Rear-End Accident Lawyers in Memphis, TN

Drunk driving remains one of the most dangerous and costly problems on Memphis roads. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, there were 325 crashes in Memphis in 2025 involving a driver who had been drinking. The cost of DUI crashes in the Shelby County area over the past year alone reached nearly $74 million, a number that reflects not just property damage, but lives upended, families grieving, and futures changed.

Statewide, 1 in 3 fatal crashes in Tennessee involved a driver under the influence; a sobering reminder that impaired driving is one of the leading causes of death on Tennessee roads, including right here in Memphis.

High-traffic areas like Beale Street, Union Avenue, and Summer Avenue see elevated DUI risk on weekends and holidays when alcohol service is at its peak. If you were injured,  or lost someone, in a drunk driving crash anywhere in Shelby County, including Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, Midtown, or Cordova, our team knows these roads and is ready to help you take action.

Steps to Take When You’re a Victim of Drunk Driving

What you do in the moments and days after a drunk driving accident can directly affect your ability to recover maximum compensation. Here is what we recommend:

• Call 911 immediately: Getting law enforcement to the scene is critical. A police report documenting the driver’s impairment – including field sobriety tests, breathalyzer results, and any DUI arrest – becomes key evidence in your personal injury claim.
• Seek medical attention right away: Even if you feel okay, get evaluated at Regional One Health, Baptist Memorial Hospital, or Methodist Le Bonheur. Delayed symptoms are common, and a medical record documenting your injuries and linking them to the crash is essential.
• Document everything at the scene: Photos of the vehicles, road conditions, any visible injuries, and the scene itself can all support your case later.
• Collect witness information: Bystanders who saw the crash or the driver’s behavior beforehand can provide valuable statements.
• Do not speak to the drunk driver’s insurance company: Adjusters may contact you quickly. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any offer before speaking with a drunk driving accident lawyer.
• Contact Alders & Lewellyn: The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case. Evidence like BAC test results, surveillance footage, and police reports needs to be preserved early.

Deadline to File a Claim in Memphis, TN

Tennessee law gives you one year from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to pursue compensation entirely. Do not wait, contact our Memphis drunk driving accident lawyers as soon as possible for a free consultation.

How Alders & Lewellyn Gets Compensation from a Drunk Driver

Drunk driving cases are not like ordinary car accident claims. The at-fault driver made a deliberate choice to drive under the influence and Tennessee law recognizes that. Our attorneys build your case from every available angle to pursue the full compensation you are owed.

Insurance Companies and Drunk Driving Accidents

Do not assume that because the other driver was drunk, the insurance company will simply pay your claim. Insurance adjusters are still trained to minimize payouts and in drunk driving cases, they often look for ways to argue that your injuries are less serious than you claim, that you share some fault, or that your treatment was unnecessary.

Alders & Lewellyn handles all communication with insurance companies on your behalf. We know how adjusters operate, and we know how to counter their tactics to protect the full value of your personal injury claim.

It is also worth knowing that if the at-fault drunk driver does not have adequate insurance – or any insurance at all – your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may be your primary source of recovery. Nearly 1 in 4 Tennessee drivers may be uninsured, making this coverage more important than ever. In most cases, filing a UM/UIM claim after a drunk driving accident will not affect your insurance premiums when you were not at fault.

Punitive Damage Claims vs. Compensatory Damage Claims

In a drunk driving accident case, you may be entitled to two types of financial recovery:

Compensatory damages cover your actual losses, including:

• Medical bills – past and future
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and out-of-pocket expenses

Punitive damages go further. They are designed to punish the drunk driver for especially reckless behavior and to deter others from making the same choice. A few key things to know:

• Under Tennessee Code § 29-39-104, punitive damages are capped at the greater of $500,000 or two times the total compensatory damages awarded
• They require clear and convincing evidence of malicious, intentional, fraudulent, or reckless conduct – a standard that drunk driving often meets
• Punitive damages are typically not covered by the drunk driver’s auto insurance policy – the claim must be made against the individual personally

This is one of the most important reasons to have an experienced drunk driving accident attorney on your side. Pursuing punitive damages against the individual while maximizing compensatory recovery from insurance requires skill and strategy that Alders & Lewellyn brings to every case.

When a drunk driving accident takes a life, the grief is compounded by a sense of injustice that is hard to put into words. Tennessee law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver and in drunk driving cases, punitive damages are often available on top of compensatory recovery.

What surviving families in Memphis should know:

• A wrongful death claim must generally be filed within one year of the date of death 
• Both compensatory and punitive damages may be available depending on the circumstances
• If the drunk driver is uninsured, your own UM/UIM coverage may be the primary source of recovery
• Dram shop claims against bars or restaurants may also apply if over-service contributed to the crash

Alders & Lewellyn has handled wrongful death cases involving motor vehicle accidents in Memphis and across Tennessee and Mississippi, including a $130,000 recovery in a fatal hit and run case where the family had exhausted every other option before finding Alders & Lewellyn. We understand the weight of these cases, and we approach every family in Shelby County, and beyond, with the seriousness and dedication they deserve.

Do not let the deadline pass while you are still grieving. A free consultation costs nothing and puts you in a position to make an informed decision about your family’s next steps.