Spring Hill Truck Accidents

Spring Hill Legal Representation For Victims of Tractor-Trailer Crashes

Located in both Maury and Williamson County, Spring Hill is a Tennessee city of over 30,000 residents. Also in Maury County are the communities of Columbia and Mount Pleasant. Columbia calls itself the “Mule Capital of the World,” and Mule Day is held in April there. The city is located along Duck River, the longest river located entirely in Tennessee. Several famous people are former or current residents of Columbia, such as Phil Everly, Natalie Stovall, and Dan Uggla. Like other cities throughout Tennessee, these Maury County communities are regularly traversed by big rigs. Although commercial vehicles ensure access to consumer goods, they also have the potential to cause significant harm to Spring Hill residents if a driver is distracted, tired, or simply reckless. If this happens to you, an experienced truck crash attorney is essential to protecting your rights. Spring Hill truck accident lawyer Matt Hardin has developed a thorough knowledge of how to pursue a successful claim after a car, truck, or motorcycle wreck or other accidents, such as slip and falls, defective products, medical malpractice, or wrongful death.

Hold Big Rig Drivers and Companies Accountable for Negligence

Commercial vehicles must follow a number of federal and state safety regulations that were enacted to protect the public. A number of features have been added to tractor-trailers in order to minimize the consequences of serious accidents. For example, a trailer on a big rig is four or five feet off the ground. A rear impact guard is installed on the back of some vehicles to prevent a smaller car from traveling underneath this gap.

When there is no rear guard, an “underride accident” may occur. This happens when a smaller vehicle crashes into the back of the truck and rolls under it. An underride wreck can crush the car top or sever the top from the body of the car. If a car strikes the tractor-trailer in a side impact collision, it may also slide under the truck. This can cause serious or even fatal injuries to people in the car, and a truck accident lawyer serving Spring Hill can help you seek justice in this situation.

This type of accident may or may not be the fault of the commercial driver. However, a trucking company is supposed to ensure that trailers on their vehicles are equipped with rear-impact guards to prevent underriding. If you or a loved one is hurt because a big rig did not have a properly installed rear-impact guard, you may be able to recover compensation, even if you were partially at fault for the accident, and a Spring Hill truck accident attorney can represent you.

Tennessee is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that a jury will apportion fault between all responsible parties, including the victim when appropriate. If your car slides under a truck and results in a serious injury, you can bring a lawsuit against the commercial driver and his or her employer. The trucking company may allege comparative negligence and ask the jury to assign you a portion of fault for the accident. The jury will assign a percentage of responsibility if it agrees that your carelessness contributed to your own injuries. As long as the jury finds that a victim is 49 percent or less at fault for a wreck, however, he or she will be able to recover the percentage of damages for which he or she is not responsible. Unfortunately, an injured person who is 50 percent or more at fault for his or her own harm will not be able to receive anything.

Discuss Your Truck Accident Case with an Experienced Spring Hill Attorney

The trucking industry is governed by many federal and state laws. Not all injury attorneys understand these laws or know how to spot violations of them. If you are hurt in a truck accident near the Spring Hill area, you should consult a lawyer with significant experience in this type of case. Trucking companies and their insurers are more likely to take your claims seriously if you are represented by someone who knows as much about their drivers’ obligations as they do. Consult attorney Matt Hardin by calling 615-200-1111 or completing our online form.