Truck Accident Attorneys in Grainger County

Have you been involved in a serious accident with a commercial truck? These collisions are often much more serious than typical car crashes due to the differences in size and weight between semi-trucks and passenger vehicles. This mismatch often means that car drivers can sustain severe injuries when a truck collides with them.

If you have a serious injury from an auto accident involving a commercial truck, Evan M. Newman, an accomplished Tennessee attorney at Daniel, Daniel, & Newman, is here to help. Commercial truck accidents bring additional difficulties over and above typical auto accidents, making recovering compensation more complex. Evan has extensive experience fighting for truck accident victims and can cut through the legal thicket to serve justice to victims and at-fault parties.

Contact our firm online or call today to speak to a Grainger County truck accident lawyer. Your consultation is free and without obligation, and you pay nothing unless we recover money for your case.

Why Grainger County Trusts Daniel, Daniel, & Newman with Their Truck Accident Cases

For over 80 years, Grainger County residents have relied on the Daniel name for compassionate and effective legal representation. As lead attorney of Daniel, Daniel, & Newman, Evan dedicates himself to providing the same outstanding legal services as his great-uncle, Creed Daniel, and his son, the late Dirk Daniel. We prioritize a client-centered approach that meets you where you are, with compassion, understanding, and personal attention at every step.

Our Christian values inform our practice in a way that respects the ideals and traditions of Grainger County residents. To that end, we have built a reputation as a reliable truck accident law firm that will fight for your rights and interests. Our work isn’t finished until we have exhausted every possible option to recover your due compensation.

Why You Should Hire an Attorney for Your Truck Accident Claim

Anyone who has ever interacted with the civil restitution system knows that recovering compensation after an accident is never easy. The claims process is rigorous, and a formal lawsuit can take over a year to resolve. The catastrophic nature of a truck accident injury and the size of trucking companies mean that cases are high-stakes with potentially hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars on the line.

A truck accident attorney like Evan can confidently manage your case and represent your interests when filing a claim. He can ensure you meet filing deadlines and obtain evidence sufficient to file your claim. Most importantly, Evan can handle all the clerical details of your case and negotiate with insurers on your behalf. If you have serious injuries after a truck accident, you should prioritize rest and recovery while Evan, as your attorney, leads the fight to recover what you need to get your life back in order.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

The actions you take after a truck accident can influence the outcome of any insurance or legal claims that result. Seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor or you generally feel okay. If you’re physically able, report the accident to law enforcement and take pictures of the scene.

In the weeks that follow, keep all records related to the crash, including medical records, vehicle repair records, and communications with your employer if you’ve missed work. Don’t discuss the accident with insurance companies without first consulting a lawyer. Evan will listen to your side of the story, evaluate your case, gather evidence, and fight for your right to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Why Are Trucking Accidents More Complicated Than Other Motor Vehicle Collisions?

Truck accidents are more intricate than typical auto collision claims because they involve a commercial entity. Liability surrounding commercial entities is not as straightforward as with private individuals, and the corporate structure of commercial trucking companies will require a different legal strategy to hold them accountable.

Additionally, trucks are subject to unique state and federal regulations. Depending on where the truck is coming from and where it crashes, the accident could overlap with law enforcement from both state and federal agencies.

Lastly, trucking companies frequently have deep pockets and usually have funds to procure legal defense against claims. As an experienced attorney, Evan can effectively pursue large companies and push back against lawyers who try to shield them from responsibility.

Who Could Be Liable for a Truck Accident in Grainger County?

One of the most important questions in a truck accident is, who is liable for my injuries? The reality is that liability in a truck accident case is rarely straightforward and can involve multiple parties. Liable entities in a truck accident might include the following:

  • Truck Drivers – Truck drivers are liable if they ignore truck operation rules or operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
  • Trucking Companies – Trucking companies are generally liable for the conduct of their employees. They can also be liable if a crash happens due to unsafe operator training or insufficient driver certification.
  • Vehicle/Equipment Manufacturers – Truck and trucking equipment manufacturers might be liable for accidents caused by manufacturing defects.
  • Maintenance Crews – If maintenance crews damage critical truck systems, such as the brakes, they may be financially responsible for injuries.
  • Loading Crews – Loading crews are responsible for packing trucks correctly and can be liable if loose cargo causes an accident.

When you open a truck accident claim, the insurance company will send an adjuster to investigate the accident and calculate the monetary extent of the damages. It is imperative that you have an attorney perform a parallel investigation to identify the root causes of your accident. You can rely on your attorney’s investigation if the adjuster disputes your version of events or tries to shift liability away from the company.

What Compensation Could I Recover in a Grainger County Truck Accident Claim?

There is no single answer to how much compensation you could receive from a truck accident claim, as every case is distinct. Your exact compensation will depend on the extent and severity of your injuries, your age and occupation, the truck driver’s conduct, and shared liability.

A Grainger County truck accident attorney can pursue compensation for your:

  • Emergency medical expenses and continuing medical bills
  • Lost income from missing work
  • Difference between your projected pre- and post-injury lifetime earnings
  • Miscellaneous injury expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional anguish
  • Loss of consortium or life enjoyment
  • Wrongful death after a fatal truck accident
  • Property damage, such as vehicle repair/replacement

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Tennessee?

You have to file a truck accident lawsuit within one year of the accident, or else you will lose your ability to sue for financial compensation. Tennessee’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims gives you a shorter deadline than those in many other states, so any delay could drastically affect your chances of a successful resolution.

What If I’m Partly at Fault for a Trucking Accident?

You can still recover partial compensation even if you are partially at fault for a truck accident. Tennessee’s comparative negligence laws allow victims to recover damages minus the proportion of fault they share. For instance, if you are 25 percent at fault for a truck accident, insurance companies and courts will reduce any final compensation by 25 percent.

The nature of these kinds of comparative negligence laws stresses the importance of hiring an attorney. An attorney will know how to present your case and arguments to reduce the amount of liability you share and maximize your truck accident compensation.

What Is Considered a Truck in Tennessee?

According to Tennessee Code 55-1-104, a truck is any motor vehicle designed or used primarily to transport property. A truck tractor refers to any vehicle meant specifically for drawing other vehicles. These definitions encompass many of the most common kinds of commercial trucks, including 18-wheelers, moving trucks, flatbed trucks, dump trucks, delivery trucks, and tow trucks.

What Are Common Types of Commercial, Big Rig, and Semi-Truck Accidents in Grainger County?

Trucks get into the same kinds of accidents as other automobiles, such as sideswipes, rear-end collisions, and head-on collisions. However, trucks’ large size and trailers create unique accident conditions. Some of the most common types of accidents specific to commercial trucks and big rigs include:

  • Underride Accidents – Because cars are much shorter than truck trailers, accidents often involve the car becoming wedged between the ground and the bottom of the trailer.
  • Jackknife Accidents – Jackknife accidents happen when the momentum of the tractor-trailer causes it to snap forward, creating an angle that can trap and drag cars.
  • Fishtail Accidents – When the front cabin of a tractor-trailer stops, the trailer’s wheels might lose traction, causing the back end to weave and whip side to side, like the tail of a fish, potentially colliding with several cars.
  • Right-Turn Accidents – Trucks have a higher turning radius than passenger cars, so they have to take turns wider than usual. For wide right turns, the truck may have to pull into the lane of oncoming traffic, increasing the odds of a collision and injury.
  • Unsecured Cargo – Trucks often haul several thousands of pounds of goods. Unsecured or improperly loaded cargo can cause the driver to lose control or fall from the trailer and strike other vehicles.

What Injuries Could I Sustain in a Truck Accident?

Trucks are much larger than cars, and the trailer sits higher than typical crumple zones, so when cars collide, much of the force is directed at the windshield and driver’s torso. Truck accidents frequently cause permanent and fatal injuries, such as:

  • Torn ligaments
  • Hearing or vision loss
  • Burns and abrasions
  • Chemical exposure
  • Crushing injuries
  • Amputations
Evan Newman and Kathy Graves

Contact a Grainger County Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Contact the law offices of Daniel, Daniel, & Newman online or reach out by phone today to speak to Evan Newman, an accomplished truck accident lawyer in Grainger County. We offer free, no-obligation consultations and we charge nothing unless we win your case.