Truck accidents can cause major property damage and severe injuries. Therefore, you want to do everything you can to avoid them. Although some truck accidents are not avoidable, you can take the necessary steps to lower your risk of being involved in one. Here are a few helpful tips on avoiding these types of accidents.
A truck accident lawyer from Patterson Bray knows that the injuries you sustain from a truck accident can be very serious. Although many people may think you would be lucky to make it out of a truck accident with injuries instead of dying, the injuries you have to live with can cause you pain for years to come. These will not only cost thousands—even tens of thousands of dollars—when it comes to medical bills due to hospital stays and surgeries, but you may even be dealing with very expensive rehabilitation treatment programs so that you can learn to walk or move certain parts of your body again. Don’t hesitate to call a lawyer if you are worried about paying for your injury recovery.
If you are hit by a truck while driving, the immediate aftermath is a whirlwind. You are likely scared and shocked. More importantly, you might even be injured.
Of course, you are going to need help from a truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN such as Patterson Bray, but here is a handy guide on what you should do as soon as the accident happens.
If you are able to function at all after the accident, your first item of action should be to call emergency services. Since trucks are much larger and heavier than cars, the impact from this type of an accident is bound to be significant.
You may be injured and not even realize it. Your body’s adrenalin allows you to stay in shock after you sustain an injury in order to help you survive. That said, even if you are not seriously injured, someone else involved in the accident may be hurt. Having an ambulance present at the scene is the best option.
Your truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN will likely want to know if you got in touch with your car insurance provider after a serious accident involving a truck. They will also want to know if you have the details of the car insurance provider and employer of the truck driver who hit you.
Though the minutes after an accident are hectic, keep insurance information at the forefront of your mind. Swap details if the truck driver is willing. If not, take down their registration number as well as any company logo that may be visible on the truck.
Your legal representative at Patterson Bray will advise you on how and when you should contact either insurance provider and whether you should be in touch with the truck driver’s employer.
After a serious accident involving a truck, it is no surprise if you become traumatized. As a victim with possible physical injuries, you should call and let a loved one know that you were in an accident. If you cannot personally talk to them, have someone else call on your behalf and share any details regarding your condition, including whether you need to go to the hospital.
getting injured by a truck is one of the most traumatic and dangerous experiences a person can have in their life, but your truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN will help you through the difficulties that follow. Contact Patterson Bray and request help as soon as you can.
Because of the size difference between your car and the truck, it makes sense that you are likely coming away with worse injuries than the truck driver. Below are some of the most common types of injuries you might sustain if you were in a truck accident.
Many myths surround truck accidents. Victims are often in a better position to handle related legal matters when these notions are dispelled. Lack a full understanding of the ramifications associated with trucking accidents, and you’ll be in a compromised position to deal with the fallout. A qualified truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN, such as the sort you’ll find at Patterson Bray, can go into great detail regarding the following mistaken beliefs.
Truck drivers are indeed required to rest after they’ve been driving for extended lengths of time. These breaks are vital, as truckers who continue driving run the risk of falling asleep on the road. Once they dose off, they’re no longer in control, effectively turning their vehicles into highway missiles. It’s a near certainty that a catastrophic wreck will be the result. Sadly, it’s impossible to monitor whether drivers are taking their required stops, and the pressure of arriving at a destination on time can be too much for some professional haulers.
Highway accidents are often caused by operator error, but that isn’t the only reason they happen. They also occur because of faulty mechanical parts. In these cases, the company that manufactured the pieces may be guilty. The attorneys at Patterson Bray have a thorough understanding of these sorts of complex lawsuits.
Also, the company employing a truck driver might impose unrealistic expectations that contribute to a highway disaster. The person responsible for implementing rules such as these may be found guilty in a court of law. A skilled truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN, is someone you should contact about filing a lawsuit of this nature.
While ads portray them as looking out for their customers, the reality is that insurance companies only care about their bottom lines. They’ll take any reason they can to refuse payment. Those without proper legal representation have much lower odds of getting what they deserve from these corporate behemoths. The right truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN, can be invaluable when the time comes to negotiate with insurance representatives.
Many truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Under these arrangements, the attorney doesn’t get paid anything unless the client wins. This means you can hire the best truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN, even if you don’t have the money to pay out of pocket. Don’t hesitate to contact a legal representative who can help secure the compensation you deserve.
For many, driving near semi-trucks or 18 wheelers can lead some drivers to have a sense of anxiety. No one wants to experience something as tragic as to fall victim to an accident involving an 18 wheeler. Such an accident can lead to serious injuries and even be fatal. Due to the sheer weight and size of an 18 wheeler, they can surely deliver devastating results. Truck accidents can occur as a result of:
Determining who should be held accountable can be challenging. In some cases, you may even be able to hold more than one party responsible when taking legal action. There is a tremendous amount of pressure on the trucking industry to deliver cargo quickly and efficiently. Because of this, trucks may be operating with drivers who are overworked and over fatigued, poorly maintained trucks, and more. This has the ability to be incredibly hazardous for other drivers on the road. You may be wondering who you can hold accountable for the accident.
Working with an experienced truck accident lawyer can review your case and help determine who can be held accountable. Examples of parties who may be responsible include:
A truck accident lawyer can help by carefully reviewing your case, determining fault, valuing your claim, and negotiating a settlement in your favor.
Following a trucking accident, your life will be forever changed. Because truck accidents produce devastating results, chances are you will be experiencing costly damages. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of your ability to seek compensation following the truck accident you have fallen victim to. Working with an experienced lawyer can prove essential in moving forward with your case. Call us as soon as possible so that we can review your claim and provide you with the guidance you need.
When you are hoping to file a claim for the injuries you got after a truck accident, one of the first things you will likely be looking for is why the truck accident happened in the first place. Was the truck driver responsible or were they a victim in the accident as well? One of the most common reasons that truck accidents occur is because the truck driver was driving distracted. There could be any number of things that are distracting the truck driver and when this occurs, a truck driver could be so distracted that they do not see you in enough time to stop the accident before it happens.
There are many reasons a truck driver may get distracted. Think about the times you have taken long road trips. After the first hour or two, not only are you starting to get bored, seeing scenery flashing by you may also begin to make you tired on your drive. Truck drivers may use distractions to keep them awake while they are behind the wheel. However, using a distraction, like a cell phone or a radio to keep them awake may have the opposite effect that was intended. They may get distracted:
While none of these activities are inherently bad, they should not be doing them while they are actively driving.
When anyone is distracted while they are driving, they lose precious seconds that they should be focusing on the road. In mere seconds, traffic lights can change, you can round a corner that is backed up with cars, or a car could come into your lane and you do not give yourself the proper time to react. When this is the case, a truck driver, carrying a load far greater than the average car, could miss the time needed to avoid a collision and instead ram into a car, injuring or killing the people inside.
If you believe a truck accident you were involved in is the result of distracted driving, do not hesitate to mention this to your lawyer when looking for the cause of the accident.
Truck accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, including distracted driving, driver error, drowsy driving, defective truck parts, and overweight or improperly loaded trucks. During your initial consultation with a member of our team, do not hesitate to voice your questions and concerns. A good truck accident lawyer is more than happy to address your concerns and questions and make you feel as comfortable as possible.
When a commercial truck slams into a passenger vehicle, the injuries and damage can be devastating to a family. At Patterson Bray, we have been representing victims of truck accidents for years, and have seen the catastrophic injuries many victims suffer. We have also helped numerous families whose loved ones did not survive their injuries in getting justice for that heartbreaking loss.
Contact Patterson Bray today at (901) 372-5003, and rest assured that a Tennessee truck accident lawyer can be the one to represent you in seeking damages for the pain and loss you have suffered.
Truck accidents occur every day in Tennessee for a wide range of reasons. Commercial trucks are so large and heavy that they are more likely to cause life-threatening injuries because Here are some common causes of truck accidents.
Truck accidents are no joke and if you’ve been in one it is often in your best interest to contact a truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN as soon as possible. Around 4,700 lives are taken each year as a result of a trucking accident. If you’ve never been in one then you may not know just how back they can be. These accidents can leave many people on the load road of recovery that is often costly.
You might assume that they are on the same level of severity as passenger car accidents. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Here is what you need to understand about why truck accidents are so much worse than the average car accident.
If you think about the average semi-truck on the road you know that they are massive compared to most cars out there. These big vehicles can be up to 80 feet long and weigh thousands of pounds more than your standard passenger car. When you consider their weight it is easy to see that these accidents can be devastating, even at low speeds.
Due to the sheer size of these trucks, they are able to do more damage to cars regardless of how fast they are going. When you add more speed to them, what could be an average accident for two passenger cars often turns deadly when a semi is involved. The simple fender-bender between two passenger cars is an easy fix but if you get into one with a semi you will find that your car is often totaled and injuries can come up. No matter how minimal the accident is you can expect to have hefty repairs to your vehicle.
Typically when you are in a truck accident there are more parties involved than just the driver. Depending on the situation that led to the accident you could have to sue the driver, the manufacturer of the truck, the transport company. Pr even the maintenance provider. Unless the truck driver was acting irresponsibly on the road, they may not be responsible for the accident.
Instead, it could be their parent company, the people that loaded the cargo, or even the mechanics of the truck. All these factors can make it harder for you to file a case.
A truck is already dangerous due to its size but it isn’t the only danger out there. The cargo those trucks are carrying can be dangerous by itself. There is always a slight chance that that cargo wasn’t loaded properly or it wasn’t secured correctly before the truck left on its route. This can make things dangerous as loose cargo can make accidents more severe.
Things get worse if the cargo is hazardous or contains caustic chemicals. This can influence the damage done in the accident and you may be entitled to additional settlements for it.
If you or a loved one have been in a truck accident then talking to a truck accident lawyer in Memphis, TN is in your best interest.
If you were either driving a truck for work or were otherwise engaged in work-related activities at the time of your crash, it is important to speak with a truck accident lawyer Memphis, TN motorists trust about your legal options. Depending upon the circumstances surrounding your crash and your work status, you may be in a position to pursue more than one kind of compensation at this time.
Most full-time and part-time employees of all but the smallest companies are entitled to workers’ compensation coverage. Workers’ comp is a no-fault system. This means that even if your accident was totally your fault, you likely remain entitled to collect benefits as a result of your injuries. The three major exceptions to this general rule involve accidents that were caused by intoxicated or otherwise impaired workers, intentional collisions, and crashes resulting from workers who had instigated road rage incidents. Otherwise, even if an accident was partially or totally your fault, you should still be able to collect these benefits.
If your crash was work-related and anyone other than your employer may be held legally and financially liable for contributing to the cause(s) of your collision, you may also be in a position to file a personal injury lawsuit. Workers’ compensation beneficiaries are only barred from suing their employers for personal injury damages—any other party may still be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit even if the injured party has received a workers’ comp settlement.
With that said, it is important to communicate with an experienced Memphis, TN truck accident lawyer if you believe that you may have been partially to blame for your accident. Tennessee recognizes a comparative negligence theory of liability. This means that as long as you were not 50 percent or more to blame for the harm you have suffered, you remain entitled to seek compensation from others who contributed to the cause(s) of your crash. Depending upon the severity of the harm you have suffered, the compensation you may be owed could be considerable.
If you have lost a loved one as the result of a fatal accident involving a large truck, you may be entitled to one or more kinds of compensation at this time. An experienced Memphis, TN truck accident lawyer can clarify whether you are in a position to file a wrongful death lawsuit and/or claim workers’ compensation death benefits.
Life-threatening and fatal injuries often leave victims and/or their families dealing with devastating financial losses to deal with, in addition to the physical and emotional impacts they also are now forced to struggle with. A lawyer can help victims obtain the financial compensation they deserve for these overwhelming losses.
What are some of the more common truck accident injuries?
When a victim does not survive their injuries, their family can pursue a wrongful death claim against the liable party. Damages not only include some of the expenses of the accident mentioned above, but also specific damages for the family, such as emotional anguish, loss of the victim’s love and guidance, and loss of the victim’s financial support.
The law doesn’t grant injury victims or the surviving loved ones of fatal injury scenarios endless time to explore their legal options. If you wait too long to speak with an attorney, the strength of your case could be compromised and/or you could be barred from seeking rightful compensation whatsoever. If you have not yet scheduled a risk-free consultation with the experienced Tennessee legal team at Patterson Bray PLLC, please do so without delay; we look forward to speaking with you.