Carthage Truck Accidents

Dedicated Carthage Lawyer for Crash Victims

Carthage is a small Tennessee city covering about 2.9 square miles, which was built along the Walton Road (also known as the Cumberland Turnpike) at the confluence of the Cumberland and Caney Fork Rivers. It was a significant shipping and steamboat port during the early 19th century. Carthage was also an important outpost during the Civil War, becoming part of the route marched by Confederate General Braxton Bragg on his main offensives. When railroads took hold in the area, steamboat and river travel died down. If you have been harmed in a truck crash in Carthage or elsewhere in Tennessee, it is important to seek guidance from an attorney who is familiar with these types of cases. Matt Hardin is a Carthage truck accident lawyer who knows how to protect the rights of people who have been injured because others acted carelessly. He has achieved numerous successes in cases arising from car, truck, and motorcycle wrecks, slip and falls, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, and more.

Holding Trucking Companies Accountable for Negligence

A number of state and federal regulations cover commercial drivers and their employers. When a failure to abide by these rules causes a collision, the consequences can be catastrophic and sometimes fatal. Medical bills following a serious accident are likely to be very large. In addition to the emergency room bills in the immediate aftermath, an injured person may need follow-up treatment or even long-term care. It may be necessary to take days, weeks, or months off from work, or even find a new line of work altogether if the harm is particularly serious. A Carthage lawyer with an understanding of truck accident cases can represent you in fighting for the compensation you will need in order to move forward after your injuries.

In Tennessee, as in most states, you can recover economic and noneconomic damages if you are able to show that the negligence of a truck driver or a trucking company caused your accident. Economic damages account for losses that can be proved with a reasonable degree of certainty, such as past and future medical bills, past and future lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, or the cost of household services. They often are shown by submitting documentation like bills, invoices, or receipts.

Future damages may only be recovered if they are not unduly speculative. Proof may be accomplished by presenting expert testimony. For example, your attorney might use the statements of an economist who can testify as to the salary you would have made if you were able to stay at your former job, or the analysis of a vocational rehabilitation expert on your job prospects. If you succeed in a negligence claim, you can potentially recover the entire amount of your economic damages, no matter how substantial they may be.

By contrast, noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, or loss of enjoyment require a subjective evaluation by the jury. In Tennessee, these types of damages are capped at $750,000 for ordinary injuries and at $1 million for catastrophic accident cases. A Carthage truck accident attorney can help you determine the extent of the damages you may be entitled to pursue.

In some situations, it is appropriate to sue not only the negligent trucker but also the trucking company that employed the driver and entrusted him or her with a commercial vehicle. Even if they were not actually careless themselves, entities may be held liable for their employees in Tennessee under the doctrine of vicarious liability. This rule applies when a worker was acting in the scope and course of his or her employment at the time of his or her negligent conduct.

Seek Advice From an Attorney After a Truck Accident Near Carthage

After a truck wreck, you may be overwhelmed by the physical, emotional, and financial harm with which you are coping. At a time like this, it is important not to try to negotiate with the opposing side’s insurers yourself. You may take a smaller sum than you are owed due to the stress of your injuries, or they may try to pin responsibility for the accident on you. Instead, you should retain your own tractor-trailer accident lawyer in the Carthage area to negotiate with adverse parties and present a persuasive case to a judge and jury, if necessary. Contact Matt Hardin by calling sending a message through our online form.