With so many commercial trucks on the road, driving in East Tennessee can sometimes feel like a challenging obstacle course. Anxiety when driving near 18-wheelers is understandable, especially considering the significant size disparity between large commercial vehicles and passenger cars. When a truck collision occurs, the results can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating – especially for passenger vehicle occupants.

Helping Truck Accident Victims in Greeneville, TN

If you have suffered injuries in a truck accident, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your losses, including medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses. Working with an experienced Greeneville truck accident lawyer can maximize your chances of achieving a fair result in your claim. The trusted legal team at The Terry Law Firm has the knowledge and resources to give you the support and advocacy you need to make the most of your claim.

Call us today or contact us online for a free consultation with our Greeneville truck accident lawyers. 

Why You Need Our Lawyers After a Greeneville Truck Accident

If you feel overwhelmed and confused after being involved in a truck accident in Greeneville, Tennessee, it is crucial to understand that you do not need to face the aftermath alone. Nor should you.

Truck accidents are complex, often involving multiple at-fault parties, severe or even fatal injuries, and significant financial losses. Working with our truck accident attorneys in Greeneville can help you understand and protect your rights.

The personal injury lawyers at The Terry Law Firm have a thorough understanding of Greeneville trucking laws. We can create a personalized strategy for your truck accident case, determine all liable parties, and negotiate aggressively for the compensation you deserve. If the insurance adjusters are unwilling to offer you a fair truck accident settlement, our attorneys can file a truck accident lawsuit to seek damages before a judge and jury. Let us take care of the hard work while you focus on your recovery.

Common Causes and Types of Greeneville Trucking Accidents

Truck accidents can occur for various reasons, including:

  • Driver error – Truck drivers may drive while distracted, tired, or impaired, leading to crashes. They may also speed, follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes, or engage in other forms of negligence.
  • Mechanical defects – Issues like faulty brakes, broken lights, and bald tires can cause trucks to become hazardous and crash. Improper maintenance and overloaded trucks may also result in equipment failure.
  • Hazardous road conditions – Slippery roads, debris, construction zones, and poor visibility due to weather can all contribute to truck crashes when drivers fail to adjust their driving habits to adapt to the conditions.

Some of the most devastating types of tractor-trailer accidents include:

  • Rear-end collisions – Heavy trucks have a much longer stopping distance than lightweight cars and pickups. When truckers don’t leave enough following distance, devastating rear-end crashes can result.
  • Jackknife accidents – When the rear of a truck’s trailer begins to swing out toward the cab, it can form a shape like an open pocketknife. Any vehicle that gets swept along by the trailer or gets caught between the trailer and the cab can be severely damaged or crushed.
  • Rollover crashes – Top-heavy trucks have a high center of gravity, making them prone to rollovers, especially at high speeds and with improper cargo loading.
  • Underride collisions – These accidents happen when a smaller vehicle goes partially underneath a truck during a collision due to the truck’s high clearance, frequently leading to fatal head and neck injuries for the small vehicle passengers.

Who Can Be Responsible in a Truck Accident Case?

State and federal commercial vehicle regulations govern truckload limits, driver safety, vehicle inspections, maintenance, and repairs. Investigating violations of Tennessee laws or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations can establish a company’s or a driver’s liability for truck wrecks.

Depending on the circumstances of the traffic crash, it may be possible to seek compensation from one or more of the following parties:

  • Truck driver – The trucker may be liable due to factors such as prescription and over-the-counter drug use, traveling too fast for conditions, unfamiliarity with the roadway, and fatigue.
  • Trucking company – Trucking companies have a legal responsibility to ensure that their drivers and vehicles are safe. Failure to do so can expose them to liability. If a driver is an employee – not an independent contractor – the law holds the employer vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence.
  • Cargo company – If a freight-loading company loaded the trailer, and the cargo shifts due to poor securement and causes an accident, the party that loaded it may be held responsible, for example.
  • Manufacturer or maintenance company – Problems with brakes, tires, or other components that contribute to an accident can be the fault of a parts manufacturer or improperly performed maintenance.
  • Government entity or contractor – Issues such as inadequate warning signs, failure to comply with work zone safety standards, and problems with traffic control can place liability on a roadworks project’s general contractor or a government agency.

Common Types of Evidence in Greeneville Truck Accident Lawsuits

When conducting an investigation, a truck accident lawyer in Greeneville may look at the following types of evidence, among others:

  • Information from the police report
  • The truck’s black box data
  • Trucking company records
  • Witness statements
  • Accident reconstruction expert analysis
  • Photos and videos from traffic and surveillance cameras near the crash site
  • Medical records
  • Receipts and documentation evidencing financial losses

Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents in Greeneville

Truck accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, particularly for occupants of passenger vehicles involved in the collision. Examples of extremely serious injuries sustained by truck accident victims include:

  • Spinal cord injuries 
  • Severe lacerations
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Amputated limbs 
  • Internal organ damage and bleeding
  • Fractured and broken bones
  • Neck and back injuries, including whiplash
  • Joint damage
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric problems

Potential Compensation for People Injured in Truck Crashes

You may be entitled to compensation for the following losses after suffering an injury in a truck accident:

  • Past and future medical expenses like hospital bills, medications, physical therapy, etc.
  • Lost income from missed work due to injuries
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost enjoyment of life due to disabling injuries

Our Greeneville truck accident attorneys can help you determine what compensation you can claim.

Time Limit for Filing Truck Accident Cases in Greeneville

In Tennessee, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits says that injured individuals have just one year from the date of the truck crash to initiate legal action. Our experienced lawyers can ensure the lawsuit is filed on time. With such a short deadline, it is critical to contact us as soon as possible after a truck crash.

Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer in Greeneville Now

If your injuries happened due to another party’s negligence, working with our Greeneville truck accident law firm can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact an experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney at The Terry Law Firm today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.

Truck Accident FAQs

When you file a truck accident claim, you may be able to recover compensation for various expenses and losses you incurred due to the crash. Your case may provide you with financial recovery for your:

  • Medical and rehabilitation expenses
  • Lost income
  • Lost future earning potential and job benefits
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost enjoyment or quality of life
  • Vehicle repairs or reimbursement of your car’s value

Yes, it’s crucial to call the police at the scene of a truck accident. The police can investigate the crash scene, gather information from the truck driver and other motorists and eyewitnesses, and prepare an accident report. Police crash reports often provide critical information for truck accident claims.

Other steps you should take at the crash scene include:

  • Check on everyone involved in the accident to see if anyone requires immediate medical attention.
  • Move your vehicle out of the path of traffic if possible, or walk to the side of the road if your car has been disabled.
  • Get the truck driver’s employer and insurance information and insurance information from any other drivers involved in the crash.
  • Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, license plates, visible injuries you suffered, skid marks on the road, and traffic controls at the scene.
  • Talk to eyewitnesses to obtain a brief statement of what they saw and their contact information.

In most cases, the insurer of the at-fault truck driver or the trucking company that employed the driver will pay you compensation for your truck accident claim if they are found liable. Other parties may also have liability for the accident, including:

  • The truck’s owner
  • The cargo company
  • The truck and trailer manufacturer
  • Manufacturers of parts used on the truck
  • Third-party auto shops that serviced the truck

You should contact a truck accident attorney immediately after a truck accident. A lawyer will know what it takes to thoroughly investigate the accident and prepare a compelling, persuasive legal claim. A lawyer can also document your injuries and losses and estimate future expenses to ensure you seek total compensation. Your attorney can also deal with trucking company representatives, insurance adjusters, defense lawyers, or bill collectors on your behalf so you can focus on healing.

Although liability for the truck accident is determined under traditional state negligence laws, other laws – such as state and federal trucking industry regulations – may affect the outcome of your case. For example, a truck driver’s violation of the federal or state hours-of-service regulations may serve as evidence that they were too tired to drive safely. Speak with your attorney to learn more about the laws that apply in your case.

Here are some factors that make truck accident cases more complicated than other kinds of auto accident claims:

  • Truck accident victims often suffer more severe injuries that require longer, more expensive medical care.
  • Truck accidents can injure more people than other types of crashes.
  • Truck accidents may have multiple liable parties who will fight with each other to shift financial responsibility among themselves.
  • Truck accident claims may involve lots of complex evidence.
  • Trucking companies may have complicated corporate structures or layered insurance policies that make it difficult to determine the extent of financial assets available to the company.

About The Terry Law Firm

  • Why You Need Our Lawyers After a Greeneville Truck Accident
  • Common Causes and Types of Greeneville Trucking Accidents
  • Who Can Be Responsible in a Truck Accident Case?
  • Common Types of Evidence in Greeneville Truck Accident Lawsuits
  • Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents in Greeneville
  • Potential Compensation for People Injured in Truck Crashes
  • Time Limit for Filing Truck Accident Cases in Greeneville
  • Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer in Greeneville Now