Nashville Truck Accident Attorney

Suffered a Truck Accident in Nashville? Call for a Free Consultation 

The law requires commercial truck operators to follow a strict set of rules to promote safe roadways. However, sometimes truck drivers or their companies fail to follow state and federal regulations. These reckless actions can cause other motorists serious and sometimes deadly injuries.

Attorney Stanley A. Davis and the rest of our team can help you recover after a serious truck accident. We are confident that we can help you understand your best legal options. Our five-star client testimonials and successful verdicts and settlements speak to our proven record of success.

When you work with the Law Office of Stanley A. Davis, LLC , you do not pay anything out of pocket unless we win your accident case. It is our goal to do everything we can to aid you during your recovery. Our firm can answer questions about your rights and ability to file a claim.

Call the Law Office of Stanley A. Davis, LLC at (615) 866-3938 to speak with our Nashville truck accident lawyer. We offer free consultations, and there are no fees unless we win your case.

Types of Compensation After a Truck Accident

After being involved in a truck accident, it is crucial to seek fair compensation for the damages you have suffered. Our experienced Nashville truck accident attorney, Stanley A. Davis, is dedicated to helping victims like you navigate the legal process and maximize your compensation.

When seeking compensation for a truck accident, it is important to consider the following:

• Economic damages: These include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
• Non-economic damages: This covers pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive damages: These may be awarded in cases of extreme negligence or intentional misconduct.

Partnering with a skilled 18 wheeler accident lawyer in Nashville means that your rights are guarded and that you can pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve. Reach out to us for a free consultation to discuss your case and discover how we can assist you in seeking justice and financial recovery after a truck accident.

How Long Do I Have To File A Truck Accident Claim in Tennessee?

The statute of limitations in Tennessee is generally one year from the date of the accident for filing a truck accident claim. This short window means you must act quickly to take legal action against the responsible parties if you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident. It is vital to be aware of this deadline because missing it could completely forfeit your ability to pursue compensation.

Acting quickly after a collision is crucial. Building a strong claim requires time to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and consult medical experts. Starting early also means that all paperwork and deadlines can be properly handled. Furthermore, keep in mind that the statute of limitations can vary, extensions may apply if a minor is involved or if a government entity is at fault. Our skilled 18 wheeler accident attorney in Nashville can help you navigate these specifics and protect your rights from the start.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Trucking Accident?

Depending on the circumstances of your claim, several parties may be held liable in the event of a trucking accident. The more parties that can be held accountable, the more challenging and tedious the legal proceedings can be.

Typically, the following are the most common parties that can be held liable in a truck accident lawsuit:

• Trucking companies: They are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are properly maintained and safe to operate; if a mechanical failure causes an accident, the company may be held liable.
• Truck drivers: Whether employed or independent, drivers can be personally liable if their negligent actions, such as speeding or driving while fatigued, lead to a crash.
• Maintenance workers: If a recent repair was done improperly and contributed to the accident, the party responsible for maintaining the truck may be held accountable.
• Truck and parts manufacturers: If a defective vehicle or part caused the crash, the manufacturer of the truck or the specific component may share liability.
• Shipping or loading companies: Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift during transit and cause accidents, making the loading company potentially liable.
• Government entities: Poor road conditions, such as potholes or inadequate signage, may result in liability for the government agency responsible for road maintenance.

What Are Common Violations of Trucking Laws & Regulations?

Commercial tractor trailers are required by state federal laws to have certain protections installed to reduce the number of accidents.

However, whether it is to save time, money, or both, trucking companies and drivers may carelessly choose to ignore or make a “one-time exception” when it comes to following these rules, which often spells disaster. Attorney Stan Davis understands the Tennessee and federal truck laws that both of these parties are legally required to follow.

With this knowledge, he is able to investigate whether your accident may have been the result of:

• No taillights or taillight failure: Motorists can be at risk of colliding with trucks if the taillights on trailers are concealed, inoperative, dirty, or dim.
• No reflective tape or dirty reflective tape: While new trucks are required to be equipped with reflective tape along the sides and rear of the trailer, some companies have neglected to put tape on older trailers. Not having this tape could make a trailer difficult to see at night or during inclement weather.
• Truck improperly parked too close to roadway: Truck drivers should never park on any roadway where the speed limit is greater than 25 mph. There is an exception if a tractor trailer is disabled, but the driver must place warning triangle reflectors to notify other motorists.
• No protective rear guard or rear guard failure: Rear guards are underride bumper devices designed to prevent passenger vehicles from sliding underneath trailers. A carrier can be liable if a motorist’s injuries were the result of defective design, faulty installation, or the complete absence of these guards.
• Truck traveling too slow or too fast: Collisions can result when a slower-moving semi-truck merges into faster-moving traffic, depriving drivers of necessary time to react properly. Truck drivers may also put other motorists in danger when they decide that speeding to make a deadline is more important than your safety on the roadway.

Types of Truck Accidents to Be Aware Of

Truck accidents can occur in various ways, and it's important to understand the different types of accidents that can happen on the road. By familiarizing yourself with these types, you can better understand the potential causes and consequences of a truck accident.

Types of truck accidents include:

• Jackknife Accidents: This happens when a truck’s trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the cab, usually caused by sudden braking, slippery roads, or uneven cargo.
• Underride Accidents: These occur when a smaller vehicle slides under a truck’s rear or side, often resulting in serious or fatal injuries for the smaller vehicle’s occupants.
• Blind Spot Accidents: These happen when a truck driver doesn’t see a vehicle in their large blind spots and changes lanes or turns, causing a collision.
• Wide Turn Accidents: These result when a truck swings wide to turn and collides with nearby vehicles in its path.
• Broadside or T-bone: This happens when the front or rear of a tractor trailer or the cab strikes one side of the vehicle. These collisions often occur at intersections and are often fatal for the passengers sitting on the side of the car that is impacted.
• Head-on and rear-end: This type of accident involves the semi and another vehicle colliding head-to-head or colliding with the vehicle traveling in front, often at a rate of speed faster than other collisions.
• Multiple vehicles: Poor weather, bad roadway conditions, and other causes that can be difficult to determine may result in a chain reaction crash. Vehicle pileups can involve more than one truck or passenger vehicle and result in severe injuries.
• Rollovers and lost loads: A truck that is too heavy can have difficulty stopping in time or cause the driver to lose control. An unsecured truck load can even come loose, affecting all the vehicles traveling behind the truck. 
• Tire blowouts and air brake failures: Just one tire blowing out or air brake failing can be enough for a loss of control for the driver of the 18-wheeler. 

Understanding the different types of truck accidents can help you recognize the specific circumstances that may have led to your accident. This knowledge can be valuable when seeking compensation for your injuries and damages.

Tips to Strengthen Your Truck Accident Claim

Most truck crashes result from negligence by the trucking company or the truck driver. In both of these cases, you should be able to file a claim for your injuries and damages with the trucking company’s insurance provider.

If you plan to file a claim, here are a few things we recommend you do to strengthen your claim:

Additionally, any information regarding previous trucking law violations by the company or driver is useful. The only way to fight big trucking companies and their insurance providers is by using solid evidence that supports your truck accident claim. However, the task of gathering evidence can be difficult.

This is especially true when you are dealing with severe injuries, or your family is grieving the loss of a loved one due to a deadly trucking crash. However, you do not have to file a truck accident claim alone. Trust our team to handle it.

It can be hard to build a strong case, don’t do it alone. Call (615) 866-3938 to get help with your semi-truck accident lawsuit in Nashville!

What Are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

In his personal injury practice, Stan has handled numerous truck accident claims stemming from a variety of causes. Additionally, the high traffic volume along major highways like I-40 and I-65 can increase the likelihood of serious truck-related collisions in the region.

Here are issues he sees as being some of the main causes that can lead to semi-truck accidents:

• Driver error: Inexperienced or poorly trained drivers may make mistakes like the cab turning back or the trailer swinging. Reckless driving, fatigue, stress, intoxication, and poor weather precautions increase accident risks.
• Lack of truck maintenance: Failure to perform regular safety inspections can lead to defective parts causing accidents. Trucking companies neglecting maintenance may be held liable.
• Poorly loaded cargo: Uneven or excessive weight distribution can cause loss of control, jackknifing, or overturning. Unsecured loads may spill, creating hazards.
• Improper freight size: Trucks exceeding legal load limits face reduced maneuverability, longer stopping distances, and greater wear, increasing accident risk.
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions: Pressure to meet deadlines leads some drivers to speed or drive recklessly, especially in bad weather, causing many accidents.

How Nashville Truck Accident Lawyer Stanley A. Davis Can Help You

With an emphasis on faith, family, and serving his community, Stanley A. Davis works hard to help clients get their lives back on the right track after a serious truck accident. Accidents involving a large truck or tractor trailer can complicate matters, but you do not have to face this kind of lawsuit alone.

Stanley A. Davis investigates these accidents to hold the responsible parties accountable for your suffering or loss. The Law Office of Stanley A. Davis, LLC has helped many clients recover compensation above and beyond the initial offers from these companies. We can handle the entire legal process for you, so you and your loved ones can focus on what is truly important: Beginning to heal.

Help is available if you or a family member were hurt in a collision involving a large truck or tractor trailer. In fact, our law firm has assisted many clients in the Nashville area facing similar challenges. Our law firm has a history of success with truck accident cases throughout Tennessee.

Injured in a truck accident? Get in touch with our skilled Nashville truck accident attorney by calling (615) 866-3938 or by submitting a contact form and schedule your free consultation today.

What Is the Average Settlement for an 18-Wheeler Accident?

The average settlement for an 18-wheeler accident in Tennessee can vary greatly due to the unique circumstances surrounding each case. Factors such as the severity of injuries, the degree of fault, and the impact on the victim's life can significantly influence the settlement amount. However, it's important to note that semi-truck accidents often result in higher settlements than regular car accidents due to the increased potential for severe damage and injury. These might range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Still, each truck accident settlement is unique, and it is crucial to consult with an experienced truck accident attorney who can accurately evaluate your specific situation.

What Compensation Is Available for Truck Accident Victims?

If you or a loved one were involved in an accident with a semi-truck, our personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for:

• Loss of income, future wages, and earning potential: This not only applies to how your personal injury from a tractor trailer accident affects your own lifetime earnings, but it may also factor in the loss of support for your family if your life expectancy has been reduced as a result of a trucking accident.
• Loss of quality and enjoyment of life: This compensation claim for a truck accident can arise from severe alterations to your quality of life because of the injuries you suffered in the truck crash.
• Medical expenses: Receiving compensation for past medical bills can be easier than future medical bills, but Attorney Stan Davis works with medical experts to determine the medical costs you may also incur in the future.
• Pain and suffering: This is a non-economic damage for a truck accident that can also include mental anguish. Your pain and suffering from a truck crash may be determined by the severity of your injuries and the length of time you will have to live with the effects of these truck accident injuries.
• Funeral expenses: In the case of a fatal truck accident, this can include all costs relating to the funeral service, such as professional fees, coffin costs, and cremation or burial fees.
• Loss of consortium: This phrase refers to the loss of affection and fellowship a partner provided before a fatal truck accident. It may also apply to a spouse who can no longer fully participate in marriage activities because of serious personal injury they suffered in a truck accident.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

Immediately after a truck accident, most people are not in a position to do anything but get medical treatment. The severity of truck accident injuries usually makes staying at the scene and collecting evidence impossible. Therefore, if you or a loved one has been in a truck wreck, you should first concentrate on your health.

Then, when you are able, you should:

• Contact a trucking accident lawyer in Nashville: A lawyer can take immediate action to gather any evidence from the scene. Additionally, an attorney can take steps to prevent the trucking company from withholding or destroying evidence in their possession.
• Keep records of your injuries and medical treatment: Take photographs of your injuries and keep detailed notes about the medication and treatments you receive. You may also want to keep a journal detailing the pain and impairments you experience.
• Do NOT speak to the insurance company: In most cases, the trucking company’s insurer will reach out to you soon after an accident. However, you should not give a statement or speak to any representative of the trucking company until you consult with a lawyer.

Why Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Nashville?

Frequently Asked Questions

What Steps Should I Take If the Truck Driver's Insurance Denies My Claim?

It is not uncommon for insurance companies to deny claims initially. If this happens, you should first ensure that you have thoroughly documented all aspects of the accident and your injuries. Collecting evidence such as medical reports, witness statements, and photos from the accident scene can fortify your stance. Consult with a truck accident attorney to review the denial and formulate a strategy to appeal. It might involve negotiating with the insurer or preparing to take legal action if the insurance company remains uncooperative. Utilizing the resources of attorneys familiar with Nashville's legal landscape, like those at the Law Office of Stanley A. Davis, can significantly enhance your strategy.

What Makes Tractor Trailer Accidents Different from Car Accidents?

Trailer accidents differ from standard car accidents mainly due to their complexity and severity. The involvement of large commercial vehicles often results in more significant damage and injury, necessitating detailed investigation into factors such as vehicle defects, driver logs, and cargo loading practices. The interplay between federal and state trucking regulations additionally compounds the complexity of these cases. Victims require comprehensive legal assistance to manage the multifaceted elements of a truck accident claim, a service our experienced team is equipped to provide while seamlessly navigating through Nashville's unique legal requirements.