Collisions involving commercial trucks are often life-threatening. If you have suffered catastrophic injuries due to someone else’s misconduct or negligence, you may be entitled to total compensation for your suffering.
Get help recovering the compensation you deserve when you contact an experienced Collierville truck accident lawyer at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC. Schedule your free consultation today to find out more about who could be responsible for causing your truck accident and how to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Types of Truck Accidents in Collierville
Commercial truck accidents in Collierville happen far more frequently than they should. However, part of the reason why these collisions occur so frequently is that there are so many ways in which they can happen.
Your attorney will need to closely examine the way in which your truck accident occurred to figure out who is responsible for the accident and, therefore, liable for your damages. Some of them are common types of truck accidents our firm has seen include:
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
- Tire blowouts
- Truck rollover accidents
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Highway accidents
- Accidents caused by drunk driving
- Drowsy driving accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Single truck accidents
- Accidents caused by following too closely
- Blindspot accidents
- Wide turn accidents
- Lost load accidents
- Accidents caused by overturned cargo
These are just a few of the different ways commercial truck accidents happen in Collierville. If you were involved in another type of truck accident that we did not list above, you could still have the right to financial compensation. Find out what your next step should be when you contact our office for a free case review.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Collierville, call (901) 526-2126
Common Causes of Collierville Truck Accidents
You know that there are different types of truck accidents, but how do these collisions occur? Truck accidents are often caused by negligent driving. When a negligent truck driver or other motorist fails to uphold their duty of care to others on the roadways, they can cause devastating injuries.
Some examples of negligent driving in Collierville include:
- Driving over the speed limit
- Inability to yield to the right of way
- Making illegal turns
- Refusing to stop at a traffic light or stop sign
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Operating a vehicle while fatigued
- Being unfamiliar with the roadways
- Distracted driving
- Road rage or aggressive driving
However, Collierville truck accidents are not only caused by negligent driving. In fact, some of the other common causes of truck accidents include:
- Inclement weather
- Unsecured cargo and lost loads
- Malfunctioning or defective truck parts
- Hazardous road conditions
- Improper truck maintenance
- Hours of service violations
- Inadequate surveillance
Potential Parties You Can Sue
Parties responsible for maintaining the road’s safety and integrity and others responsible for maintaining that of the commercial truck could all share liability when dangerous roads in defective truck parts cause collisions. Some of the parties often named in lawsuits of this nature include:
- The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)
- Municipalities
- The owner of the tractor-trailer
- The trucking company
- Truck maintenance professionals
- Truck safety inspectors
- Government agencies and executives
- Other third parties
Collierville Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (901) 526-2126
Proving Liability for a Truck Accident in Collierville
To prove liability, your truck accident lawyer in Collierville will need to introduce compelling evidence. This is because the burden of proof in civil claims is based on a preponderance of the evidence. This means the evidence your attorney presented at trial must leave little doubt in the mind of the jury that the defendant is responsible for causing your injuries.
Some of the more powerful types of evidence used to prove fault in a Collierville truck accident claim include:
- The truck’s black box data
- CCTV, body cam, and video footage of the accident
- Photos of the victim’s truck accident injuries
- Reports by accident reconstructionists, police, and experts
- The testimony of expert witnesses
- Witness statements
- The truck driver’s blood alcohol concentration test results
- All involved party’s cell phone records
Your lawyer will also need to show that the elements of negligence have been met for your claim to be successful. These include:
- The defendant must have owed the truck accident victim a duty of care
- The defendant must have failed to make a decision or made a decision that breached the duty of care they owed the truck accident victim
- The defendant’s actions must be responsible for causing the victim’s damages or injuries
- The victim must have suffered emotional, financial, physical, or psychological damages as a result of the defendant’s actions
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Shared Fault Laws and Their Impact on Your Case
Do not be surprised if the defense attempts to blame you for causing the accident. After all, it may be one of their only opportunities to avoid being found financially liable for your suffering. Thankfully, Tennessee follows modified comparative negligence laws. Here, if you are partially at fault for causing your injuries, you can still recover compensation for your damages.
However, your portion of fault cannot be greater than 49% if you hope to recover compensation. If your portion of liability exceeds this limit, you will be barred from having your case heard – but that is not all. When you share fault for your injuries, the amount of compensation you can be awarded will be reduced to ensure you are held accountable for your percentage of fault. Here is an example:
Ellie was involved in a car accident. She was struck suddenly by a drunk driver. However, Ellie was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Although the jury awarded Ellie $100,000 for her damages, because Ellie was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident, the judge found her 20% responsible for causing her injuries. Her $100,000 injury settlement was reduced by 20%, leaving Ellie with a final injury settlement valued at just $80,000.
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Meet with a Truck Accident Attorney in Collierville for Help Today
Although there may be multiple parties who share liability, making your truck accident claim more complex, when you have an experienced Collierville truck accident attorney advocating for your rights, you can rest easier. With our team working to build a case against those responsible for causing your injuries, you may be able to recover maximum compensation for your damages.
Schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation with a dedicated Collierville truck accident lawyer at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC when you give our office a call or fill out our online contact form.
Call or text (901) 526-2126 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form