Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers

Chattanooga Personal Injury Law Firm In 1969, Jerry H. Summers founded the law firm of Jerry H. Summers, P.C., in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The firm name has changed over the years, as other lawyers have gone into practice with Jerry. Formerly known as Summers & Wyatt, P.C., the firm’s name changed in July 2014 to Summers, Rufolo, and Rodgers. Over the years, our firm has helped thousands of clients struggling with legal problems in Chattanooga and throughout Tennessee. If you are facing a legal matter in one of our practice areas, our attorneys are here to offer experienced advice and advocacy. Contact us today online or by telephone at 888-778-6575 to arrange a free initial consultation with an experienced Chattanooga, Tennessee, lawyer. Experienced Chattanooga Lawyers Protecting Your Rights Highly respected throughout the region, the law firm of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers, has been a pillar of the Chattanooga community since the establishment of the office in 1969. We are proud of our history of success and dedicated advocacy. Currently Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers is comprised of six attorneys and devoted support staff members. We all uphold the highest standards of professional and business ethics. Serving clients in many different areas of practice, we are driven to assist our clients in any way necessary. We have extensive experience in the areas of personal injury and medical malpractice law. We have successfully represented numerous clients facing DUI charges and other state and federal criminal allegations. We provide skilled, compassionate legal services to people who have been afflicted with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. We provide knowledgeable representation in cases involving Social Security Disability, workers’ compensation and labor union law. Our office utilizes the latest legal information and state-of-the-art technology in order to provide the highest quality representation possible. Whatever legal matter you face, our attorneys will tailor a legal approach that suits your unique needs. From medical malpractice to personal injury and all of our other practice areas, our attorneys work closely with clients to provide accessible and responsive service throughout the duration of each case.

DUI Free Consultation for DUI in Tennessee If you have been charged with DUI, it is important to retain an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can advise you of your rights and raise a vigorous defense on your behalf. A DUI is a serious matter that can result in a criminal record, driver’s license suspension, jail time and other serious criminal penalties. At the law firm of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers, we provide a vigorous defense against all DUI and related charges, including: First-time DUI Felony DUI DUI with accident/injury Underage DUI DUI drugs Vehicular homicide Driver’s license suspension hearings Since DUI law is very technical it is important to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney. Our firm has decades of criminal law experience. We aggressively challenge the prosecution’s evidence, including the validity of the vehicle stop, field sobriety tests, arrest, Breathalyzer or blood tests, and the officer’s account of events. It is important to retain an attorney very early in a case in order to file the necessary motions for preservation of blood samples and preservation of any video recordings or radio traffic recordings of your stop. There are multiple stages of a DUI arrest which should be examined closely by an experienced DUI attorney. The first stage is the reason for the initial stop or initial contact by law enforcement officers. We will look at whether an officer had a reasonable suspicion to make a traffic stop or contact and if the officer relied on any of the 24 cues for impaired driving listed in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) manual. The second stage involves the initial contact between the officer and the driver. We will look at any reported observations of the officer and any requests or demands made by the officer. The third stage involves the standard field sobriety tests (SFSTs). Police officers are trained to conduct SFSTs according to the NHTSA manual. The determination of how one performs on these field sobriety tests is based on the subjective belief of the officer. An experienced criminal defense attorney can review the video of the SFSTs to analyze and challenge the officer’s subjective determination that SFSTs indicated impairment. REMEMBER: YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE SFSTs UNDER TENNESSEE LAW. POLITELY TELL THE OFFICER THAT YOU REFUSE TO ATTEMPT THEM AND THEN DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ELSE — AS YOU ARE PROBABLY BEING VIDEOTAPED. Once a driver is placed under arrest for DUI, the implied consent law requires a driver to consent to a blood or breath test or the driver can lose his or her license. If a driver chooses to submit to a Breathalyzer or blood test, the reliability of those tests should not be assumed. There are many factors than can affect the validity of a chemical test including operator error, unique characteristics of the driver, reliability of the equipment and machines used, and preservation and handling of the samples themselves. As of January 1, 2012, the law requires a forced blood draw for every DUI stop involving one of the following factors: (1) if the driver has a previous conviction for DUI, vehicular homicide, or aggravated vehicular homicide, (2) if the driver has been involved in an accident causing injury or death to another, or (3) if a passenger in the car is under 16 years old. No consent is necessary, and the law requires the officer to force a blood test of the driver. DUIs are not simple cases. Having a criminal defense attorney experienced in the field of DUI defense is important to the ultimate outcome of your case. People who retain our firm can be confident that their case will be handled with care. We have been providing high-quality criminal defense representation to clients since the establishment of our firm in 1969. Our office enjoys a very high reputation throughout the community as a result of our history of success, dedication to clients and professionalism. If retained to handle your DUI case, we have the ability to handle all aspects of your defense, including all criminal charges and all civil DUI license suspension hearings. Our objective is to protect your license, your record and your future.