Truck accidents are responsible for some of the most serious accidents in Chattanooga. For victims attempting to heal from what might be devasting injuries, recovering compensation for a truck accident can be challenging.
Fortunately, an experienced Chattanooga truck accident lawyer can help you recover damages for the injuries you sustained. Many types of trucks can be involved in an accident. The kind that injures you will play a large role in determining who you can sue for your injuries. In many cases, both a truck driver and the trucking company that employs them can be held liable. However, there are some cases where holding a trucking company liable will be difficult.
If you were injured in a truck accident, our Chattanooga truck accident lawyers can help you determine the parties responsible for your injuries and hold them accountable. Call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case assessment.
Common Types of Trucks that Cause Accidents in Chattanooga
Many kinds of trucks are typically involved in Chattanooga truck accidents. The legal strategies developed for your case will be impacted by the type of truck that caused your accident, and determining liability is not always clear. However, our Chattanooga truck accident lawyers have years of experience litigating all types of truck accident cases and can help your case regardless of the truck that injured you.
Delivery Trucks
Countless delivery trucks operate in Chattanooga every day. Considering that people can have nearly every product and groceries delivered by companies like Amazon and UPS, it is no wonder that delivery trucks are a common sight. The increased consumer convenience has, of course, led to more accidents involving their trucks.
Delivery trucks might move quickly to complete deliveries, ignoring certain traffic laws and causing accidents as a result. A delivery driver can be held liable for their negligence, and depending on the circumstances, their employer could also be held responsible.
Tractor-Trailers
Tractor-trailers, commonly referred to as 18-wheelers, can cause extremely devasting injuries. These trucks usually tow large trailers filled with cargo. The cab hauling the trailer is also very large compared to the size of a standard car. Tractor-trailers typically take up several car lengths of a lane, and the size means there are several blind spots that the driver will not be able to see a vehicle in. If truckers needed to react quickly, they might lose control if traveling at high speeds.
Flatbed Trucks
Flatbed trucks are another common sight in Chattanooga. Flatbed trucks are often used to transport heavy construction equipment, lumber, and other oddly shaped cargo. Catastrophic accidents can occur when a flatbed’s cargo is improperly loaded or secured.
Mail Trucks
Many accidents involve government mail trucks. Mail employees can get easily distracted while looking at which mail to place in a box or looking for addresses. Accidents involving mail trucks can be complex since the employer, in this case, is a government agency. In many cases, it will be difficult to sue the postal service for their employer’s negligence.
Garbage Trucks
Garbage trucks are another type of truck frequently involved in truck accidents. Garbage trucks make repeated stops, making it difficult for drivers and pedestrians to predict their movement. Garbage truck drivers have limited visibility because of the truck’s size, giving them many blind spots for a person or car to get lost. Our Chattanooga truck accident lawyers can help you recover the compensation you deserve if a careless garbage truck driver causes your injuries.
Parties that Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in Chattanooga
It can be challenging figuring out which parties you should name in your lawsuit after being injured in a Chattanooga truck accident. Most people correctly assume that truck drivers are likely responsible for their injuries, but liability might not stop with them. In many cases, a truck driver’s employer can be held responsible for the acts of their driver.
Truck Driver
Like all drivers in Tennessee, truck drivers must follow traffic laws and all state and federal trucking regulations. Thus, truck drivers have a duty of care to other people using the roads and can be held liable in court for injuries caused by their negligence.
Showing that a truck driver violated a traffic law or regulation can typically be done with a police report. If the investigating officers determine that a truck driver caused an accident, they will usually cite the driver and list the type of violation in their report. This creates a presumption that the truck driver was negligent, making it relatively easy to prove in court.
Trucking Company
In many cases, a trucking company can also be named in a truck accident lawsuit. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer can be vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their employees if the accident was caused during the normal course of performing their job duties. The exception is if the truck driver was an independent contractor, like most Amazon delivery drivers. In those cases, the employer cannot be held liable for accidents caused by an independent contractor.
Trucking companies can also be held directly liable for their own negligence. There are numerous state and federal trucking regulations that trucking companies must abide by. For instance, checking weight limits, regulating drivers’ hours on the road, and cargo securement practices are just a few responsibilities that a trucking company can be sued for if they violate.
Trucking companies are also responsible for hiring safe drivers. This includes conducting a reasonable investigation into a potential driver’s background to ensure they are not a safety risk. If the trucking company knew or should have known that a driver was dangerous, they can be held liable for damages caused by their negligent hiring practices. Our Chattanooga truck accident lawyers can review your case to determine which parties should be named in your lawsuit.
Our Chattanooga Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help
Our Chattanooga truck accident lawyers are here to fight to get victims the justice they deserve. For a free case review with our team, contact Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
