Cordova Slip and Fall Lawyer

Reviewed by Larry Peters, Attorney licensed in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, and Georgia · Last reviewed: June 2026.

Cordova’s daily life revolves around places the public is invited into: Wolfchase Galleria, the shopping centers and grocery stores along Germantown Parkway, restaurants, and the community’s many apartment complexes. Property owners and managers have a legal duty to keep those spaces reasonably safe. When they ignore a spill, a broken stair, poor lighting or an icy walkway, a serious fall can follow — and the resulting injuries, especially for older adults, can be life-changing.

Southern Injury Attorneys are Tennessee-licensed premises-liability lawyers who hold negligent property owners accountable. We investigate how the hazard came to exist, prove the owner knew or should have known about it, and pursue full compensation for the injuries it caused — on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless we win. This guide explains how Tennessee slip-and-fall claims work.

Sources: CDC older-adult falls data; Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104.

Premises liability in Tennessee

A slip-and-fall claim is a type of premises-liability case. Under Tennessee law, a property owner or occupier must use reasonable care to keep the premises safe for people who are lawfully there, and to warn of dangers that are not obvious. That duty covers spills, uneven or broken flooring, unmarked steps, inadequate lighting, loose handrails, parking-lot defects and weather hazards. When an owner fails to fix or warn about a dangerous condition and someone is hurt, the owner can be held responsible.

Your status on the property matters

Tennessee law historically sorts visitors into three categories that affect the duty owed. An invitee — a customer at a Wolfchase store or a tenant’s guest — is owed the highest duty: to inspect for and address hazards. A licensee, on the property for their own purposes with permission, is owed a duty to warn of known dangers. A trespasser is generally owed only a duty not to cause willful harm. Most Cordova slip-and-fall victims are invitees in stores, restaurants or apartment common areas, which means the owner owed them a real duty of care.

The key issue: notice

The heart of most slip-and-fall cases is notice — did the owner know, or should they have known, about the hazard? Actual notice means the owner actually knew (for example, an employee saw the spill). Constructive notice means the hazard existed long enough that a reasonable owner should have discovered and fixed it. Proving notice often comes down to evidence: how long the spill was there, whether inspection logs were kept, and whether staff walked past it. We build that record to defeat the common defense that the owner “had no idea.”

Securing surveillance video

In a retail setting like Wolfchase or a Germantown Parkway store, surveillance video is often the single most powerful piece of evidence — it can show the hazard, how long it was present, and whether employees ignored it. The problem is that this footage is frequently overwritten within days or weeks. We move immediately to send a preservation letter demanding the property keep the video and incident reports, before they disappear. Acting fast can be the difference between a provable case and the owner’s word against yours.

The “open and obvious” defense

Property owners often argue that the hazard was open and obvious — that you should have seen and avoided it. Tennessee no longer treats an open-and-obvious danger as an automatic bar to recovery; instead, it is weighed within the comparative-fault analysis. The question becomes whether the owner should still have anticipated harm despite the obviousness, and how fault is shared. We counter this defense by showing why the condition was dangerous and why a reasonable owner should have addressed it anyway.

Comparative fault and your recovery

Tennessee follows modified comparative fault with a 50% bar (McIntyre v. Balentine). If you are found partly responsible for your fall — for example, the defense claims you were distracted — your damages are reduced by your percentage, and at 50% or more you recover nothing. Owners and their insurers lean heavily on this rule in fall cases. Strong evidence about the hazard and the owner’s notice keeps the fault where it belongs.

Where Cordova falls happen

Premises hazards cluster where people gather. Wolfchase Galleria and the big-box and grocery stores along Germantown Parkway see spills, freshly mopped floors without warning signs, and cluttered aisles. Restaurants bring greasy or wet floors. Apartment complexes along Macon and Houston Levee generate falls on broken stairs, in poorly lit stairwells and breezeways, and on cracked sidewalks and parking lots. Each setting has its own typical hazards and its own evidence trail.

Common fall injuries

Falls cause far more than bruises. We regularly see broken hips, wrists and ankles, traumatic brain injuries and concussions from striking the head, spinal injuries, torn ligaments and shoulder injuries, and serious lacerations. For older adults, a fall can trigger a lasting decline in health and independence — which is why the CDC treats older-adult falls as a major public-health problem. These injuries often require surgery, rehabilitation and ongoing care, all of which factor into the value of a claim.

Falls and older adults

Older Cordova residents are especially vulnerable. Roughly one in four adults 65 and older falls each year, and the death rate from older-adult falls has climbed about 21% over the past several years. A fall that a younger person might shrug off can cause a hip fracture or head injury that permanently changes an older adult’s life. When that fall was caused by a property owner’s negligence — an unmarked wet floor, a broken handrail — the owner should be held accountable for the full consequences.

Tennessee’s one-year deadline

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, you generally have only one year from the date of the fall to file a lawsuit. Because surveillance video and incident reports can vanish quickly, and because witness memories fade, waiting is especially costly in premises cases. The sooner we begin, the more evidence we can preserve.

What to do after a Cordova fall

If you can, report the fall to the store or property manager and make sure an incident report is created, then get the names of any witnesses and employees. Photograph the hazard — the spill, the broken step, the missing sign — before it is cleaned up or fixed, and keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing. Get medical attention promptly. Do not give a recorded statement to the property’s insurer or sign anything before talking to a lawyer. Then call us so we can preserve the video and build your case.

How we prove your fall case

We start by preserving the evidence that owners hope will disappear — surveillance video, incident reports and inspection logs — through an immediate preservation demand. We document the hazard, gather witness statements, and establish how long the dangerous condition existed to prove notice. We tie your injuries to the fall with the medical records and, where needed, expert testimony, then present a demand to the owner’s insurer backed by that proof. If they will not pay fairly, we are prepared to file suit in Shelby County Circuit Court. You pay nothing unless we win.

In short: A Cordova slip-and-fall case turns on notice — proving the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard — and on preserving surveillance video before it is erased. Tennessee’s one-year deadline makes fast action essential. Call 800-224-5546.

Frequently asked questions

Do you handle slip-and-fall cases in Cordova?

Yes. We are Tennessee-licensed premises-liability lawyers representing people hurt in falls at stores, malls, restaurants and apartment complexes throughout Cordova, Wolfchase, Bartlett, Collierville and the rest of Shelby County.

What do I have to prove in a slip-and-fall case?

Generally that a dangerous condition existed, that the property owner knew or should have known about it (notice), that they failed to fix it or warn you, and that the hazard caused your injuries. Proving notice is usually the central issue.

The store says the hazard was obvious. Does that end my claim?

No. Tennessee does not treat an open-and-obvious danger as an automatic bar. It is weighed within comparative fault, and the owner may still be liable if they should have anticipated harm. We address this defense directly.

Why is surveillance video so important?

In a retail fall, video can show the hazard, how long it was present, and whether employees ignored it. But it is often overwritten within days, so we send a preservation demand immediately to secure it.

What if I was partly at fault for my fall?

Tennessee follows modified comparative fault with a 50% bar. You can still recover if you are less than 50% at fault, though your damages are reduced by your percentage. We work to keep the focus on the owner’s negligence.

How long do I have to file a slip-and-fall claim in Tennessee?

Generally one year from the date of the fall under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104. Because evidence disappears quickly, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

What should I do right after a fall?

Report it to the property manager and make sure an incident report is created, photograph the hazard before it is fixed, get witness contacts, keep your shoes and clothing, and get medical care. Avoid giving statements before speaking with a lawyer.

How much does a Cordova slip-and-fall lawyer cost?

Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee and are paid only if we win. The consultation is free and available 24/7. Call 800-224-5546.

About the author: Larry “Jimmy” Peters

Founder & Personal Injury Attorney, Southern Injury Attorneys

Licensed in Tennessee (BPR #37889), Mississippi, Arkansas (#2020103), Texas (#24113438), Kentucky, and Georgia (#936535).

Jimmy Peters founded Southern Injury Attorneys with one mission: maximizing compensation for people injured in car, truck, and premises-liability accidents across the Mid-South. He and his team handle auto and 18-wheeler crashes, slip-and-fall and other injury claims on a contingency fee — no fee unless the firm wins — and he personally reviews the firm’s legal content for accuracy. ★ 4.8/5 from 96 verified Google reviews. If you were hurt in Cordova or anywhere in Shelby County, the consultation is free.

This article provides general information about Tennessee personal injury law for Cordova and Shelby County residents and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts, and deadlines such as the one-year statute of limitations can be shorter in some situations. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed attorney. Call Southern Injury Attorneys at 800-224-5546 for a free consultation.