Commercial trucks can weight up to 80,000 pounds and cause extreme damage in the event of a collision with other vehicles. These accidents usually result in severe, debilitating injuries or the victim’s death.
Accidents involving a transportation truck can often turn into complicated proceedings that involve multiple parties and require extensive knowledge in commercial vehicle laws.
An experienced personal injury lawyer in Tennessee will be able to navigate the intricate details of these types of complicated claims.
Who is Liable for a Truck Accident?
Determining liability for the cause of a truck accident is often a complex process that can involve multiple parties, such as the:
- Truck’s driver
- Trucking company that employs the driver
- Company that owns the truck
- Truck’s manufacturer
- Distribution company that loaded the truck’s contents
The cause of a truck accident can involve one or multiple parties. Identifying the true cause often requires a thorough investigation into the events that occurred before the truck was approved for road use and when the accident occurred.
An attorney who has experience in truck accident cases will understand the complexities of commercial vehicle liability and can evaluate each element to identify the cause of the accident.
Negotiating for Compensation in a Truck Accident Claim
Negotiating compensation in a truck accident claim requires an attorney who is able to simultaneously handle multiple insurance companies and attorneys representing each party associated with the truck involved in the accident.
Each party will most likely deny responsibility for the accident, making it significantly more difficult than a standard car accident where an attorney is most likely dealing with a single party’s insurance company.
Having an attorney who understands each party’s role in ensuring the safety and quality of the truck and its cargo may enable you to file multiple claims against two or more parties if several errors were made.
Laws and Regulations Surrounding the Trucking Industry
The trucking industry is heavily regulated by federal agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) which places strict requirements on trucking companies to ensure their drivers are qualified and adequately trained.
Federal laws require trucking companies to monitor a driver’s activity during a long-distance haul to ensure that he or she has worked a certain number of hours throughout the week and received a specific amount of sleep each night.
Trucking companies are also required to make sure each driver has met a certain number of training hours before operating a large truck on his or her own.
A qualified truck accident attorney will be aware of the many regulations placed upon the trucking industry and can identify when a violation of these laws occurred.
What to do After You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident
After a truck accident, it is important that you refrain from speaking with the truck’s driver or the trucking company’s insurance provider. You should collect the name of the driver and trucking company, photograph the truck and your vehicle, and contact an attorney immediately.
At Greg Coleman Law, the reputable truck accident attorneys in our Knoxville location have handled numerous truck accident claims and will be able to properly evaluate your accident.
We understand the impact that an accident with a large truck can have and will be able to assume all negotiations and legalities with the other party’s insurance company so that you or your loved one can focus on recovering.
Our attorneys know that the time following a severe truck accident is hard on the victims and their families, which is why all of our services are provided on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not have to pay us unless we recover compensation for your claim.
Call (865) 247-0080 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
