When a truck accident takes place, if you or your loved one are the victim of negligence on the highway, the last thing that occurs to you may be to figure out whether the driver was traveling interstate or intrastate. The difference seems subtle, but it can have a huge impact on who is ultimately liable for the accident. Each commercial truck is insured by its own carrier.
Large, commercial trucks travel thousands of miles across the country on a daily basis, and according to the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 273,000 large trucks were involved in accidents in 2011. Of those same accidents, over 29,000 trucks were involved in accidents that resulted in fatalities.
In 2008 there were 691 heavy/ medium truck accidents in Knox County Tennessee alone.
The risk that comes with driving at high rates of speed for hours on end is obvious, as many truck drivers resort to unsafe methods to stay awake and focused on the long stretches of highway that they traverse day in and day out. As with any traffic accident, the first action that should be taken is to attend to any injuries by seeking medical help.
Have you or a loved one been involved in an accident with a truck? Victims of interstate or instrastate truck crashes may be eligible for compensation based on any number of factors surrounding the incident.
Negligent or reckless drivers can be liable for expenses related to the pain and suffering of the victims involved in truck crashes. The compensation recovered in the case of an interstate or intrastate truck crash may be used to cover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other expenses.
For a no-cost, no-obligation evaluation of your situation, fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW form to your right.
Interstate Vs. Intrastate: Know The Difference
Commercial vehicles may be used to transport a wide array of freight types. Some of these materials may be hazardous, however some may not. Regardless of the freight, a collision with a medium or heavy commercial truck can cause an obscene amount of damage to the victims vehicle or to their physical person.
Determining where the freight is traveling to and where it is coming from is vital in piecing together the puzzle of liability. The victim must understand who is ultimately going to be held liable for the accident in order to understand their rights.
Intrastate travel is defined by routes that take the driver anywhere within the state, while interstate includes any travel between multiple states. The exact criteria that must be met for a load to be considered interstate cargo includes:
- Driving between states, or, from one state to another
- Driving between two locations within the state, but the cargo originated in or is being shipped to another state
- Driving within the same state, but the vehicle route takes the driver through another state to reach their destination
One important reason to be sure you know whether the load is interstate or intrastate has to do with the insurance policy requirements that a truck may have.
In general, drivers transporting non-hazardous materials must have at least $750,000 in insurance coverage, but specific minimums may be determined by the state. Because policies can vary, it is vital to determine whether the truck was driving an interstate or intrastate load.
Injuries Associated With Truck Accidents
Any accident can produce life-threatening injuries, but those that involve heavy, commercial vehicles tend to be more dangerous. Oversized loads or exhausted or overworked drivers may be to blame for an interstate or intrastate truck crash.
The following injuries are only some of the most commonly occurring truck accident outcomes when a large, commercial vehicle is involved:
- Severe property damage, or vehicle being totaled
- Lacerations on the face, body, arms or legs
- Loss of limb or amputation
- Loss of consciousness or coma
- Minor bumps, bruises, scrapes or gashes
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Herniated discs
- Injury or death of other passengers
- to name a few.
No traffic accident should be taken lightly, but those that involve large, commercial trucks traveling between or through states can cause a serious amount of damage.
If you or a loved one has been involved in such a traumatic event, the pain and suffering that you may have endured can be somewhat alleviated by compensation that results in the responsible parties being brought to justice. Contact an experienced truck accident attorney to explore your legal options and ease the anguish you are dealing with.
Types of Interstate Vehicles Vs. Intrastate Vehicles
While traveling by highway, drivers will very likely see many large, commercial trucks transporting various types of freight.
Some of the most common types of interstate and intrastate commercial vehicles include:
- Commercial semi-trucks
- FedEx vehicles
- UPS vehicles
- Logging trucks
- Box trucks
- Grocery or department store semi-trailers
- and others.
Although the drivers of many of these commercial vehicles are skilled at navigating the roadways and operating their oversized trucks, it is important to practice defensive driving by staying aware of signs, signals and the actions of other drivers.
Tennessee Interstate and Intrastate Truck Accident Lawyers
The people and businesses of Tennessee need an ally, and Greg Coleman Law can provide the experience, resources and compassion that it takes to competently protect the rights and interests of those people.
With a tight focus on personal injury cases, Greg Coleman Law wants to help the victims of interstate or intrastate truck accidents understand their options and gain compensation for their pain and suffering.
Greg Coleman Law has an office in Knoxville, TN and proudly serves the people and businesses in:
- Morristown
- Johnson City
- Kingsport
- Oakridge
- Bristol
- and most other surrounding towns and areas in Tennessee.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of interstate or intrastate truck accident, contact Greg Coleman Law by using our Free Case Review form on the right side of this page, or by calling (800) HURT-NOW for a FREE initial consultation. Remember, its strictly confidential and 100% FREE to send.
