Truck accidents often occur as the result of negligent actions committed by trucking companies and their drivers. For example, crashes involving large trucks may happen because of mistakes made behind the wheel or because of careless cargo securement practices. At-fault parties can be sued for injuries stemming from the accidents they cause.
The assistance of an experienced truck accident lawyer can be highly beneficial when investigating the specific cause of your accident. Furthermore, an experienced attorney can help gather evidence and negotiate with defendants, so that you may obtain fair compensation for the harm you incurred.
If you suffered a truck accident in Nashville, get help bringing a case against the people responsible for your injuries. Reach out to our experienced Nashville truck accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free review of your case.
When to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Nashville
The time limit to file a truck accident lawsuit in Nashville is established by Tennessee’s statute of limitations. According to T.C.A. § 28-3-104, you will usually have one year from the date of your crash to file a truck accident lawsuit seeking compensation for the injuries you suffered. Failure to comply with this filing deadline could cause you to forfeit your claim.
This one-year time limit is one of the strictest in the nation. Furthermore, as time passes, it can become difficult to collect and preserve the evidence needed to support your case. Witnesses can forget crucial details and physical evidence can be misplaced. You should contact our experienced Nashville truck accident lawyers as soon as possible after suffering a collision, so we may begin working on your case immediately.
Common Causes of Nashville Truck Accidents
There are many types of negligent actions that can cause truck accidents. Our experienced Nashville truck accident lawyers can determine if your crash is related to one of the following causes:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a common cause of truck accidents in Nashville. Drivers may be cognitively, manually, and visually distracted. The following are examples of tasks that frequently distract truck drivers:
- Eating or drinking
- Typing information into a GPS
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Adjusting the radio
- Viewing social media or other applications on a mobile device
Certain activities like texting or viewing social media can involve all three forms of distraction. When distracted, drivers will have trouble reacting to traffic signals, vehicles, and potential hazards in the roadways. Our team can help hold distracted truck drivers responsible for collisions they cause.
Negligent Cargo Securement
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has set forth regulations that govern the securement of cargo on commercial trucks. Violations of these regulations can lead to serious accidents. For example, cargo that is stored beside each other should be placed in direct contact with each other. Cargo that is not stored in accordance with this regulation can shift during travel, causing trucks to lose control. After a truck accident, you should contact our Nashville truck accident lawyers for help determining if your crash was caused by negligent cargo securement.
Speeding
Speeding is another common cause of truck accidents in Nashville. Most vehicles become more difficult at high speeds, but large truck can become especially hard to handle. For instance, truck drivers will have trouble stopping in time if they approach a red light or if cars in front of them slow down. Collisions that occur at high speeds are also more prone to causing severe harm.
Tire Blowouts
Furthermore, a great number of truck accidents occur because of tire blowouts. A tire blowout occurs when a tire becomes separated from a vehicle. This can happen for a number of reasons. For example, a tractor-trailer may suffer a tire blowout because its trailer was overloaded. Furthermore, a tire blowout may happen because of an impurity in a tire that caused it to separate from a steel belt. Our Nashville truck accident lawyers can help uncover the true cause of a truck’s tire blowout.
Drunk Driving
Many crashes involving large trucks happen because of reckless maneuvers committed by drunk drivers. Drunk drivers will exhibit poor decision-making skills, blurry vision, and impaired motor skills when operating their vehicles. Fortunately, drunk drivers can be sued for truck accident injuries they cause. Victims can contact our attorneys for help building their cases.
Tired Drivers
Lastly, many truck accidents occur because of mistakes committed by tired truck drivers. Tired drivers are prone to making careless errors like running red lights and veering out of their lanes.
Many truck drivers become tired because they are forced by their employers to remain on the roads for extended periods of time. Accordingly, the FMCSA has also established hours of service regulations that govern how long drivers may remain on the road without a break. For instance, a driver cannot driver for more than 11 hours without a break. After 11 hours, drivers must take 10 consecutive hours off duty. Our Savannah truck accident lawyers can help sue trucking companies for accidents that occur because they forced their drivers to violate hours of service regulations.
Settling a Truck Accident Lawsuit vs. Taking a Truck Accident Lawsuit to Trial in Nashville
When pursuing monetary damages through truck accident lawsuits, plaintiffs will often have to decide between reaching settlement agreements or taking their cases to trial. After reaching a settlement agreement, the plaintiff will obtain a certain amount of monetary damages from the defendant and their case will be dismissed. By settling before trial, you may save on the many costs that accompany taking your case to court. Additionally, you may recover your compensation more quickly.
However, defendants and their insurance companies typically want to settle cases for as little as possible. Accordingly, not all settlement offers are adequate. By going to trial, you will have the chance to recover further compensation. Our experienced Savannah truck accident lawyers can help evaluate any settlement offers, so you can more easily decide if going to trial is the right choice for you.
If You Suffered Injuries Because of a Truck Accident in Nashville, Our Attorneys Can Help
If you were hurt because of an accident involving a large truck, seek assistance from our experienced Nashville truck accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free review of your case.
