Introduction
Alders & Lewellyn, PLLC gives every client it represents a personal cell phone number, not a general office line, not a message service, a direct line to the attorney handling their case. That policy reflects a structural commitment to accountability that runs through every aspect of how the firm operates. Based in Memphis at 1331 Union Avenue, Suite 1000, the firm focuses exclusively on personal injury cases arising from traffic accidents and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 901-602-5700. Clients who call at 2 a.m. after a collision on I-40 are reaching the same attorneys who will handle their case through resolution.
The firm has recovered more than $1 million in documented case results, including a $650,000 settlement for a tractor-trailer accident and a $100,000 settlement for a motor vehicle collision. These results reflect a practice that pursues maximum compensation and does not push clients toward early, inadequate settlements.
Practice Areas
Alders & Lewellyn limits its practice to personal injury cases involving vehicle accidents. That concentration is a choice, not a limitation. An attorney who handles dozens of different legal matters cannot develop the same depth in any single area that a focused practice achieves. Every aspect of the firm’s process, from the spoliation letters it sends immediately after retention to its no-jargon communication policy, is calibrated for accident cases specifically.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are the firm’s most frequent case type. Tennessee’s fault-based insurance system means that the at-fault driver’s liability insurer is responsible for the injured party’s damages, subject to any comparative fault allocation. Tennessee uses modified comparative fault with a 50% bar: an injured party who is 49% or less at fault can recover, but recovery is reduced proportionally. An injured party found to be 50% or more at fault cannot recover at all. Establishing that the other driver bears the primary responsibility for the accident is critical to maximizing recovery, and the firm builds that case from the first days after the collision.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle riders who are injured in collisions face the same implicit bias issues that arise in other states: adjusters and jurors sometimes apply assumptions about rider behavior that are not supported by the actual facts. The firm addresses these assumptions with specific evidence about the circumstances of each accident and advocates for injured riders with the same intensity as any other client.
Bicycle Accidents
Cyclists injured by motor vehicles often sustain serious injuries. The firm pursues bicycle accident claims and builds the evidence necessary to establish driver fault while documenting the full extent of the cyclist’s medical and economic losses.
Truck Accidents
Commercial trucking accidents involve regulatory compliance questions that standard car accident cases do not. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations govern driver rest requirements, vehicle inspection cycles, cargo securement, and driver qualification standards. When a carrier or driver violates these standards and a collision results, those violations become part of the liability case. The firm investigates trucking accidents thoroughly, including obtaining the truck’s Electronic Logging Device data, driver qualification files, and maintenance records.
Rideshare Accidents (Uber and Lyft)
Rideshare accident cases present specific insurance coverage questions that differ from standard vehicle accident cases. Uber and Lyft maintain commercial insurance policies, but the coverage that applies depends on the driver’s status at the time of the accident: whether the app was off, the driver was available and waiting for a ride request, or a passenger was in the vehicle. The firm is experienced with these coverage layers and pursues claims against the appropriate insurer or combination of insurers.
Train Accidents
Train accidents are among the most severe in terms of injury potential. Federal railroad regulations and the particular liability framework governing rail carriers require specific legal expertise. The firm handles train accident cases as part of its broader focus on accidents involving large vehicles and transportation systems.
Notable Practices
Spoliation Letters
One of the firm’s first actions upon being retained is to send a spoliation letter to the opposing party and any relevant third parties. A spoliation letter provides formal notice that litigation is anticipated and demands the preservation of potentially relevant evidence: surveillance footage, electronic logging device data, vehicle maintenance records, cell phone records, and other materials that might otherwise be destroyed or overwritten in the ordinary course of business. Surveillance footage from traffic cameras and commercial properties is often overwritten within days if not preserved. Acting immediately to lock down this evidence is a standard part of Alders & Lewellyn’s initial case management.
No Legal Jargon
The firm maintains a no-legal-jargon communication policy. Clients who are already dealing with medical treatment, time away from work, and the disruption that follows a serious accident should not also have to decode legal terminology in order to understand what is happening in their own case. Plain language communication is a concrete expression of the firm’s client service philosophy.
Personal Cell Phone Numbers
Every client receives the personal cell phone number of the attorney representing them. This is not common practice in personal injury law, where case management is frequently delegated to paralegals and assistants. At Alders & Lewellyn, clients work directly with the attorney they met at the outset of the representation, and that attorney remains the primary contact throughout the case.
Contingency Fee Basis
The firm works on a contingency fee basis: no fee unless they win. This aligns the firm’s financial interest with the client’s recovery and removes the barrier that legal fees would otherwise create for injured people who cannot afford to pay an attorney by the hour.
Tennessee Law: Statute of Limitations
Personal injury claims in Tennessee must be filed within one year of the date of the accident, with limited exceptions for minors and other specific circumstances. This deadline is strict. Missing it typically bars the claim entirely. Anyone who has been injured in a Tennessee traffic accident should consult with an attorney promptly to protect their legal rights.
Location and Service Area
Alders & Lewellyn, PLLC is located at 1331 Union Avenue, Suite 1000, Memphis, TN 38104. Phone: 901-602-5700, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The firm serves Memphis and clients throughout Tennessee.
Client Focus
The firm’s clients are people who have been injured in traffic accidents and who need an attorney who will handle their case personally from start to finish. The policies that distinguish Alders & Lewellyn, direct attorney contact, personal cell numbers, spoliation letters from day one, no jargon, contingency fees, are all oriented toward clients who have been through something difficult and deserve representation that treats them accordingly.
The $650,000 settlement for a tractor-trailer accident and the $100,000 motor vehicle settlement represent the documented outcomes of this approach, and the overall $1 million-plus in case results reflects a practice that consistently achieves meaningful compensation for the people it represents.
FAQ
What is Tennessee’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims?
Tennessee requires personal injury claims to be filed within one year of the date of the accident. There are limited exceptions, including specific protections for minors, but the one-year window is the default. Given how quickly this deadline approaches, consulting with an attorney soon after an accident is strongly advisable.
Why does the firm send spoliation letters immediately?
Evidence disappears quickly after an accident. Surveillance footage from businesses and traffic cameras is typically overwritten within 24 to 72 hours. Electronic logging device data in commercial trucks may be overwritten within weeks. A spoliation letter creates a legal obligation to preserve that evidence and puts the other party on notice that it will be held accountable if evidence is destroyed after notice is given.
How does rideshare insurance coverage work in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver?
The applicable insurance coverage depends on the driver’s status in the app at the time of the accident. If the app was off, only the driver’s personal insurance applies. If the driver was waiting for a request, Uber and Lyft provide limited coverage. If a passenger was in the vehicle or the driver was en route to pick one up, the full commercial policy applies. Navigating these layers requires specific experience with rideshare accident claims.
Does the firm handle cases outside Memphis?
Yes. The firm serves clients throughout Tennessee, not only in the Memphis area.
What does contingency fee representation mean for my case?
It means you pay no attorney fee unless the firm recovers compensation for you. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the recovery, and that percentage is disclosed and agreed upon at the outset of representation. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
Closing
Alders & Lewellyn, PLLC has built a Memphis-based personal injury practice around a set of specific commitments: direct attorney access including personal cell numbers, immediate evidence preservation through spoliation letters, plain language communication, 24/7 availability, and contingency fees. The $1 million-plus in case results, including a $650,000 tractor-trailer settlement, reflects what those commitments produce. For anyone injured in a traffic accident in Tennessee who wants to work with attorneys who will stay personally involved throughout the process, the firm is available around the clock at 901-602-5700.
Website: aldersandlewellyn.com