Centerville Truck Accidents

Legal Representation for Centerville Victims of Big Rig Crashes

The only incorporated municipality in Hickman County is its county seat, Centerville. The median household income of this community in 2012 was over $35,000. Other nearby towns include Pleasantville, Grinder’s Switch, Aetna, and Bon Aqua. Hickman County covers about 610 square miles in Tennessee and has a population of approximately 25,000 residents. Duck River and Piney River, as well as several creeks, run through the county. Scenic areas under state protection include Beaver Dam Creek Wildlife Management Area, John Noel State Natural Area, and MTSU Wildlife Management Area. If you have been hurt in a big rig crash in Centerville or elsewhere in Hickman County, you should consult an attorney with experience in this area. Matt Hardin is a Centerville truck accident lawyer knowledgeable in all types of vehicle collision claims, including those arising from car, truck, or motorcycle wrecks. He has also represented many victims in injury cases involving medical malpractice, slip and falls, wrongful death, and defective products.

Hold Negligent Commercial Drivers and Trucking Companies Accountable

A person suing a commercial driver who caused an accident must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the truck driver had a duty of care, that he or she violated the duty, that the breach directly resulted in the collision, and that actual damages resulted. Everyone operating a vehicle owes a duty of care to all other drivers and people on the road, including pedestrians. Part of this obligation includes following applicable federal and state laws.

A truck driver’s failure to obey a safety law may give rise to a negligence per se cause of action. This legal theory, which a Centerville lawyer with experience handling truck accident cases will have a good understanding of, permits a rebuttable presumption that a duty has been breached if the victim proves that:

• The truck driver violated a safety statute;
• The victim was among the class of people that the government intended to protect by enacting the law; and
• The accident was the type of harm that the statute was designed to prevent.

People who use this theory still will need to show the causation and damage elements.

If you succeed in a negligence claim, you can potentially recover a broad range of compensatory damages for both economic and noneconomic losses. Economic damages include past and future medical bills, past and future lost wages, the cost of household services, and other out-of-pocket costs. Typically, these are supported by documentation, including receipts, invoices, and bills. A Centerville truck accident attorney also may retain an expert, such as economist or a doctor, to offer opinions about your future losses.

Noneconomic damages include mental anguish, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering. The jury will likely rely on your testimony and the statements of family members to make a subjective assessment of this intangible harm. In Tennessee, these types of damages are capped at $750,000 for ordinary injuries, such as broken bones, fractures, minor burns, and bruises. Compensation for noneconomic harm is capped at $1 million for catastrophic injuries, like multiple amputations or the wrongful death of a parent with minor children.

Discuss Your Truck Accident Case with a Centerville Attorney

Truck accidents in Centerville or surrounding areas in Hickman County can have serious consequences, sometimes involving permanent and life-changing harm. People seeking compensation from a big rig driver or his or her employer require the assistance of a lawyer who knows how to pursue these claims. It is important for your attorney to be familiar with the regulations promulgated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and ways to obtain evidence from trucking companies. Schedule a free consultation with Matt Hardin by calling completing our online form.