Crashes involving semi-trucks and 18-wheelers are common, dangerous, and – thankfully – largely preventable with the right intervention. Let’s look at what makes pursuing compensation for trucking accidents in Tennessee so complicated and discuss the role an experienced truck accident attorney can play in helping you recover the damages you need to move forward.

What makes 18-wheeler accidents so dangerous?

While traffic accidents involving passenger vehicles are more common than trucking accidents in Tennessee, the forces involved in a truck accident make for more serious injuries. That’s largely because passenger vehicles usually weigh around 4,000 pounds and a fully loaded 18-wheeler can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds. This size and weight difference alone puts victims of trucking accidents at far greater risk compared to victims of passenger vehicle crashes.

Serious accidents involving 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles can result in harm to drivers, passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians. According to the National Safety Council, there are roughly 110,000 truck accidents reported each year that lead to serious injury. These statistics underscore the unique danger posed by truck accidents and highlight the need for comprehensive safety protocols for truck drivers and their employers.

Common causes of Tennessee trucking accidents

If you’ve spent any time traversing Tennessee’s highways, you’ve probably noticed a growing number of 18-wheelers and commercial trucks taking up space from I-40 to I-75 and just about everywhere in between. With all those trucks on the road, there’s no shortage of potential safety hazards that contribute to the frequency of Tennessee trucking accidents.

It’s worth noting that Tennessee (East Tennessee in particular) is known for its diverse terrain and distinct seasons. While these features make Tennessee a popular tourist destination, they can create hazardous road conditions that make trucking accidents more likely and more dangerous. Driving in snowy weather on winding mountain roadways is risky enough without the added danger posed by common truck accident causes.

According to state crash data, the most common driver conditions that have contributed to trucking accidents this year include:

• Driver fatigue
• Drunk driving
• Sleeping at the wheel
• Illness
• Emotional dysregulation
• Physical impairment

Drivers’ actions can also contribute to the likelihood of a truck accident. Distracted driving, lane departures, improper turns and braking, speeding, and poor loading practices can all put truck drivers and other motorists at risk of serious harm while navigating Tennessee’s busy highways.

The dangers of trucking accidents

As we’ve discussed, trucking accidents pose serious and unique dangers to the general public. The size and scale of trucking accidents can lead to serious injuries for drivers, passengers, and anyone else on the road, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord damage
• Paralysis
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Crushed limbs and/or amputation
• Burns

These injuries often require extensive medical intervention, like surgery, rehabilitation, or lifelong disability accommodations to manage. All of these consequences can seriously impede victims’ ability to return to their pre-accident lives, causing physical, emotional, and financial distress.

Who is liable for a trucking accident?

While passenger vehicle crashes typically involve narrow, specific claims of liability, truck accidents may involve multiple liable parties depending on the facts of a case. If a victim can prove that any or all of these parties demonstrated negligence in some way, liability may be assigned to multiple entities who might then be expected to pay some portion of damages.

In trucking cases, it is vital for injured parties to identify all parties who may share responsibility if they want to recover the maximum amount of compensation available in their case. Some parties who might ultimately be deemed liable in a truck accident case include:

• The truck driver: If a driver’s reckless or negligent behavior directly causes a victim’s injuries, the driver could be held personally responsible for the crash.
• The trucking company: Improper hiring practices, insufficient training, and inadequate supervision can all contribute to trucking accidents, and companies found to have fallen short in these ways may bear responsibility for the negligence of their employees.
• A freight company: Some trucking companies partner with third-party freight companies for cargo-loading purposes. If cargo is poorly secured or loaded without the proper weight distribution, liability for a cargo-related crash may be traced back to the company responsible for loading it in the first place.
• A maintenance provider: Commercial trucks are subject to stringent maintenance requirements in order to ensure the safety of all motorists. If a maintenance professional fails to conduct required maintenance or performs shoddy repair work on a vehicle, they may open themselves up to claims of accident liability.
• Truck or parts manufacturers: If a trucking accident is caused by a mechanical failure, the company that manufactured the faulty part might be held liable for the resulting crash.

While pursuing claims against multiple liable parties can help victims maximize their settlements, more involved parties also mean more insurance companies and legal professionals. Your attorney must be prepared to take on a multi-defendant case and stand up to large companies.

Additional legal considerations in trucking accidents

In addition to the standard traffic laws all motorists are subject to, trucking companies are expected to comply with a combination of Tennessee state law and federal transportation regulations. In an effort to maximize safety on our nation’s roadways, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict rules and standards for commercial trucking practices, such as:

• Hours-of-service limits to prevent driver fatigue
• Drug and alcohol testing requirements
• Routine maintenance and inspection standards
• Training and licensing requirements for commercial drivers
• Weight and cargo restrictions

These regulations function as a bit of a double-edged sword for accident victims. If a trucking company or driver causes harm after violating established rules and regulations, it might be easier to claim liability on the basis of breach of duty. But, supporting claims of negligence may be more difficult if a trucker shows they were technically in compliance. Having an experienced truck accident attorney is critical for building such cases.

Need more help?

Trucking companies have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters working to minimize payouts, even in cases that appear to involve cut-and-dried claims of liability. If you’ve been seriously injured in an 18-wheeler accident, you need someone just as experienced on your side to help you weather the storm and fight for compensation.

At Delius & McKenzie, PLLC, we stand up for Tennesseans injured in truck crashes. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a serious trucking accident, call us today or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case consultation. We are standing by to offer you the end-to-end legal support you deserve.