Imagine you are sound asleep dreaming that you are on the beach drinking your favorite cocktail when BOOM, you hear a loud crash noise coming from the other side of your home. You discover a large tree has fallen on your residence. Who is responsible to pay for the damage your house sustained?

Typically, when a tree has fallen on a home the cause was either:

👉🏼 contractor negligence;

👉🏼 an act of God; or

👉🏼 negligence by the tree owner

Are you being sued? Have you been served with discovery? Being served with a lawsuit can be an extremely stressful situation. Lucky for you I am here to help navigate how to proceed!

If you have previously been or are currently involved in civil litigation in some capacity you have likely heard the term “discovery.” If you have been asked to respond to discovery in a case, you may feel overwhelmed and confused about the process of responding. Here we will discuss the process you should go through when responding to discovery as well as some tips that will help you respond to the discovery requests effectively and accurately.

You are anxiously waiting to cross the street. The signal turns from stop to walk, you proceed through the crosswalk when you are struck by a motor vehicle - this could be a life or death situation. The insurance company, specifically the adjuster handling your claim, is going to do everything in his/her power to make sure you get the least amount of compensation if he/she offers anything at all.

Hiring an attorney can ensure you receive the full and fair compensation you deserve. At Cotter Law it is our priority to take on the fight with the insurance company while you focus on recovering from your auto accident.

Research shows that the number of bicyclists in the United States has grown from approximately 43 million in 2015 to approximately 52 million in 2022. With an increased number of bicyclists on the roadway comes an increased risk of injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Have you or a loved one been injured in a bicycle accident? If so, you will want to make sure you are protected. At Cotter Law it is our priority to take on the fight with the insurance company while you focus on recovering from your auto accident.

Imagine it is your day off and you plan to finally catch up on all of your dirty laundry. You hear an alert coming from the washing machine notifying you that it is now time to place the freshly washed clothes in the dryer - you proceed to do so. Moments later your dryer is engulfed in flames - sheer panic overcomes you. If you find yourself in this situation or a similar situation you may have a product liability case.

A prenuptial agreement (hereinafter referred to as “prenup”) is a legally binding contract that is entered into prior to marriage to protect the marrying parties in the event of a divorce. Prenups are enforceable in Tennessee. A prenuptial agreement typically addresses things like: property division, alimony, and other situations that might arise in the event of a divorce.

In Tennessee, the law treats pets as personal property. Currently, there are not laws in Tennessee that permit custody fights over the household pet(s). In a divorce proceeding pets are essentially divided in the same manner as other personal property. When dividing personal property in a divorce proceeding, the courts will make an equitable distribution of marital property.

The process of filing for divorce can be a very stressful time in your life, from knowing what exactly you need to file, to actually agreeing with your spouse on how martial property and child custody will be divided.

It is important to not only consider your wishes upon death, but also consider your wishes in the event that you become unable to make decision for yourself while living. For example: if you were in an automobile accident and you are now in a coma (therefore incapacitated) you will need to ensure you have someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf, whether that be financially or medically.

Not every legal matter will require you to hire an attorney. The truth is hiring a lawyer can prevent common mistakes that can occur in self-representation. You could be a well-educated individual and still need to hire an attorney. In fact, most attorneys often hire another attorney to represent him/her in a legal matter.

Imagine you just had an amazing night out with friends. You think you are okay to get behind the wheel and drive yourself home. In reality you might have had too much to drink. All of the sudden you see those blue lights flashing behind you and panic sets in. It important to know your rights in case you find yourself in this situation. If you or someone you know has been arrested for a DUI related matter then it is important to hire an attorney that will fight for you and protect your rights.

Imagine you're driving down the road and then you notice those blue lights in your rearview mirror. Slight panic sets in even though you haven’t done anything wrong. We've all been there. What you do and say can have a significant impact on any legal proceedings that may follow. Your choices are critical regardless if the stop ends in minor traffic violations or an arrest for a more serious crime.

In this video Attorney Courtney Cotter will go over some common mistakes she sees in her personal injury cases. The video mainly describes auto accident claims; however, this information extends to slip and fall cases. Give us a call at 865-888-7155 or via email at attorney@cotter-law.com to schedule a free consultation.

Do you have a child? Do you own a home? Then you need an estate plan. A successful estate plan should provide for the management of your financial and personal affairs, as well as management of your health care directives should you be unable to make decisions for yourself in the future. Your estate plan should also provide your wishes for the disposition of your estate after death.

Have you been the victim of a hit and run or were you hit by an uninsured driver on the roadway? Did you know you could receive compensation under the uninsured motorist coverage in your auto insurance policy? UM covers expense relating to the injuries, repairs to your vehicle, and lost wages. Call Cotter Law to schedule a FREE consultation at (865) 888-7155 to speak with an experienced attorney.