Truck accident lawyer Clarksville, TN

Why hire a truck accident lawyer from Hughes & Coleman

We understand that after an accident, all you want to do is put it behind you and move forward with your life. Victims of truck accidents often suffer physically, emotionally, and financially. An experienced truck accident attorney will help ensure you get the financial compensation you deserve on your road to recovery while also helping you understand your legal rights.

Immediately following an accident, the trucking companies dispatch their lawyers and insurance providers to begin investigating the crash. We strongly advise that you never discuss the accident with these opposing parties without your lawyer present. They don’t have your best interests at heart; they only care about the bottom line. They want you to settle for the lowest dollar amount possible.

You need someone on your side who will advocate for you. Our truck accident lawyers will work to:

• Determine liability. We will carefully examine your case to help us determine who should be held accountable for the accident.
• Determine how much compensation to seek. Following an accident, you may be entitled to damages for medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and lost wages. We will ensure that you get the financial compensation you deserve for your short-term and long-term injuries.
• Determine who to seek damages from. Multiple parties may be responsible for the accident. We will make sure that all those responsible for the accident are held liable. This may involve working to get compensation from insurance companies and other entities who may have contributed to your injuries.
• Ensure you get the medical attention you need. While we’re working on your claim, our team will make sure that you get the medical care you need to help you through this time.

What to do after a big truck wreck

Common causes of 18-wheeler and semi truck accidents

Like any accident, truck crashes involving an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or any other large truck can have a variety of causes. These can include:

• Distracted driving, such as using a smartphone or having distracting passengers in the truck.
• Driving while under the influence of illegal substances or alcohol.
• Exhibiting aggressive driving behaviors, such as excessive speeding, tailgating, or making risky lane changes (such as cutting off other drivers).
• Failing to equip trailers with proper lights or reflectors for nighttime visibility.
• Driving while fatigued, often due to violations of hours-of-service regulations.
• Neglecting to perform required pre-trip inspections on the truck.
• Inadequately securing cargo or overloading a trailer.
• Operating a truck despite serious health conditions that may cause medical issues while driving.
• Violating any traffic laws, including exceeding speed limits, or failing to yield.
• Negligently hiring drivers with a history of risky or unqualified behavior.
• Failing to conduct thorough inspections and maintenance on commercial vehicles.
• Manufacturing and selling defective truck parts.
• Breaching any safety regulations set forth by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).

An accident involving commercial trucks can cause catastrophic injuries

Truck accident victims often experience severe injuries as a result of crashes with tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, or commercial vehicles that were operating negligently. In most truck crashes, passenger cars are not equipped to withstand the force of a collision, leaving victims with both physical injuries and emotional scars.

Truck accidents can lead to a range of injuries, including:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Resulting from head trauma, TBIs may cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, memory loss, and cognitive issues.

Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation, muscle weakness, and breathing difficulties.

Broken Bones: Truck accidents can cause fractures in limbs, ribs, and the pelvis, sometimes requiring surgery and extensive rehabilitation.

Burns: Wrecks may result in burns of varying severity, necessitating treatments like skin grafts.

Internal Injuries: Potentially life-threatening, these injuries can harm organs like the liver, spleen, or kidneys, often not immediately apparent.

Emotional Distress: Truck accidents can also cause emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

If you’ve been in a truck accident, seek immediate medical attention, even if injuries seem minor. Some may surface days or weeks later. Additionally, consult with an experienced attorney to understand your rights and seek compensation for your injuries.

Local and Federal laws involved in commercial truck crash cases in Clarksville

There can be multiple liable parties held responsible in a semi-truck accident lawsuit

The primary difference between car accidents involving commercial trucks and car accidents involving just passenger vehicles is that there are even more potentially liable parties in incidents involving the trucks. For example, semi-truck accident cases frequently involve major corporations and can result in more severe injuries, leading to substantially larger financial implications compared to typical car accidents. With higher stakes comes increased legal intricacy, as trucking companies may be backed by sizable insurance firms equipped with their own extensive legal resources.

Truck drivers are often to blame for crashes; however, it is important to understand that there may be other at fault parties that can be held accountable. These can include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company accountable for the vehicle and its driver
• The insurance provider
• The truck owner (which may differ from the trucking company or driver)
• The truck manufacturer and parts manufacturers
• Cargo companies that might have improperly loaded the truck or tractor-trailer.
• Repair shops that failed to adhere to proper maintenance protocols
• Even the government, if it played a role, can be subject to liability.

In many cases, one or more parties can be responsible and be included in a truck accident claim. Experienced truck accident attorneys will be able to properly investigate the crash so that when determining liability, all entities that played a role can be identified and pursued. The best truck accident lawyers in Clarksville will have the resources to thoroughly handle your claim while navigating the complexities along the way.

Are defective parts a common cause of truck accidents?

A truck wreck attorney can hold trucking companies in Clarksville, TN responsible for defective parts

If our investigation reveals that a defective part was the cause of your truck accident, we need to determine who is liable for the part. An injury claim based on a defective part is specifically a product liability claim.

Product liability claims generally fall under three different categories:

• Design defect. In these cases, the part or piece of the equipment’s design was flawed. It could be any piece of equipment, from the brakes to the straps that help hold down the cargo. It’s often insufficient to prove that the design was dangerous; we also need to prove that the part’s manufacturer had an alternative design option and intentionally chose not to use it. Proving liability in these types of cases can be challenging, and it’s necessary to have an experienced truck accident lawyer handling your case.
• Manufacturing defect. These lawsuits are filed against the manufacturer when a part was made or assembled incorrectly. Sometimes, multiple companies are involved in making, assembling, and distributing a single part. Our legal team will investigate all the parties who had access to the part and determine which ones should be held accountable for your accident.
• Warning or marketing defect. A proper warning label should specify the less obvious dangers of using the product and provide detailed and specific instructions on how the product should be used. If the warning labels were lacking any of the above, you may have a warning defect case. The lawyers at Hughes & Coleman will work hard to ensure the responsible party is held accountable.

What is the statute of limitations on a truck accident in Clarksville, TN?

In Clarksville, as in the rest of Tennessee, the statute of limitations for a truck accident or personal injury case can vary depending on the circumstances. Generally, Tennessee has a statute of limitations of one year for personal injury claims. This means that you typically have one year from the date of the truck accident to file a lawsuit against the responsible party or parties.

However, there can be exceptions and nuances to this rule. It’s essential to consult with a truck injury lawyer in Clarksville who can provide guidance based on the specific details of your case. A truck accident lawyer can help you determine the applicable statute of limitations and ensure you take the necessary legal actions within the required timeframe. Keep in mind that failing to file a lawsuit within the statute of limitations can result in your claim being barred, so it’s crucial to act promptly if you have a potential truck accident case.

How much are most truck accident settlements?

Truck accident settlement examples from our firm

Contact the Clarksville truck accident attorneys at Hughes & Coleman, and let us take on truck companies

Call our office today for a free evaluation of your case. We have obtained compensation for our clients in many different types of trucking accidents. The trucking accident lawyers at Hughes & Coleman have the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to get you the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses while holding all responsible parties accountable.

Our lawyers will patiently sit down with you and listen to the details of your case. We care about the Clarksville community, and when a member like you is hurting, we will do everything we can to help lessen the burden and ease your pain.

Call our legal team today for a free consultation

800-800-4600

Get it done.

Our office is conveniently located near you

Although you don’t need to come to our office, we are centrally located in Clarksville, TN. If you ever want to come to our office, our team will meet with you in person to discuss your claim. If you’re unable to travel, we will even come to you. If you prefer to handle your claim over the phone, we can do that as well. Our Tennessee truck accident lawyers can help you no matter where you’re located.

323 N Riverside Dr. Suite 100

Clarksville, TN 37040

(931) 546-7200