Memphis Truck Accident Lawyer
Large commercial trucks often drive through Memphis and throughout Shelby County. These trucks are en route to deliver goods across the state. Many are even traveling through Memphis on their way across the country. As a result, when trucking accidents occur here in Memphis, the trucking companies that may be a part of your case might be located in other states. This can prove to be problematic for many injured trucking accident victims.
Truck accident victims in Memphis need a law firm on their side that can fight for them after a serious accident. At Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, our Memphis truck accident lawyers have the resources to fight these complex cases. We can go toe-to-toe with out-of-state trucking companies and their insurers – and win.
At Rainwater, Holt, & Sexton, our Memphis car accident attorneys have considerable experience representing injured accident victims in the area. From Compress Drive to Sycamore View Road, our lawyers have seen it all. We’ve personally handled numerous Memphis car accident cases and obtained successful outcomes for our injured clients.
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Truck Accident in Memphis
In Tennessee, many of the 7 million truckers in the United States are Tennessee natives. Truck drivers alone make up nearly 74,350 jobs in the state. Every year, thousands of commercial trucks travel through the state and, in particular, through Memphis. These trucks transport 80 percent of the total manufactured goods in the state.
Despite only representing 9 percent of all vehicles in the state, commercial trucks occur at an alarming rate. Tennessee accounts for 2.8 percent of all trucking accident fatalities in the country. In Tennessee, there were more than 4,100 trucking accidents that resulted in 159 deaths and 1,919 injuries.
Large commercial trucks must follow specific rules and regulations, such as big rigs, semi-trucks, delivery trucks, tankers, and tractor-trailers. They must adhere to both state and federal regulations to ensure the safe delivery of their goods.
When truck drivers or trucking companies fail to follow these rules and regulations, dangerous and sometimes fatal accidents can occur. Due to the sheer size and weight of large semi-trucks, the passengers and drivers in other vehicles are the ones who suffer the majority of the injuries when an accident does occur.
In Memphis, trucking accidents can occur on any major road or freeway. However, some of the most common roads where trucking accidents occur include:
- I-40
- I-240
- Walnut Grove
- Sycamore View Road
- Poplar Avenue
- Lamar Avenue
- Shelby Drive
- Kirby Parkway
- I-55
- South 3rd Street
- I-69
- Sam Cooper Boulevard
Do I Have a Case?
If you were hit by a semi-truck or large commercial truck anywhere in Memphis, you might want to know if you have a case. Tennessee is an “at-fault” state, meaning that whoever is responsible for the accident must pay for the damages they caused. If you suffered injuries in a truck accident caused by another driver or entity, you could file a claim or a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation.
At Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, our Memphis truck accident lawyers will quickly determine if you have a case.
When examining your case, we will consider the following criteria:
- Were you injured in a truck accident? If you suffered an injury in a truck accident, you may have a case. The at-fault truck driver or trucking company should pay for the expenses associated with your injuries.
- Was the accident your fault? If you did not cause the truck accident, you can file a lawsuit against the negligent party. Even if you did share some of the blame, you could still collect damages in many cases.
- Did you accept a settlement? Never sign a settlement or agreement without first calling our law firm. Once you sign a settlement, you cannot file a future claim.
Case Results
See More Case ResultsWhat To Do After a Memphis Truck Accident
After a Memphis truck accident, the steps you take can affect your case and your ability to collect the money you need – and deserve. Do you know what to do?
- Call 911
- Seek medical help
- Obtain police report
- Exchange information with the truck driver and any eyewitnesses
- Follow all doctor’s advice and orders
- Stay off of social media
- Keep a journal of your recovery
- Keep all receipts and bills
- Contact Rainwater, Holt & Sexton
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Memphis
Trucking accidents in Memphis are often caused by driver error. This could be your error or the truck driver’s error. However, drivers are not the only cause of truck accidents in Memphis. Other parties may also share the blame for the accident and for the damages that occurred.
Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Truck driver fatigue
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Road rage or aggressive driving
- Poor training
- Improper vehicle maintenance
- Improper cargo loading
Types of Truck Accident Injuries
A fully loaded big rig commercial truck can easily weigh 80,000-pounds. In contrast, the average passenger vehicle weighs just 3,000-pounds. As a result, the occupants of the passenger car suffer the majority of the injuries. These injuries tend to be severe and catastrophic. They often result in permanent disabilities and a lifetime of pain and suffering.
Our Memphis truck accident lawyers work quickly and passionately to help injured truck accident victims obtain the justice they deserve. We know how serious truck accident injuries are. That’s why we fight the insurance companies and trucking companies every step of the way. We want to make sure you have the money you need to rebuild your life after a serious truck accident in Memphis
We have helped accident victims who suffered a variety of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Brain injury
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
- Head and neck injury
- Lacerations and bruises
- Muscle damage
- Burns
- Whiplash
- Internal organ damage
- Disfiguration
- Amputation
Truck Accident Laws & Regulation in Memphis
Federal and state motor carrier regulations control many of the aspects of commercial trucking in Memphis. They determine what type of goods can be transported and how many hours a truck driver can drive. These rules are often complex and can be misleading. Even worse, many trucking companies routinely try to bend these rules to maximize profits. When this occurs, you need a truck accident attorney on your side who can hold these companies and drivers accountable.
Here are just some of the rules and regulations truck drivers and trucking companies must adhere to:
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- When on duty, a truck driver must take a 10-hour break for every 14 hours they work
- A truck driver can only drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 hours off duty
- Truckers cannot drive for more than 8 hours consecutively without taking at least a 30-minute break
- Drivers are not allowed to their trucks after working more than 60 hours in seven days or working 70 hours in 8 days
- Truckers must have necessary training and documentation on hand, including:
- Valid CDL
- Health card
- Vehicle inspection report
- Logs for the last seven days
- Manifest or shipping papers for hazardous materials
- All vehicles weighing more than 10,001-pounds must be inspected yearly for safety
- Trailers that weigh more than 3,000-pounds on public highways in Tennessee must include brakes on all axles and a breakaway device
- Tennessee does not allow trucks on any roadways if those trucks measure more than 8’6” in width and 13’6” in height
Who’s Liable in a Trucking Accident?
Trucking accidents are some of the most complicated accidents because there are often multiple parties to investigate. Operating a commercial truck requires skill and precision from the truck driver. It also requires trucking companies and shipping companies to operate safely and responsibly.
After a truck accident, our lawyers will immediately begin investigating the accident to locate all liable parties. While at first glance it may seem like the truck driver is to blame, in our experience, there are often multiple parties sharing liability for the accident. Some of those include:
- Truck driver. Truck drivers must drive safely and responsibly. If they fail to do so, they can be found liable for the crash. Truck drivers who speed, drive recklessly, or who drive fatigued can cause horrific accidents.
- Trucking company. A trucking company must ensure that its drivers are trained properly. They must also keep their fleet running safely and smoothly by performing maintenance and adhering to all trucking laws and regulations. If they fail to do so, they can be liable for the crash.
- Shipping company. The shipping or loading company must ensure that the cargo is properly secured and tied down, so it doesn’t put the truck off-balance. They must also make sure not to overload the truck. Improperly loaded or secured cargo can cause horrific jackknife truck accidents.
- Truck manufacturer or truck part manufacturer. When a defective truck part fails on a semi-truck, the results can be catastrophic. Imagine an 80,000-pound semi-truck driving 70mph on a freeway whose brakes suddenly fail? Truck manufacturers or trucking part manufacturers are liable for their defective products.
- Government entity. Cities, counties, and states are all responsible for maintaining the roads and designing them safely. If they fail to maintain the road properly or if the road is designed poorly, disastrous trucking accidents can occur.
What Types of Compensation Can You Receive?
After a Memphis truck accident, injured accident victims can collect compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. The liable party is also responsible for paying the damages suffered. This includes a wide range of payment, such as:
- Medical bills. After a truck accident, injured accident victims may spend months undergoing surgeries, treatment, and care. These bills can add up quickly. The at-fault truck driver or trucking company should pay for these bills.
- Future medical expenses. Before the insurance company offers you a settlement, they must consider any long-term medical expenses. This may include long-term care, disability equipment, and future surgeries.
- Lost wages. Being injured in a truck accident often results in significant time off work. This can result in a loss of income and make it difficult to pay your mortgage, rent, or utilities. You should seek compensation for that loss of income, so you don’t suffer financially.
- Loss of future earnings. If your truck accident injuries result in a permanent disability, you may not work again, or you may not be able to work in the same way. Your attorney can make sure you are compensated for this loss.
- Pain and suffering. A truck accident often results in a significant amount of pain and suffering. Going through that ordeal is traumatic. Injured victims may suffer from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other issues. You should receive compensation for the pain and suffering you endured.
Why Hire a Memphis Truck Accident Attorney
Trucking accidents are almost always catastrophic. The days following the accident, trucking companies and their insurers begin working quickly to reduce their liabilities. They may visit the accident site and erase evidence that could be critical to your case. They may also put pressure on you to accept a settlement now while you are still recovering.
Never sign anything without first speaking to an experienced Memphis personal injury lawyer. At Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, we know how to negotiate these cases for our injured clients aggressively.
Here are more reasons to hire an attorney after your truck accident:
- Avoid missing the statute of limitations
- We can save black box data
- Gather evidence quickly before it is lost or destroyed, such as the
- Driver’s record of tickets and infractions
- Information from the shipping company
- Driver manuals
- History of violations
- Driver training logs
- Driver records
- Truck weight and load limits
- And more
- Understand the full scope of your injuries and damages
- Prove liability
- Locate all liable parties
- Laws are different in each state
- Avoid financial losses
Why Choose Rainwater, Holt & Sexton?
When you suffer an injury in a truck accident, you need a law firm in your corner from the start. Trucking companies and their drivers have large legal teams in their corner. They are working hard to reduce your claim. You need a law firm that can work even harder to help you obtain justice. We know Tennessee law and can protect you after a serious truck accident.
With over 30 attorneys on our staff, we have the resources to take on any trucking accident case – big or small. Our track record of success speaks volumes about the kind of work we do for our injured clients. And our track record of success speaks for itself. We have helped injured accident victims in Memphis obtain millions, and we can help you too. Let our winning team help you after a truck accident.
We Serve Memphis
Our Memphis truck accident attorneys serve all of Memphis, including Midtown, North Memphis, South Memphis, East Memphis, the University of Memphis, Cooper-Young, Orange Mound, Parkway Village, Downtown, Germantown, Collierville, Millington, Arlington, Lakeland, Binghamton, Berclair, Colonial Acres, Uptown, Central Gardens, Oakhaven, Nonconnah, Whitehaven, and more.
Our Memphis injury lawyers are able to tackle cases from across both states. No matter if you live in Memphis or are just passing through, we can help you!
Contact Rainwater, Holt & Sexton lawyers today. Call (901) 888-8888 and tell us your story. We offer FREE consultations in person or over the phone to better assist you. You have nothing to lose! Call us today!