Memphis Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

Representing the catastrophically injured in Memphis, Jackson, Nashville, and throughout Tennessee and Arkansas

A catastrophic injury changes everything in an instant. One day you are working, providing for your family, and planning for the future. Next, you are facing surgeries, mounting medical bills, and the possibility that you may never return to the life you knew. When that kind of harm is caused by someone else’s negligence, the financial and emotional weight should not fall on you alone.

Greer Injury Lawyers has secured more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements for injured people and their families across Memphis, Jackson, and West Tennessee. We are trial attorneys who take on the toughest cases on behalf of people whose injuries have permanently altered their lives. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury because of someone else’s carelessness, contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Catastrophic Injuries in Tennessee: What You Should Know

A catastrophic injury is one that leaves a person with permanent damage and the need for long-term, often lifelong, medical care. Unlike injuries that heal with time, a catastrophic injury fundamentally reshapes a person’s daily life. It can mean chronic pain, the loss of the ability to sit, stand, or walk, disfigurement, the inability to work, and a profound loss of independence. These are the cases where a victim survives a devastating event but is left with a body that can no longer do what it once could.

Because the consequences are permanent, catastrophic injury claims are far higher in value and far more complex than ordinary personal injury cases. The full cost of the harm extends decades into the future and must be carefully documented and proven, from lifelong attendant care to lost earning capacity to the cost of modifying a home for accessibility. Settling too early, before the full extent of the injury is known, can leave a family without the resources they will need for years to come.

Greer Injury Lawyers represents catastrophically injured clients throughout Tennessee and Arkansas. Both states allow injured people to recover compensation, but the deadlines to file, the limits on damages, and the rules that govern recovery differ significantly between them. Understanding which state’s law applies, and acting quickly to preserve evidence, is critical to protecting your claim.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries We Handle

Greer Injury Lawyers handles the full range of life-altering injuries. Some of the most common catastrophic injuries we see include:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI). A blow to the head in a crash, fall, or violent event can cause lasting damage to a person’s cognitive, physical, and emotional functioning, from memory and concentration problems to permanent personality changes.

Spinal cord injury and paralysis. Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia, requiring lifelong care and assistive equipment.

Traumatic amputation and loss of limb. The loss of an arm, leg, hand, or foot, whether in the incident itself or through later surgery, permanently affects mobility, employment, and independence.

Severe burn injuries. Serious burns are among the most painful injuries a person can suffer and often require repeated surgeries, skin grafts, and leave permanent scarring.

Organ damage. Internal injuries to the lungs, kidneys, liver, or other organs can require ongoing treatment and shorten a person’s lifespan.

Loss of vision or hearing. Permanent blindness or deafness caused by trauma is a life-altering sensory loss.

Severe scarring and disfigurement. Permanent, visible scarring carries both physical and significant emotional consequences.

Nerve damage. Damage to the nervous system can cause chronic pain, weakness, and loss of function that never fully resolves.

Multiple or complex fractures. Crushing injuries and broken bones that require surgery, hardware, or leave lasting limitations.

Catastrophic injuries to children. When a child suffers a permanent injury, the impact stretches across an entire lifetime and requires special care in how the case is handled.

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Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

A catastrophic injury can arise from almost any kind of negligence. The most common causes our attorneys handle include:

Motor vehicle collisions. High-speed car, truck, and motorcycle crashes are a leading source of catastrophic harm, particularly collisions involving large commercial trucks.
Medical malpractice and birth injuries. Surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, and negligence during labor and delivery can cause permanent, irreversible harm.
Dangerous and defective products. Faulty equipment, defective vehicle components, dangerous drugs, and unsafe consumer products can cause severe injuries.
Premises and property hazards. Falls from height, unsafe conditions, and other property hazards can leave visitors permanently injured.
Workplace and construction accidents. Job-site falls, equipment failures, and similar incidents can cause life-changing injuries, sometimes giving rise to claims beyond workers’ compensation.
Nursing home neglect and abuse. Vulnerable residents can suffer catastrophic harm when a facility fails to provide proper care.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Catastrophic Injury?

Identifying every party responsible for a catastrophic injury is one of the most important steps in maximizing a recovery, because a single incident may involve several at-fault parties and multiple insurance policies. Depending on how the injury occurred, the responsible parties may include:

Negligent individuals. A careless driver, property owner, or other person whose conduct directly caused the harm.
Employers and companies. A business may be responsible for the negligence of an employee acting within the scope of their job, or for its own failures in hiring, training, or safety.
Product manufacturers. A company that designed, made, or sold a defective product can be held responsible when that product causes injury.
Medical providers and facilities. Doctors, hospitals, and other providers can be liable when substandard care causes permanent harm.
Property owners and managers. Those who control a property may be responsible for dangerous conditions that injure a visitor.

Catastrophic injury cases require a thorough investigation, conducted quickly, before evidence disappears. The attorneys at Greer Injury Lawyers begin building your case immediately after you contact us.

What Compensation Can I Recover for a Catastrophic Injury?

Because a catastrophic injury affects a person for the rest of their life, the compensation must account for both immediate losses and the full cost of the future. Under Tennessee law, an injured victim and their family may be entitled to recover:

Past and current medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, and hospitalization
Future medical costs, including rehabilitation, physical therapy, and long-term treatment
The cost of lifelong attendant or in-home care
Modifications to a home or vehicle to accommodate a disability, such as wheelchair access
Lost wages and income during recovery
Diminished earning capacity when the injury permanently limits the ability to work
Pain and suffering caused by the injury
Emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD
Disfigurement and scarring
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium for a spouse

The value of a catastrophic injury case depends on the severity of the injury, the number of liable parties, the insurance available, and other factors specific to your situation. We do not recommend settling a case until you have reached maximum medical improvement and we have a full accounting of your damages, both present and future.

Tennessee’s Limits on Catastrophic Injury Damages

Tennessee places statutory limits on certain damages in injury and wrongful death cases. Under the Tennessee Civil Justice Act, which took effect in October 2011, non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium, are generally capped at $750,000.
That cap is raised to $1,000,000 in cases involving catastrophic losses, which the law specifically defines as spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia, amputation of two hands, two feet, or one of each, third-degree burns over 40% of the body or 40% of the face, and the wrongful death of a parent with lawful rights of custody or visitation who leaves behind minor children.
The cap does not apply at all in certain situations, including intentional misconduct, the destruction of records, or conduct committed while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or the de.
Economic damages, such as medical bills and lost earnings, are not capped. Because the dividing line between capped and uncapped damages can have an enormous effect on a catastrophic injury recovery, having an experienced attorney is essential. Notably, Arkansas takes the opposite approach: its state constitution prohibits caps on damages for injuries to persons, so a catastrophic injury occurring in Arkansas may not be subject to these limits.

Tennessee vs. Arkansas: Key Differences at a Glance

Greer Injury Lawyers handles catastrophic injury claims in both Tennessee and Arkansas. The two states differ in several important ways:

Issue	Tennessee	Arkansas
Deadline to file (personal injury)	1 year from the injury (T.C.A. § 28-3-104)	3 years from the injury (Ark. Code § 16-56-105)
Deadline to file (wrongful death)	1 year (T.C.A. § 28-3-104)	3 years from the date of death (Ark. Code § 16-62-102)
Medical malpractice deadline	Generally 1 year	Generally 2 years
Cap on non-economic damages	$750,000, raised to $1,000,000 for catastrophic losses (Civil Justice Act of 2011)	No cap (prohibited by Arkansas Constitution, Art. 5 § 32)
Comparative fault rule	Modified; you may recover if less than 50% at fault	Modified; you may recover if less than 50% at fault
Deadline for injured minors	Generally tolled until age 18	Generally tolled until age 18 (often until the 21st birthday)

This table is a general overview. The deadline and rules that apply to your case depend on its specific facts, and exceptions exist. Always confirm your deadline with an attorney.

What Should I Do After a Catastrophic Injury?

The steps taken in the hours and days after a serious injury can affect both your health and your legal claim. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, consider the following:

Get immediate and ongoing medical care. Follow your doctors’ instructions and keep every appointment. Your medical records are the foundation of your claim.
Preserve evidence. If you are able, keep anything connected to the incident, including photographs, defective products, and clothing. Ask someone you trust to document the scene if you cannot.
Identify witnesses. Collect names and contact information from anyone who saw what happened. Witnesses become harder to locate as time passes.
Do not give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly. Do not provide a recorded statement or accept any settlement offer before speaking with an attorney.
Contact a catastrophic injury lawyer right away. Critical evidence can be lost if it is not preserved quickly, and strict filing deadlines apply. The sooner you contact us, the better protected your claim will be.

What Is the Process for a Catastrophic Injury Claim?

Catastrophic injury claims involve more steps than an ordinary injury case. Permanent harm, multiple potentially liable parties, and the need to prove decades of future losses all make experienced guidance essential. The general process looks like this:

Consult with a catastrophic injury attorney to evaluate the facts of your case and identify every viable claim.
Investigate and preserve evidence, including medical records, accident or scene evidence, defective products, and any available video or witness testimony. Acting quickly is critical before evidence is lost.
Identify all liable parties and insurance, which may include individuals, employers, manufacturers, property owners, or medical providers, along with every applicable insurance policy.
Document the full extent of the harm by working with medical specialists and life-care planning experts to project future treatment, attendant care, and lost earning capacity.
File insurance claims with the responsible parties’ insurers.
Negotiate for full and fair compensation. Your attorney handles all communication with the insurance companies.
File a lawsuit if necessary, within the applicable statute of limitations, if the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation.
Proceed to trial if needed. As trial attorneys, we are prepared to take your case before a jury.

How Long Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Claim?

In Tennessee, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including catastrophic injury claims, is one year from the date of the injury under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 28-3-104. Wrongful death claims are subject to the same one-year deadline. If you miss this deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case and you will lose your right to seek compensation. Limited exceptions exist, such as when the injured person is a minor, but you should never rely on an exception without speaking to an attorney first.

If your catastrophic injury occurred in Arkansas, the deadline is different and more generous. Under Arkansas Code Section 16-56-105, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, and wrongful death claims must be filed within three years of the date of death under Arkansas Code Section 16-62-102. Arkansas medical malpractice claims, however, carry a shorter two-year deadline, and for injured minors the deadline is generally tolled until they turn 18, often giving them until their 21st birthday to file.

Whichever state applies, building a strong catastrophic injury case requires immediate action to preserve evidence and document the full extent of the harm. Contact Greer Injury Lawyers as soon as possible.

How Much Does a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Charge?

Greer Injury Lawyers handles catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no out-of-pocket expenses. Once we win your case, associated fees and costs are paid from the recovery before the remainder is released to you. This arrangement ensures that every injured person has access to experienced legal representation regardless of their financial situation, so you can focus on your recovery while we focus on your case.

Is a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Near Me?

Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC has offices in Memphis, Jackson, and Nashville, Tennessee, as well as Little Rock, Arkansas, and represents clients throughout both states. If you are critically injured and unable to travel to us, we will come to you, whether that means a hospital room, a rehabilitation center, or your home. We also offer virtual consultations and telephone appointments.

Dealing with the aftermath of a catastrophic injury is difficult enough. Choosing a lawyer who will fight for you should not be. To schedule your free, no-obligation consultation, call our office or fill out our contact form today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injuries

What is considered a catastrophic injury?

A catastrophic injury is a serious injury that causes permanent damage and requires long-term or lifelong medical care. It typically has a major, lasting impact on a person’s quality of life, leaving them with chronic pain, disability, disfigurement, or the inability to work or live independently. Common examples include spinal cord injuries and paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe burns, and the permanent loss of vision or hearing.

How is a catastrophic injury claim different from a regular personal injury claim?

Catastrophic injury claims are far more complex and higher in value because the harm is permanent. Instead of compensating for a temporary setback, these cases must account for decades of future medical care, lost earning capacity, and the cost of adapting to a permanent disability. They often involve multiple liable parties, larger insurance policies, and expert testimony about a person’s future needs, which is why experienced representation is so important.

Is there a limit on the damages I can recover in Tennessee?

Tennessee caps non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, at $750,000 in most cases. That cap rises to $1,000,000 for catastrophic losses, which the law defines as spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia, amputation of two hands, two feet, or one of each, third-degree burns over 40% of the body or face, and the wrongful death of a parent of minor children. The cap does not apply in cases of intentional misconduct, records destruction, or conduct under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, are not capped. Arkansas, by contrast, does not cap damages for personal injuries.

Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

Possibly. Both Tennessee and Arkansas follow a modified comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover compensation as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent. Your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault, your compensation is reduced by 20 percent. An experienced attorney can help ensure that fault is assigned fairly and that you are not blamed for more than your share.

What if my catastrophic injury happened in Arkansas?

If your injury occurred in Arkansas, Arkansas law generally applies, which gives you three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, longer than Tennessee’s one-year deadline. Arkansas also does not cap damages for personal injuries, although shorter deadlines apply to certain claims such as medical malpractice. Greer Injury Lawyers maintains an office in Little Rock and handles catastrophic injury claims throughout Arkansas.

What if a catastrophic injury leads to my loved one’s death?

If a loved one does not survive a catastrophic injury, eligible family members may bring a wrongful death claim. Recoverable damages can include medical expenses incurred before death, funeral and burial costs, lost income the person would have earned, and compensation for the loss of love, companionship, and care. Wrongful death deadlines differ by state, one year in Tennessee and three years from the date of death in Arkansas, so it is important to contact an attorney promptly.