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PHONES ANSWERED 24 HOURS A DAY
Named for William Dickson, an American politician who represented Tennessee in the House of Representatives in the early 1800s, the city of Dickson is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The hills of the area once were mined for iron ore. Some of the surrounding towns include Burns and Charlotte, a stagecoach hub during the 19th century that was named for the wife of a general who was prominent in the settlement of the area. These communities are located near State Route 48 and several highways, which means that they are regularly served by big rigs. If you are hurt in a truck wreck in the Dickson area, you are likely to suffer far more serious harm than the commercial driver. You should discuss your prospects of securing compensation with Dickson truck accident lawyer Matt Hardin. He is familiar with the many nuances in this area of law, having helped victims of car, truck, and motorcycle wrecks as well as medical malpractice, wrongful death, defective products, and slip and falls.
Violations of state and federal laws, especially the extensive trucking guidelines put forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, often form a basis for truck driver liability. For example, truckers may have incentives to carry overweight loads if they are paid more for larger amounts towed. Similarly, it is common for them to be compensated according to the miles they drive. This encourages commercial drivers to stay behind the wheel for longer hours than permitted by law.
If you are hurt in a big rig accident, you may be wondering how you will prove that a truck driver violated the law. A Dickson lawyer with experience in truck accident cases can answer your questions. Commercial vehicles are equipped with black boxes that can demonstrate violations of trucking guidelines that may have led to an accident. Moreover, companies in this industry are required to keep extensive records related to their drivers. Although it’s possible for a trucking company to get rid of evidence associated with an accident, it is less likely to do so if you retain an attorney who knows what records to request and how to look for violations.
As with other personal injury cases, a victim of a big rig crash will likely have to prove negligence by showing that the defendant driver had a duty of care, the driver breached this duty, the breach led to the victim’s injuries, and the victim incurred actual damages as a result. The harm in a truck crash can be particularly severe, or even catastrophic, and a Dickson truck accident attorney can help you seek justice.
Among the damages a victim can recover if he or she proves negligence are past and future medical costs, past and future lost income, out-of-pocket expenses, costs of rehabilitation, loss of enjoyment of activities, mental anguish, and pain and suffering. In Tennessee, there is a cap of $750,000 on noneconomic damages, which are those that are more subjective and harder to quantify. Loss of consortium damages, which may be recoverable by a spouse or child of an injured victim, fall into this category. The cap rises to $1 million for noneconomic damages associated with catastrophic injuries.
Regulations governing commercial drivers are extensive and complicated. Defendant companies and their insurers are likely to take personal injury claims more seriously when a victim is represented by a legal professional with significant experience litigating truck crash cases. Not all lawyers have this necessary knowledge, but Matt Hardin does. You can consult him by calling 615-200-1111 or completing our online form.
“I'm super pleased with Matt and his whole team. I was hesitant to contact a lawyer after my accident, but I'm so glad I did!”
William