Why Do You Need a Nashville Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer?
Did you know that according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, nearly 4,000 people died as a result of large truck wrecks in the year 2016 alone? 66% of those killed were the occupants of other vehicles, and 16% were pedestrians, or riding bicycles or motorcycles. If those numbers don’t seem large to you, consider that they’re up 27% from where they were in 2009.
Just like a car accident, truck accidents are an epidemic on our roads, and worse, when you’re in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, the damage is far more catastrophic than it is with a regular car, simply because trucks are so much bigger and heavier. Unfortunately, seeking compensation for the injuries you suffer from a truck accident can also be harder due to the number of parties involved. Truck accident lawyers know how to deal with this situation. That’s why you need the help of a qualified Nashville semi-truck accident lawyer from Mitch Grissim & Associates.
Most Common Causes Of Truck Accidents
While all truck accident cases are extremely dangerous, they all don’t happen the same way. Different circumstances can lead to different kinds of truck accidents. Everything from road conditions to the truck driver, and the type of car involved, can play a significant role in the severity of the truck accident case and the suffering caused to truck accident victims. Here are all the different causes of truck accidents.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of all automobile accidents, let alone most truck accidents. Not only is distracted driving dangerous but it is an illegal and reckless action that can lead to serious injuries. Truck drivers who text while driving can cause dangerous trucking accidents and put other drivers at risk.
Speeding
Like distracted driving, speeding is another major cause of tractor-trailer accidents that can cause serious injuries. Since trucks are much larger than typical vehicles on the road, it is harder for large trucks to stop. If trucks like tractor-trailers are speeding, they may gain too much momentum causing drivers to lose control. Not only is speeding illegal but it is a negligent act. Truck drivers and trucking companies should be held responsible for any trucking accidents that occur from speeding.
Aggressive Driving
The trucking industry is a mentally and physically demanding industry that requires drivers to travel long distances and stay awake for long periods at a time. These difficulties of the job can lead to truck drivers working under a lot of stress to make deliveries on time which can lead to road rage. If truck drivers do not properly yield, tailgate, or cut off another driver, they can cause serious injuries to themselves and other drivers around them.
Fatigued Driving
Another consequence of the demanding trucking industry is fatigued driving. While there are rules and regulations in place to keep tired truck drivers off the road, there are still many instances where fatigued drivers can cause serious accidents. Commercial truck drivers are not allowed to drive more than 11 hours at a time and must rest for 10 hours in between each session. In addition, they also cannot drive more than 60 hours in one week or 70 hours in 8 days. However, many times these rules are not followed in order to get cargo delivered on time. When these rules are not followed, both the driver and passenger vehicles are in danger of serious accidents.
Road Construction
While road construction should make truck drivers slow down and pay attention, many drivers see it as a nuisance and attempt to maneuver around the construction at high speeds. This can cause them to drive over uneven pavement near the side of the road or the median causing them to flip or collide with another vehicle.
Severe Weather Conditions
Severe weather conditions can also cause a serious trucking accident. For example rain, snow, fog, and other conditions can make it difficult for truck drivers to see and maintain control of their tractor-trailers. This can cause dangerous collisions, multi-vehicle pile-ups, and catastrophic injuries.
Brake Failure
Nothing can cause more damage on the road than an out-of-control semi-truck. Unlike car accidents, a commercial truck accident is often caused by truck driver negligence, brake failure accidents may be caused by negligence from the trucking company. Brake failures typically result from improper maintenance, missed inspections, and defective parts.
Driving Under The Influence
Truck drivers and operators of commercial trucks are not allowed to drink alcohol four hours before operating commercial vehicles. While driving drunk is illegal for anyone operating a vehicle, drunk truck drivers are specifically dangerous due to the size and power of their vehicles. Truck drivers driving under the influence can cause serious truck accidents that result in harmful injuries and even death. If you’ve been involved in this situation, an experienced truck accident lawyer can help.
Overloading Cargo
There are few things more dangerous than an overloaded tractor-trailer. Trucks that overload their cargo can experience tire blowouts causing the truck to lose control and possibly flip. They also may flip due to a lane change because they are carrying more weight than they are supposed to. If the cargo they are hauling is external, flying debris can also cause serious accidents. For example, unsecured cargo goes through another driver’s windshield, causes road obstructions, or causes drivers to swerve into each other.
Poor Lighting
If truck drivers have to drive on poorly lit roads at night, it may cause them to lose control due to limited visibility. Poorly lit roads can make it harder to see curves, blind spots, narrowing roads, and other drivers on the road.
After a Truck Accident
What to do after a truck accident is similar to what you should do after any other vehicle accident. Above all never leave the accident scene. And while you’ll likely need the assistance of experienced truck accident lawyers, here is everything you need to do.
Seek Medical Care
Truck accident injuries can be fatal. And the first thing you should do is call 911 immediately in order to get medical attention as soon as possible. Before anything else, the safety of everyone involved should be a number one priority. If you are unable to call 911, witnesses or other drivers involved should call immediately.
File a Police Report
No matter how big or small the accident is, you should always file a police report. Even if you were unharmed filing a police report can help your situation later down the road. It is also important to explain in detail everything that happened without admitting fault for the accident. Admitting fault can harm your personal injury lawsuit case and make it more difficult to receive the compensation you deserve.
Collect Evidence
If you can collect as much evidence as you can. Take photos, videos, and note any description of the scene. It is also important to record any injury you have suffered as well as the contact information from the other party involved. If you are unable to do so, make sure you reach out to a Nashville truck accident lawyer to help you reconstruct the scene at a later date.
Contact An Experienced Attorney
It is not uncommon to be unsure of what to do following a truck accident. Reaching out to an experienced personal injury lawyer will help you manage the legal process while you focus on recovering from your injuries. In addition, they will make sure you are properly compensated for the damages you’ve experienced. An experienced attorney will fight for a settlement to cover medical bills, emotional trauma, lost wages, and more.
As soon as possible, report the accident to your insurance company. Don’t lie and don’t try to spin what happened. Just stick to the core facts. Finally, call on our law firm for help pursuing your case.
Why You Need a Nashville Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
Pursuing damages from a truck accident can be very complicated. It starts with the insurance adjuster who will look for any reason to undermine your claim. They’ll try to trick you into signing off on a very low offer on your truck accident claim. They might even try to bully or shift blame onto you. Even after a big truck crash, when you get past this stage, the various parties involved will start arguing over who has to pay.
A truck accident can be caused by driver error from fatigue, distraction, inexperience, or even intoxication from alcohol. It can be caused by faulty mechanical parts in the truck. It can also be caused by improper loading of cargo, which shifts and causes the truck to go off balance and jackknife.
With all these potential causes, the driver, the cargo loading company, the trucking company, and even the parts manufacturers might be responsible. You need someone who can cut through the arguments and hold the responsible parties accountable. That’s a Nashville semi-truck accident lawyer.
Fighting for Your Rights
As experienced and qualified Nashville semi-truck accident attorneys, the staff at Mitch Grissim & Associates are here to make sure that your rights are protected every step of the way. We won’t let insurance companies trick, strong-arm, bully, or blame you for the accident. We won’t let trucking companies try to distance themselves from the claim. An experienced truck accident attorney won’t let anyone responsible off the hook.
We’ll be your best shot at getting significant compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, emotional trauma, and more. If you need the best truck accident lawyer for your case, call our offices for help today.
