Murfreesboro Truck Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, semi, or any other type of large truck or commercial vehicle, please contact us today. The truck accident lawyers at Hughes & Coleman are experienced in handling all aspects of a truck accident claim. We have won top dollar for our clients in many truck accident cases, and we will fight to do the same for you. Call our offices in Murfreesboro today to schedule a free initial case evaluation.

A Murfreesboro Truck Accident Attorney From Hughes & Coleman Can Help

Located just 40 minutes south of Nashville along I-24, Murfreesboro is the fastest-growing city in Tennessee. While we are excited to see our community grow, an increase in people also means an increase in traffic. Unfortunately, more traffic has led to more car and truck accidents.

It makes things even worse when truck drivers drink or use drugs on the job.

While any type of vehicle accident can leave those involved with grave injuries and serious financial repercussions, collisions between semis or large trucks and passenger vehicles are especially devastating. The size and weight of a large truck makes them more destructive upon impact, and victims involved in collisions with these vehicles often lose their lives or are left with life-altering injuries.

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, a Murfreesboro personal injury lawyer from our team can help. call us today at 800-800-4600.

What to do after a big truck wreck and how a Murfreesboro truck accident lawyer can help

A Lawyer for Truck Accident Cases Can Help Prove Truck Driver Negligence

Drinking and driving is a serious problem, the CDC recently reported that, in the United States, 29 people die in an accident involving a drunk driver every day. That comes out to one death every 50 minutes. Some of these accidents are caused by truck drivers who drink on the job.

A truck driver often leads a solitary life, being alone behind the wheel for days at a time. This can contribute to boredom, loneliness, and depression. In a misguided effort to cope with these feelings, some resort to alcohol or even drugs.

Truck drivers are aware that it is illegal to get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but some choose to do so anyway. When a truck driver’s poor choice kills or injures someone, he or she should be held accountable. In some cases, not only drivers but even the trucking companies they work for can be held liable, which can mean more compensation for you.

What are the regulations regarding truck drivers and alcohol?

Truck drivers are heavily regulated when it comes to using alcohol or any other intoxicating substance before getting behind the wheel, and rightly so. They are in control of a vehicle that is longer, heavier, and more dangerous than a standard-size vehicle. They have the weighty responsibility of protecting their own lives as well as the lives of other drivers and passengers on the road. It is also their duty to ensure that the cargo they’re carrying is delivered safely and that it doesn’t cause harm to others while en route.

The maximum Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for the driver of a standard size vehicle is .08 percent. However, truck drivers are held to a higher standard.

It is illegal for the driver of a commercial vehicle to have a BAC over .04 percent. Further, the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Association (FMCSA) forbids drivers from consuming alcohol within 4 hours of operating a commercial vehicle or going on duty. This would include time spent repairing, maintaining, and loading the truck. Truck drivers are also forbidden from consuming or keeping alcohol inside the cab of their truck.

How alcohol impairs a truck driver’s ability to drive

Alcohol impairs brain function, reduces a person’s muscle coordination, and affects their perception and judgment. All these skills are essential to safe driving. The more alcohol that is consumed, the more pronounced its effects become.

Consider how the following BAC levels would affect a trucker’s driving ability:

  • BAC .02: Decline in visual functions; relaxed, altered mood; decline in the ability to perform two tasks at the same time
  • BAC .05: Reduced coordination, exaggerated behavior, decreased alertness, difficulty responding to emergency situations in a timely manner
  • BAC .08: Poor muscle coordination, short term memory loss, impaired judgment and perception, trouble concentrating, lack of speed control
  • BAC .10: Poor coordination and reaction time; slurred speech; difficulty steering, braking, and staying in their lane
  • BAC .15: Further decrease in muscle control, loss of balance, vomiting, visual and auditory impairment

Truck Drivers and Illegal and Prescription Drug Abuse

Some truck drivers don’t follow FMCSA regulations regarding how many hours they are legally allowed to drive and when they are required to take breaks. However, the faster truck drivers deliver the load, the more money they make. Thus, they push the limits, driving for extended periods without rest. In order to keep pace with this schedule, some turn to illegal or prescription drugs for an extra boost of energy.

Amphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs can be found at highway rest stops throughout the country. Truck drivers seek out and take these drugs to push through their fatigue and stay awake. This can lead to a vicious cycle where drivers take cocaine or amphetamines to stay awake and then they feel the need to use alcohol or marijuana to calm down and sleep at night. The next morning, they wake up with a hangover and have to start the whole process over again.

This not only has a terribly negative impact on a truck driver’s health and well-being, but it severely impacts their driving ability. Drugs can cause delayed reaction times, impaired judgment, inability to concentrate, and false feelings of confidence in difficult driving situations.

  • Get It Done.

    FREE CASE EVALUATION

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover Compensation

The big truck accident lawyers at Hughes and Coleman are dedicated to helping truck accident victims seek justice. We will review your case for free and help you decide what course of legal action to take. We understand the complexities associated with truck accident claims and have a successful track record in handling these types of cases.

After taking your case, we may seek compensation for:

We Can Help Even if the Accident Was Partially Your Fault

Tennessee, as a modified comparative negligence state, does not automatically bar you from going after the other driver for damages just because you may have contributed to the crash. The Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers team will evaluate your accident and determine if you are eligible for compensation despite any role your actions might have played in causing the wreck.

Many of our car accident clients have been able to collect compensation from the other driver’s insurance company despite being 10, 20, and even 45 percent at fault for the crash.

Contact Our Legal Team Today Call 800-800-4600

The lawyers at Hughes & Coleman are skilled and experienced in handling all kinds of truck accident cases. You should contact an attorney before accepting any settlement offered by the insurance company. Their goal is to get you to settle for the least amount possible.

Our firm will investigate your case and handle all negotiations with the insurance company. We will protect your legal rights and prevent you from getting taken advantage of by greedy trucking companies during your time of distress.

Get In Touch Today!

We offer free consultations 24/7 and there will always be someone here to take your call. Call our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation or fill out this form and we will contact you.

We serve clients across Tennessee and Kentucky and we have several offices throughout both states. See all of our locations and contact us today.

Kentucky Locations


BOWLING GREEN

1256 Campbell Ln #201

Bowling Green, KY 42104

Phone: (270) 782-6000

VIEW MAP

ELIZABETHTOWN

2110 N Dixie Hwy #102

Elizabethtown, KY 42701

Phone: (270) 737-0640

VIEW MAP

LOUISVILLE POPLAR LEVEL

5004 Poplar Level Rd

Louisville, KY 40219

Phone: (502) 585-4025

VIEW MAP

LOUISVILLE DIXIE

3618 Dixie Hwy

Louisville, KY 40216

Phone: (502) 585-4693

VIEW MAP

LEXINGTON

211 E New Circle Rd

Lexington, KY 40505

Phone: (859) 260-1722

VIEW MAP

Tennessee Locations


NASHVILLE

446 James Robertson Pkwy #100

Nashville, TN 37219

Phone: (615) 255-9100

VIEW MAP

MURFREESBORO

1501 Memorial Blvd

Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Phone: (615) 907-0687

VIEW MAP

CLARKSVILLE

323 N Riverside Dr #100

Clarksville, TN 37040

Phone: (931) 546-7200

VIEW MAP

COLUMBIA

622 W 7th St

Columbia, TN 38401

Phone: (931) 505-7040

VIEW MAP

GALLATIN

126 W Eastland Ave

Gallatin, TN 37066

Phone: (615) 451-4288

VIEW MAP