BACK OFF MY RIDE® - HELP AVOID TRUCK ACCIDENTS
Size
The huge difference in size between a tractor-trailer and a regular vehicle can contribute to devastating results in an accident. Tractor-trailers can weigh over thirty times more than a regular vehicle. As a result, tractor-trailers take longer to stop than an ordinary vehicle. If you have to slam on your breaks in front of a tractor-trailer, even with the quickest of reactions the truck driver might not provide the distance needed to bring their vehicle to a stop before a collision. In 2014, 73% of fatalities involving a tractor-trailer were occupants of ordinary vehicles.
No Zones
You may often see “BACK OFF” printed on the mud flaps of a semi-tractor trailer, and they’re telling you to “BACK OFF MY RIDE®” for reason. Tractor trailers have blind spots on all four sides of their vehicle. You should never tailgate a tractor trailer and should always try to pass them promptly. If you are unable to see a driver in their mirror, they are unable to see you. Stay safe and reduce the possibility of an accident by staying out of their blind spots.
Federal Regulation
Unlike regular drivers, tractor-trailer drivers are required to comply with a variety of federal regulations that dictate how long he or she can drive in one session. There are also regulations regarding how much time off for rest the driver must take between trips. Tractor-trailer drivers are also required to meticulously and regularly check their trailer to make sure that it is up to code and does not have any problems.
If any of these regulations are not complied with before or at the time of your accident, then you may have a strong case against the driver of the tractor-trailer. Our personal injury lawyers will perform an in-depth investigation of your accident to determine your likelihood of success.
Tennessee and Kentucky Trucking Accidents
Tennessee and Kentucky are both above the national average in terms of deaths involving large trucks. In 2014 the national average of fatal accidents involving trucks was almost 11 per million people. The average for both Kentucky and Tennessee was over 14 deaths per million people.
What to do after a big truck wreck and how a truck accident lawyer can help
Why are Tractor-Trailer Accidents Different Than Normal Automobile Accidents?
What Compensation Can I Recover?
If you were involved in a big truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation to cover:
- Hospital bills incurred after the accident
- Surgical costs
- Future care that you might need as a result of your injuries
- Rehabilitation or physical therapy needed to heal injuries
- Prescription medication and medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or knee brace
Involvement in a tractor-trailer accident can be particularly traumatic because of the amount of time it can take to recover from such a forceful crash. Full recovery, if possible, can take months or even years. In the meantime, you may not be able to work to support yourself or your family. If you are a single-income household or the breadwinner for your family, this can be especially devastating. In a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to recover damages for the time that you lost from work, and even loss of future earning capacity if you have been permanently disabled and will be unable to work again.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a tractor-trailer accident, then you don’t need to be told how physically and emotionally traumatic the experience can be. Although this type of trauma can’t be calculated into a dollar amount, a personal injury lawsuit may still allow you to recover damages for the emotional anguish and physical pain that you are suffering as a result of the accident.
If you have lost a loved one in a tractor-trailer accident, you may be able to recover expenses related to the funeral or cremation service.
I Can’t Afford to Hire a Lawyer. What Should I Do?
If you are hesitant to hire a lawyer because you don’t think you can afford to pay the costs associated with a lawsuit, don’t wait for a second longer. At Hughes & Coleman, our attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning that you will only pay your lawyer if he or she wins your case and earns you compensation. If you don’t win your case and aren’t awarded any damages, then you will walk away without having to pay your lawyer a cent, no strings attached. There are no down payments or expensive hourly fees to worry about. Don’t let financial concerns keep you from obtaining the representation you need to gain the compensation that you deserve. Call or fill out a case evaluation form to speak to one of our attorneys. It’s absolutely free, so you have nothing to lose.
Let Us Fight for You—Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving a tractor-trailer, then you have enough on your plate already. Personal injury cases involving tractor-trailers can be especially hard to fight on your own. An experienced attorney will be familiar with the many regulations governing drivers of tractor-trailers and will be able to see where these regulations were violated. Don’t try to fight your case alone during this emotional time. The experienced personal injury team at Hughes & Coleman are ready to fight your case for you so that you don’t have to. Give us a call or fill out a case evaluation form today.
Truck accidents are common throughout the United States due to the heavy traffic from trucking companies. Thankfully, the first responders have been particularly trained to assist us if we ever experience a truck accident. However, the injuries are frequently painful and life-threatening. With the help of experienced truck accident attorneys, you and your family may obtain help right away, working to get you the best medical care, documenting your injuries, and protecting the accident scene before important evidence is “lost.”
While automotive accidents involving passenger vehicles can be devastating, collisions between a passenger vehicle and an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer are often far worse. It’s simply not a fair contest to pit an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer against 3,000-pound passenger cars and other smaller vehicles. When a semi-truck collides with a passenger vehicle, 72 percent of the time the car occupants are harmed, but only 17 percent of the time the truck occupants are injured.
The number of heavy trucks involved in fatal crashes grew by 8% from 2014 to 2015, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which oversees the trucking sector. During the same time frame, the number of buses involved in fatal collisions climbed by 11%.
There are numerous sorts of automobile and truck collisions, including:
Collisions with the back of the vehicle
Rollovers
Accidents involving a jackknife
Crashing into each other.
Side-impact collisions
Sideswipes
Underride of a truck (where the car goes under the truck or trailer)
Trailer that has gotten away
Furthermore, because many large vehicles have a “no-zone,” blind spot incidents are more common in cars than in trucks. These are locations around the truck where a truck driver may be unable to see an automobile and hence collide with it more readily.
Unfortunately, a truck driver’s negligence frequently damages a victim’s way of life, making it impossible for you to earn a living and maintain your family. Fortunately, reckless drivers, the trucking company, and their insurance company are required by law to compensate the innocent individuals they harm. The following are some of the most prevalent injuries that occur in car wrecks:
Bruises and cuts
Injuries to the soft tissues
Bones are broken
Disc herniation
Injuries to the face and teeth
Injury to the neck and back
Concussions
Various types of traumatic brain injuries
Death
Hughes & Coleman Personal Injury Lawyers always seeks to incorporate provisions in our lawsuits to pay future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, outpatient treatment costs, pharmaceutical costs, and any other non-economic damages that may be related to your recovery, whenever possible. Call 800-800-4600 for a free case review today.
Accidents involving large vehicles and 18-wheelers, in particular, can be disastrous to those involved. Big trucks and 18-wheelers can weigh 80,000 pounds or more as they travel along highways and roads, which is nearly 20 times the weight of the ordinary automobile. The nature of these types of collisions is often more catastrophic due to the sheer size and weight of huge trucks and 18-wheelers.
If you drive on any of Tennessee or Kentucky’s roadways, you will never be far from an 18-wheeler. The dangers of being involved in a collision with large trucks and 18-wheelers are significant, but they are an important component of our economy. As a result, both federal and state regulations establish the minimal safety standards that heavy trucks and 18-wheelers must adhere to before, during, and after operating on highways and roads.
What are the most common causes of 18 Wheeler Wrecks?
It should come as no surprise that the majority of heavy truck and 18-wheeler collisions are not the type of collisions where everyone involved walks away with minor to no injuries. Many large truck and 18-wheeler accidents are caused by factors that may have been avoided, such as:
Distracted Driving – Nationwide, including Kentucky and Tennessee, driver error is one of the leading causes of commercial vehicle accidents. Any distraction that takes a truck driver’s eyes and/or attention off the road, whether it’s from chatting on the phone, texting, streaming a movie/TV show and/or video while driving, or any other distraction is a major hazard to other vehicles on the road.
While state and federal minimum safety regulations compel big truck businesses to guarantee that the drivers they hire are qualified and adequately trained, many big truck companies cut shortcuts on driver credentials and/or training, putting unsafe and untrained drivers on the road.
Truck driver fatigue – arises when a truck driver is weary and works longer hours than is legally permissible. The hours a driver can be on duty in a day and a week is limited by state and federal minimum safety requirements; yet, big truck firms and their drivers frequently break these limits.
Aggressive Driving (Speeding – Failure to Yield Right of Way – Failure to Maintain A Safe Following Distance) – Aggressive and unsafe driving choices such as following too closely or passing illegally are dangerous choices made by big truck and 18-wheeler drivers on a daily basis. These actions are extremely dangerous to other motorists on the road. This is a major component in traffic accidents all around the country.
Failure to obey basic safety regulations – Truck drivers and their employers are required to follow a set of minimum safety rules meant to protect themselves and other motorists. Failure to adhere to these minimum safety regulations puts the driver and other motorists on the road in danger.
Despite the fact that some 18-wheeler drivers are subjected to random drug testing and medical exams, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is still a major cause of accidents.
Failure to properly load or secure goods — If the driver fails to follow the basic safety regulations when securing or loading cargo, unbalanced distribution of weight and/or a shift in weight might occur, increasing the risk of a disaster.
Driving in inclement weather – When faced with inclement weather, heavy truck drivers must adjust their driving (and/or get off the road) according to the minimum safety regulations. The reason for this is that large trucks take much longer to stop than passenger cars. Driving under poor visibility/traction circumstances, such as fog, rain, sleet, ice, snow, or smoke, among other factors, dramatically enhances a heavy truck driver’s chances of causing a collision.
In 2017, 4,761 individuals were killed in collisions involving heavy trucks (defined as vehicles with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) greater than 10,000 pounds) according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
When people talk about “truck wrecks,” they’re talking about collisions involving large commercial trucks. This category includes the following trucks:
18-wheelers
Semi-trucks
Trucks that transport oil and gas
Trucks that dump waste
Trucks that deliver packages
Trailers pulled by tractors
Box Trucks
Towing vehicles
Trucks with refrigeration
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you should contact experienced and reputable truck accident attorneys who are familiar with local and national trucking regulations and can help you get the treatment and compensation you and your family deserve. Hughes & Coleman’s truck accident lawyers have years of experience handling semi-truck accident cases throughout Kentucky and Tennessee.
Why Should You Contact Hughes & Coleman?
Hughes & Coleman is prepared to help you. You need someone to look out for your best interests and that of your family. If you have suffered catastrophic injuries due to trucking company negligence or driver error get in touch with Hughes & Coleman for a free consultation right now. Toll-free: 800-800-4600.
Taking Good Care of Our Neighbors
Our mission as personal injury attorneys is to represent injured people, but we don’t want you to think of us as just that: personal injury attorneys. Our team members are part of the community.
We live and work here and it’s the place we call home. We live in the same neighborhoods as you, and we want to make sure that our neighbors and friends are well taken care of as well.
Our practice has five locations in Tennessee (Nashville and Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Columbia, and Gallatin) and five locations in Kentucky (Louisville – Polar Level Road and Louisville – Dixie Highway, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Elizabethtown). We have a growing team of more than 30 attorneys and more than 60 staff members, including case coordinators, investigators, and paralegals, and we handle cases of all sizes.
Our experienced attorneys have obtained successful outcomes for their clients in a variety of practice areas, including auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, brain injuries, Social Security and Veteran Disability, defective products, fire and burn injuries, drug injuries, nursing home abuse, truck accidents, and wrongful deaths, among others.
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The Large Truck Crash Causation Study – Analysis Brief | FMCSA. (n.d.). The Large Truck Crash Causation Study – Analysis Brief | FMCSA. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/research-and-analysis/large-truck-crash-causation-study-analysis-brief.