I need to hire a personal injury lawyer. Should I ask if the lawyer has malpractice coverage or can I assume that the lawyer has the coverage because it is required by law to have it? Believe it or not, there is nothing in the law that requires lawyers to…
I have a personal injury case. I am trying to find a lawyer. Lots of lawyers say that they are members of the Tennessee Bar Association or the American Bar Association. What does that mean? Many lawyers advertise that they are members of the Tennessee Bar Association, the American…
My neighbor got upset with me because I complained to the police about her loud music. She came over, started arguing, and beat me up with baseball bat. The police have arrested her and charged her with aggravated assault. I suffered two broken fingers, a broken arm and…
I live in Tennessee. I was sexually abused by a neighbor when I was 15. I am 17 now. Can I still sue him? Yes. Tennessee law requires that you file suit before your 19th birthday. The failure to file suit by your 19th birthday will result in a loss of…
My car wreck case is coming to trial soon. A jury of twelve people will decide my case. Must they all agree on the result? Yes, unless the lawyers agree otherwise, all 12 jurors must reach an agreement on the result in the case. In some states, the law permits…
I was hurt in a truck wreck. I could not get the case settled and I filed a lawsuit. Now the trucking company is asking me all sorts of personal questions. Can they do that? Yes, within limits. A person who is sued has the right to ask you information…
How does a jury determine how much money to give for pain and suffering in a personal injury case? The jury listens to the evidence and the law as explained by the judge and determines what they believe is a fair amount. There is no formula for determining how much money…
I received a broken leg in a motorcycle crash and received a settlement from the other driver’s insurance company. Do I have to pay federal income taxes on the money I received? Not under current federal income tax law. There are certain types of lawsuits that give rise to the…
My neighbor was playing with fireworks this weekend. One of the fireworks shot into my yard and hit me right in the face. I was burned and I injured my left eye. I immediately went to the emergency room and am seeking additional medical treatment. What are my…
When I got hurt in a car wreck I missed three weeks of work but still received my normal pay because of accumulated sick time. Can I still ask the person who caused the car wreck to pay me for the time I missed from work ? Yes. Under current Tennessee law,…