PHONES ANSWERED 24 HOURS A DAY
menu
PHONES ANSWERED 24 HOURS A DAY
Commercial vehicles pose unique dangers to ordinary drivers. Because of their weight and limited maneuverability, tractor trailers can easily cause serious accidents. According to the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security, in 2020, there were 5,680 truck accidents in Middle Tennessee that caused a serious injury or death. In Tennessee one out of every 14 crashes and one in every six fatalities involved a large truck. One in every three crashes involving a truck occurred on an interstate and 6% of large truck drivers involved in crashes were following improperly. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration promulgates the rules and regulations that govern truck drivers and trucking companies. Failure to comply with these laws can expose truckers and their employers to liability in the event of a truck accident. An experienced Nashville Truck Accident Attorney at Matt Hardin Law understands the complexity of litigating truck crash cases. We can help you seek compensation if you have been injured in a truck accident.
Proving fault or negligence after truck accidents can be a highly complex and difficult process, as no two truck accidents are alike. Having a law firm on your side that knows the ins-and-outs of all aspects of the trucking industry, from the state rules and regulations that govern it to the most common types of accidents that occur in Tennessee, can be a tremendous boost when you’re seeking compensation for your accident-related expenses.
Some of the truck accident claims that we handle on a regular basis include:
TRUCK DRIVER FATIGUE
BLIND SPOTS
BRAKING ABILITY
STATE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR INTRASTATE TRUCKING
WIDE TURNS
OVERSIZED TRUCK ACCIDENTS
DUMP TRUCK ACCIDENTS
TRUCK TIRE BLOWOUTS
DELIVERY TRUCK ACCIDENTS
WHEEL LOSS CASES
LOGGING TRUCK ACCIDENTS
GARBAGE TRUCK ACCIDENTS
CEMENT MIXER TRUCK ACCIDENTS
TANKER TRUCK ACCIDENTS
FLATBED TRUCK ACCIDENTS
People injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer or other commercial vehicle can file a lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries. Most such lawsuits allege negligence on the part of the truck driver or the trucking company. Plaintiffs must prove three distinct elements to prevail in this kind of lawsuit after a truck accident, and our Nashville lawyers can help.
First, the plaintiff must prove he was owed a duty by the defendant. Truck drivers and trucking companies, who are usually the defendants in a truck accident case, have a duty to behave reasonably given the circumstances. This is a universal duty owed to everyone on the road.
Second, the plaintiff needs to show that the defendant breached the duty of reasonable care. Defendants can breach this duty in countless ways. Truck drivers must abide by strict hour limits, and they cannot drive when they are unreasonably fatigued. Truckers must drive reasonably by checking their blind spots and avoiding unreasonably wide turns. Trucking companies must maintain their trucks in good working order. They cannot overload their trucks, which can adversely affect braking ability. Failure by a truck driver or trucking company to do any of these things is considered a breach of their respective duties.
Finally, the defendant’s actions that constituted a breach must have caused the plaintiff’s injuries. Most of the time, this is proven when the defendant’s actions caused the truck accident. In such cases, there is almost always causation.
It is important for truck accident victims to contact a knowledgeable Nashville attorney as soon as practicable after the accident. Attorneys must preserve crucial evidence necessary to litigate these cases. Driver logs, cargo information, and maintenance records might all contain valuable evidence, and too often these records are deleted or lost if they are not requested immediately after an accident.
Truck accident plaintiffs who win their lawsuit are entitled to damages from the defendant. The defendant must reimburse the plaintiff for the objective costs of the accident: medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. In addition, defendants are liable for the more subjective injuries the plaintiff sustained, such as mental anguish and pain and suffering.
People injured by a negligent truck driver or trucking company have a legal right to compensation for their injuries. If you have been injured in a truck crash, hiring a knowledgeable and experienced Nashville truck accident lawyer is the best way to protect your rights under Tennessee law. The attorneys at Matt Hardin Law have significant experience litigating Tennessee truck accident cases. To schedule a free consultation, call 800-777-MATT or visit our contact page.
“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