Author Archives: John Willis
Am I Liable if a Teenager Drinks in My House and Gets Into an Accident?
With the holidays approaching, many people will host parties for families and friends. If your parties include anyone under the age of 21, you should take special care to ensure they are not receiving or consuming alcoholic beverages of any kind. While you might think it is safe to allow teenagers to drink under… Read More »
How Does a Hospital Lien Affect Accident Victims?
Following a car accident, you may be worried about paying your medical bills. Even if you have insurance, a hospital may attach a lien against any future judgment you may collect in a personal injury lawsuit against the parties responsible for the accident. It is therefore important to understand how these liens work, and… Read More »
Tennessee Court Says Home Inspector Not Liable for Missing Defective Deck Railing
If you are seriously injured on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover damages against the owner if he or was negligent in maintaining the property. Such personal injury lawsuits may also extend to others responsible for the property’s maintenance, such as a management company. But what about third parties who might… Read More »
Multiple Tennessee Lawsuits Filed Over Volkswagen Emissions Scandal
When we typically think about a car manufacturer’s product liability, it is in the context of a design flaw that leads to accidents, injuries, and sometimes death. But as the recent scandal surrounding German car manufacturer Volkswagen illustrates, an intentional defect may injure a customer financially, if not physically. Courts in Tennessee and throughout… Read More »
Does My Employer Have to Pay If I Am Injured While Returning to the Office?
A car accident can leave you with serious, long-term injuries which may prevent you from returning to work. And if your accident occurred in the course of your employment, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. It is therefore critical to understand the difference between an accident which occurs while commuting to work—which… Read More »
Arbitration Clauses Can Keep Nursing Home Abuse Cases Out of Court
Many elderly persons in Tennessee are victims of nursing home abuse or neglect. In some cases, negligence on the part of nursing home personnel may contribute to a patient’s injury or death. That is why if you are responsible for making an elderly relative’s health care decisions, you need to be aware of the… Read More »
Can I Recover Nothing Even If the Other Driver Caused the Accident?
If you bring a personal injury lawsuit arising from a car accident, it is not enough to establish the defendant’s liability. Even if the defendant admits causing the accident, the plaintiff must still prove he or she suffered injuries requiring compensation. It is perfectly acceptable under Tennessee law for a defendant to be held… Read More »
How “Consumer Expectations” Can Determine Product Liability
In product liability cases, the Tennessee Supreme Court has said a plaintiff may use the “consumer expectation test” to prove a product is “in a defective condition or unreasonably dangerous.” The consumer expectation test means a plaintiff must present evidence “that the product was dangerous to an extent beyond that which would be contemplated… Read More »
The Law Gets Tougher on Unisured Drivers, but Limits Still Too Low
Most of us are aware that the law requires us to have auto insurance in order to drive in Tennessee. Since 1977, the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law has required drivers to have at least $25,000 per person in liability insurance coverage, up to $50,000 total per occurrence. What this means is that, if you… Read More »
Tennessee Court Says Noncustodial Parents May Have Right to Sue on Children’s Behalf
Every parent fears their child getting hurt in an accident. And when you believe someone else is to blame for your child’s injuries, you naturally want to hold the responsible parties accountable. But sometimes the law presents complications, such as when two parents disagree on whether to proceed with a potential civil lawsuit. A… Read More »
