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Memphis, Tennessee Car Accident Lawyer
Injured in a car accident in Memphis? Our car accident lawyers are local, and it matters.
We know which intersections along Poplar, Summer, and Winchester see the most crashes. We know the difference between filing in Shelby County General Sessions and Shelby County Circuit Court. We know which Memphis hospitals and trauma centers accident victims end up in, and we know how local insurance adjusters handle claims out of this market — because we’ve been doing this here for over 45 years.
If you were hurt in a wreck anywhere in Memphis, call 901-529-1111 for a free consultation, from an experienced Memphis car accident lawyer or read on for what you need to know about pursuing a claim locally.
For a complete breakdown of how car accident claims work — types of collisions, what compensation covers, how fault is determined in Tennessee, and what to expect from the process — see our full Car Accident Lawyer guide:
Car Accidents Are a Serious Problem on Memphis Roads
Shelby County recorded more than 30,000 car crashes in 2025 alone, according to Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security data. That’s down significantly from a few years ago — state officials credit the Memphis Safe Task Force and the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Bluff City Task Force with helping drive fatalities in the Memphis district down from 259 to 169 in a single year, the largest improvement of any region in Tennessee. Memphis District 4 accounted for over 60% of Tennessee’s total fatality reduction (149 fewer deaths statewide). Tennessee Traffic Crashes by County (2021–2025) [link:https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/crash_stats/CountyCrashRankings.pdf]
That progress is real, but it doesn’t change what a serious crash does to the person going through it. Behind those numbers are real people dealing with hospital bills, missed paychecks, and an insurance company that’s already building a file against them.
High-traffic corridors like I-40, I-240, I-269, Poplar Avenue, Summer Avenue, and Winchester Road continue to see a disproportionate share of serious wrecks — a mix of heavy commuter volume, higher speeds on the interstates, and dense commercial intersections on the surface streets. If your crash happened on one of these roads, our car accident attorneys have almost certainly handled a case very much like it before.
What Happens After a Car Accident in Memphis
The steps immediately after a crash matter everywhere, but a few things work differently here:
The police report. Memphis Police Department handles crash reports within city limits; the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office handles reports for unincorporated areas of the county. You (or your attorney) can request a copy of the report once it’s filed — we handle this for our clients as a standard first step, since the report often becomes the foundation of the claim.
Medical treatment. Accident victims in Memphis are frequently treated at Regional One Health’s Elvis Presley Trauma Center, Methodist University Hospital, or Baptist Memorial Hospital, depending on where the crash occurred and the severity of the injury. Whichever facility treats you, get seen promptly — insurance adjusters routinely use any gap between the crash date and your first medical visit as an excuse to argue your injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident.
Where a lawsuit would be filed. If your claim can’t be resolved through negotiation, a Memphis car accident case is typically filed in Shelby County Circuit Court. Having car accident lawyers who regularly appear in this courthouse — and who know how local judges and defense firms operate — is part of what gives a case leverage during settlement talks, long before it ever gets near a trial date.
Dealing with the insurance company. Because Shelby County has one of the highest crash volumes in the state, local insurance adjusters handle an enormous caseload out of this market. That volume tends to make them faster to lowball an offer and quicker to look for reasons to dispute a claim. Having a Memphis-based car accident law firm that adjusters already recognize — one that’s willing to take a case to court rather than settle cheap — changes how your claim gets handled from the first phone call.
Why Memphis Car Accident Victims Choose John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers
– Local offices, local knowledge. Our office is at 5978 Knight Arnold Rd #400, Memphis, TN 38115 — we’re not a call center routing your case out of state.
– 45+ years handling Memphis, Shelby County cases. We know the courts, the hospitals, and the insurance companies operating in this market.
– No fee unless we win. You pay nothing upfront, and under the JMB Guarantee, if there’s a recovery, our clients receive more of it than the firm does in fees.
– Trial-ready, not settlement-only. Our Memphis car accident lawyers prepare every case as if it may go before a Shelby County jury — that preparation is often what moves an insurance company off a lowball offer.
Cases and settlements won for Car Accident Victims
Our Memphis car accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for car accident victims in Memphis, Tennessee and Shelby County.
Examples of auto accident recoveries include:
$1,000,000 Auto Accident Recovery
$1,250,000 Auto Accident Recovery
Multiple $75,000+ Car Accident Recoveries
Memphis Car Accident FAQ
Where do I get a copy of my police report after a Memphis accident?
If the crash happened within Memphis city limits, the report comes from the Memphis Police Department. For unincorporated Shelby County, it comes from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. We can request this on your behalf as part of your free consultation.
What court would my case go through if it doesn’t settle?
Most Memphis car accident lawsuits are filed in Shelby County Circuit Court. Smaller claims may fall under Shelby County General Sessions Court. Our attorneys handle both.
Does it matter that my accident happened on I-40 or I-240 instead of a city street?
It can. Interstate accidents in Shelby County often involve higher speeds, multiple vehicles, and sometimes commercial or out-of-state drivers, which can raise questions about jurisdiction and which insurance policies apply. Our attorneys handle interstate crash claims regularly.
Do I need a Memphis-based attorney, or can I use a firm from somewhere else?
You’re not required to, but a local firm brings real advantages: familiarity with Shelby County courts and judges, established relationships and reputations with local insurance adjusters, and the ability to meet with you in person and investigate the scene directly.
Talk to a Memphis Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured in a car accident anywhere in Memphis, Tennessee or Shelby County, don’t wait to find out where you stand. Evidence disappears, witness memories fade, and insurance companies start working the case against you immediately.
Call 901-529-1111 for a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
