GALLATIN TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Gallatin, TN, is a great place to live—just ask anyone who is fortunate enough to call it home! The people that make up our community are warm, friendly, and hospitable. The city itself boasts a booming economy with over 60 companies, employing thousands.

With thousands of people driving into Gallatin to work, and thousands more commuting to Nashville, the roadways in and out of the city are busy every day. In addition to the many vehicles carrying people to and from work, our highways are also full of large trucks and semi-trailers hauling goods and supplies. An accident of any kind can be devastating but can be especially dangerous when a large truck is involved.

If you’ve been injured in a big truck wreck, call Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers today at 800-800-4600.

The main reason why accidents with semis and other large trucks are so dangerous is because of the immense size of these vehicles. They are much longer than a standard-size vehicle and can weigh as much as 20 cars or so. The risk of a catastrophic accident increases when these trucks are overloaded.

There are federal and state regulations that control how much a truck can legally weigh. The maximum weight limit on a single axle cannot exceed 20,000 pounds, and on a tandem axle, it cannot exceed 34,000 pounds. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) including truck, trailer, and load cannot exceed 80,000 pounds.

When truck drivers ignore these weight limit regulations, everyone who shares the roadway with them is put at risk. Overweight trucks do not perform as they should and are more difficult to control.

Consider some of the reasons why weight limit violations are dangerous:

• The more a tire weighs, the more likely it is that there will be a tire blowout; this affects the driver’s handling of the vehicle, while tire debris can fly into the path of vehicles behind the truck, causing serious accidents
• Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks are more prone to rollovers
• Excess weight causes a truck to travel downhill faster, making it difficult for drivers to control their speed or to stop
• Overloaded trucks damage roadways and bridges and cause them to wear out prematurely
• Brakes are more susceptible to failure in an overweight truck
• A truck loaded with excessive cargo is more likely to tip when navigating a turn or curve

Trucking companies are obligated to make sure that their trucks are properly loaded in compliance with government obligations. Truck drivers are required to inspect their haul before driving. Beyond that, shipping companies and weigh station officials have a responsibility to make sure trucks are not violating weight restrictions. If any or all of these parties contributed to the truck being overloaded, they can be found negligent.

At times, a truck is overloaded because the trucking company is greedy and puts profits before safety. Otherwise, the driver may be running behind and the truck is loaded negligently because they are in a hurry. Regardless of the reason why the truck was improperly loaded, you and your family should not have to pay the price for someone else’s negligence.

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a truck accident, you may be eligible to seek financial compensation. The damages awarded to you in a lawsuit will help ease your financial burden while you focus on recovery.

The lawyers at Hughes & Coleman have years of experience dealing with insurance companies. We will make sure that you know and understand all of your recovery options. You may be entitled to compensation not only for medical expenses but also for trauma and emotional injuries.

You may receive compensation for the following economic damages:

• Past and future medical bills
• Therapy and rehabilitation
• Home health care visits
• Property damage
• Loss of past and future income

You could be entitled to receive the following emotional damages:

• Pain and suffering
• Decline in quality of life
• Disfigurement
• Emotional stress
• Loss of consortium

After a truck accident occurs, trucking companies immediately launch an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. They will have lawyers, insurance companies, and other experts working for them. Trucking companies are not looking out for you—they are trying to avoid being found responsible for the crash.

They may look for ways to try and hold the other driver liable for the accident, making claims that the driver was:

• Tailgating
• Speeding
• Traveling in the truck’s blind spots
• Driving while distracted
• Merging too close to the truck
• Overdriving road conditions

You need a skilled lawyer that you can trust when these accusations are being hurled at you. The lawyers at Hughes & Coleman won’t let the greedy trucking and insurance companies take advantage of you during this difficult time after your accident. Insurance companies know that accident victims are recovering physically and emotionally while dealing with mounting medical bills. They take advantage of this stressful situation and try to get victims to settle quickly for low amounts.

Don’t allow yourself to be bullied into a settlement offer that doesn’t serve you. Upon retaining us as your legal counsel, we will handle all negotiations with the trucking company, the opposing lawyers, and the insurance company. We will make sure that evidence is preserved and we will dispatch our own team to investigate the accident.

It’s important to obtain legal representation immediately after your accident. You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence, and time is of the essence to ensure you win compensation.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a trucking accident, please call the lawyers at Hughes & Coleman today to schedule a free consultation. We have an office conveniently located in Gallatin, TN. We will sit down with you, review your case, and explain your legal rights. We take all of our cases on a contingency fee basis; this means you don’t pay us anything until we receive compensation for you.