude before understanding your civil options. Evidence developed during the criminal investigation may also become important to the injury case, which is one reason early legal involvement can matter.

When Someone Chose to Drive Impaired, We Look at the Entire Story

A drunk driving case should not stop with the fact that a collision occurred. Important questions can include:

• Where was the driver before the crash?
• What evidence exists of alcohol or drug impairment?
• Did police conduct field sobriety or chemical testing?
• Were witnesses present?
• Was the driver visibly intoxicated before getting behind the wheel?
• Was anyone else legally responsible for contributing to what happened?

Pritchard Injury Firm can investigate these questions while our clients focus on recovery. Our work may include:

• Obtaining crash and arrest records
• Preserving video evidence
• Interviewing witnesses
• Reviewing available toxicology evidence
• Investigating potential additional defendants
• Documenting medical and financial losses
• Dealing directly with insurance companies
• Preparing the case for litigation when necessary

We handle drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered.

Devastating Injuries Call for Serious Advocacy

Impaired drivers may speed, drift between lanes, run traffic signals, enter the wrong side of a roadway, or react too slowly to changing traffic. The resulting collisions can be violent. 

Pritchard Injury Firm represents individuals and families dealing with catastrophic injuries and preventable deaths. Our firm recently secured a $10 million recovery for a family in a wrongful death case, demonstrating our ability to pursue significant cases when negligence results in devastating loss.

A severe drunk driving accident claim may need to account for:

• Emergency and trauma care
• Hospitalization
• Surgical procedures
• Rehabilitation
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning ability
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Long-term assistance

The value of a case should reflect what the impaired driver's actions have actually taken from the victim—not simply the first round of expenses.

Impaired Driving Risks Around Brentwood

Brentwood's proximity to Nashville, Franklin, restaurants, entertainment destinations, and major transportation corridors means drivers regularly travel through the area during evenings, weekends, holidays, and other periods when impaired driving can become a concern.

Serious collisions may occur along routes such as:

• Interstate 65
• Old Hickory Boulevard
• Franklin Road
• Concord Road
• Moores Lane
• Wilson Pike
• Maryland Way

Impaired driving is dangerous anywhere, but interstate speeds can make the consequences especially severe. A driver who reacts seconds too late while traveling at highway speed can cause a multi-vehicle collision before surrounding motorists have time to respond.

Alcohol Isn't the Only Form of Impairment

Although many cases involve alcohol, impaired driving can take other forms. Drivers may be unsafe because of:

• Illegal drugs
• Certain prescription medications
• Combinations of alcohol and medication
• Multiple intoxicating substances

The legal investigation therefore should not automatically end if alcohol is not the primary issue. Police observations, toxicology testing, witness testimony, video evidence, and the driver's behavior before and after the crash can all become relevant.

Evidence in a Drunk Driving Case Can Go Beyond the Crash Scene

Ordinary car accident evidence remains important in an impaired driving claim, including photographs, vehicle damage, witness testimony, and electronic vehicle information. But drunk driving cases may produce additional evidence.

Depending on the circumstances, this could include:

• Police body-camera footage
• Dash-camera recordings
• Field sobriety test information
• Breath or blood test results
• Toxicology records
• Arrest reports
• Witness observations
• Surveillance footage
• Receipts or transaction records
• Social media evidence when legally obtainable and relevant
• Criminal court records

Evidence regarding where the driver was immediately before the crash may also become important. Because video and other records can disappear, investigating promptly can help preserve information that may strengthen the claim.

Could Someone Besides the Drunk Driver Be Responsible?

In certain circumstances, the impaired driver may not be the only party whose conduct should be investigated. Tennessee law recognizes limited circumstances in which a person or business that furnished alcohol may potentially face liability when statutory requirements are met. These claims are highly fact-specific and should not be assumed to exist in every drunk driving case.

Potential questions may include whether alcohol was provided to someone who was underage or whether other circumstances recognized under Tennessee law apply. Other responsible parties might also include:

• An employer if the impaired driver was acting within the scope of employment
• Another negligent motorist who contributed to the crash
• A business or commercial entity under circumstances creating independent liability

A thorough investigation looks for every legally responsible party, rather than automatically treating the collision as a claim against one driver's auto policy.

Can Punitive Damages Be Available?

Most personal injury compensation is intended to compensate the victim for losses caused by an accident. In certain cases involving particularly reckless or egregious conduct, punitive damages may potentially be available under Tennessee law. These damages serve a different purpose and are subject to specific legal standards.

Drunk driving does not mean punitive damages should simply be assumed in every case. Whether they may be pursued depends on the evidence and circumstances involved. However, an impaired driving collision deserves careful evaluation for all forms of damages potentially available under Tennessee law.

Injuries Caused by Impaired Drivers

Drunk driving crashes can produce injuries ranging from fractures to permanent catastrophic conditions. Victims may suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Neck and back injuries
• Multiple broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Crush injuries
• Burns
• Facial injuries
• Nerve damage
• Amputations
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement

Emotional consequences can also be substantial. Victims may struggle with anxiety, sleep problems, fear of driving, or psychological trauma after learning that their injuries resulted from someone's deliberate decision to drive while impaired.

Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident

A civil injury claim may seek compensation for the full range of losses caused by the collision. Depending on the case, damages can include:

• Past medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Rehabilitation
• Lost income
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent impairment
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Other qualifying damages

In fatal crashes, eligible surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Every case is different, and compensation should be evaluated based on the victim's individual injuries and losses.

What to Do After Being Hit by a Suspected Drunk Driver

After obtaining necessary emergency care, several actions may help protect your claim:

1. Call 911 and report the crash immediately.
2. Seek medical treatment for your injuries.
3. Tell responding officers about any behavior suggesting impairment.
4. Photograph the vehicles and accident scene if safely possible.
5. Collect witness contact information.
6. Preserve any photographs, videos, or communications related to the collision.
7. Keep medical records and documentation of missed work.
8. Do not confront the impaired driver.
9. Be cautious when dealing with insurance companies.
10. Speak with an attorney before accepting a settlement.

When a victim is hospitalized or incapacitated, family members can also help preserve information while an attorney begins investigating.

Drunk Driving Accident Cases We Handle

Our firm represents victims in impaired driving cases involving:

• Rear-end crashes
• Head-on collisions
• Intersection accidents
• Wrong-way crashes
• Interstate collisions
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• Pedestrians and cyclists
• Motorcycle accidents
• Commercial vehicles
• Drug-impaired drivers
• Catastrophic injuries
• Fatal drunk driving accidents

Each case requires an investigation focused on both the collision and the impairment that preceded it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to sue a drunk driver in Tennessee?

Tennessee generally imposes a one-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. Other claims or circumstances may involve different deadlines, so prompt legal review is important.

Do I have to wait for the driver's criminal case to finish?

Not necessarily. The criminal prosecution and civil personal injury claim are separate proceedings.

What if the drunk driver wasn't convicted?

A lack of criminal conviction does not automatically prevent a civil claim. Criminal and civil cases involve different legal standards, and the available evidence should be independently evaluated.

Can I recover punitive damages from a drunk driver?

Potentially, depending on the facts and whether Tennessee's legal requirements for punitive damages are satisfied.

Can a bar or restaurant be held responsible?

Only in certain circumstances. Tennessee law places significant limitations on alcohol-provider liability, so these claims require careful factual and legal analysis.

What if the impaired driver killed a member of my family?

Eligible surviving family members may have the right to pursue a Tennessee wrongful death claim in addition to any criminal proceedings against the driver.

How much does Pritchard Injury Firm charge?

We handle drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered.

You Didn't Make the Choice to Drive Impaired. You Shouldn't Carry the Consequences Alone.

When someone chooses to get behind the wheel while impaired, innocent people can be left dealing with the consequences for the rest of their lives. If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk or drug-impaired driver in Brentwood or Williamson County, Pritchard Injury Firm can investigate what happened, pursue every appropriate source of accountability, and fight for a recovery that recognizes the seriousness of what was taken from you.

Contact Pritchard Injury Firm for a free consultation. Call 615-942-0242 today to discuss your case.