COOKEVILLE TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER
Trucks are a common sight in the city of Cookeville, and they are very necessary for the economy as they deliver the goods people use every day. Unfortunately, not all truck drivers arrive at their destination safely and when they are negligent, they place the lives of everyone around them in danger.
The aftermath of a truck accident is typically much worse than crashes involving other types of vehicles, and victims suffer some of the worst injuries. This type of accident could lead to heavy medical expenses from potentially life-altering injuries, lost wages due to an inability to work, or even wrongful death.
Tennessee law allows victims and family members of victims to pursue compensation in the event of a truck accident. Whether the incident resulted in a personal injury or the damages incurred place a heavy financial burden on you, it is legal to seek a settlement.
If you or someone you love has obtained an injury or is facing financial ramifications because of an accident involving a commercial truck, our Cookeville truck accident lawyers can assist with your claim for compensation.
If you live in Cookeville, Tennessee, Putnam County, or anywhere in the Upper Cumberlands area, our legal team is ready to represent you and defend your rights under Tennessee law after an accident.
How Does a Truck Accident Differ from a Car Accident?
Smaller automobile and truck collisions/accidents both involve vehicles on the road, so it is natural to assume these types of crashes are very similar. The truth is, they are not. The biggest differences between car and truck accidents are as follows:
- Catastrophic injuries: Trucks are extremely large and heavy. The driver and passengers in smaller vehicles stand very little chance of walking away from a truck accident unscathed and catastrophic injuries are much more common in collisions that involve a truck.
- Fatalities: Just as the injuries after a truck accident are more serious, it is also more common for the victim to not survive the crash.
- Determining liability: During a regular automobile accident, usually one of the drivers is at fault. This is not the case with truck collisions/accidents. Liable parties in a truck accident can include the truck driver, the trucking company, a cargo loading company, a manufacturer, (due to defective products or equipment), and more. Determining who was liable for the crash is very difficult after a truck accident.
- Federal law: Auto accidents in Cookeville are governed by Tennessee state law. Truck collisions/accidents are also governed by state law, but federal laws, such as the hours of service rule, may also apply.
Although truck collisions/accidents do have significant differences from car accidents, they still require a thorough investigation. For this, you should always work with Cookeville truck accident lawyers that will know what to look for and what to do within the parameters of the law.
The Dangers of a Truck Accident
As stated before, the chance of an injury or even death is much higher in the event of a commercial truck collision, and the statistics support this reality. 4,965 people died in a large truck collision in 2020 alone. In terms of receiving an injury, over 147,000 people were hurt across the United States in the same time frame, with the vast majority, (68%), happening to occupants of other vehicles.
All of this is to say that the chance of an injury or death in a commercial truck collision is very high because of the size difference. Your much smaller automobile will be less capable of protecting you and the other passengers from injury in this type of incident. This is why having the right legal team to defend your rights under the law if you have been injured or had your vehicle damaged is crucial.
Aspects of a Truck Accident Case
If you have been involved in an incident with a commercial truck resulting in injury or damages and want to know if you can seek compensation, there are several factors that will determine what your legal options are and if you have the basis to file a claim.
When you are uncertain about the viability of a case, our legal team in Cookeville, Tennessee offers a free consultation to discuss your questions.
Determining Liability
A crucial part of the process is determining fault in an accident. Was there negligence either on your part or the part of the truck driver? Did defective products cause a malfunction that led to the accident? Did a poor decision by either driver create the circumstances that led to the collision and resulting injury?
Other parties besides you and the other driver could be liable in an accident involving a commercial truck, including the trucking company or a manufacturer. An attorney can help their clients figure out the complexities of liability.
Analyzing Damages
Did you receive injuries in the accident that required medical attention to recover and led to costly bills? What damage did your vehicle accrue that could be a financial burden? When you were injured, did it force you to miss work for a certain time period? Personal injury cases often come down to answering these types of questions. The more severe the costs are in the aftermath of the collision, the higher the settlement you may be able to win.
Our attorneys in the city of Cookeville, Tennessee understand the law and what categories of damages you can include in your claim.
Truck Accident Investigation
Truck collisions/accidents are extremely serious and trucking companies will go to great lengths to shield themselves and their drivers from claims of liability. To do this, the trucking company will send someone out to the scene to investigate in the minutes or hours after a crash. To give your claim the best chance possible, it is important that you have someone investigating on your behalf as well.
During a truck collision investigation, lawyers will collect empirical data that can prove fault. This evidence may include automobile parts left on the road, pictures of the damage, video surveillance from nearby businesses or witnesses, police accident reports, driving logs, proof of injuries, and statements from witnesses.
The trucking company has many people on its side, and it is important to work with a legal team that will protect your best interests in the state of Tennessee and according to federal law.
Representing Your Interests
Defending the rights of our clients is our lawyers’ top priority. Tennessee law affords you the ability to pursue compensation after a truck accident results in damage to your vehicle or a physical injury to anyone with you.
At the forefront of our partnership is the sanctity of the attorney-client relationship. There may be an exchange of confidential or sensitive information that is necessary to file your claim, and our attorneys will protect your rights within that process.
Additionally, every attorney on our team has the necessary education and background in law that will ensure you are receiving top-notch representation from lawyers who know what they are doing. When you are the victim of an accident with a personal injury or damage to your vehicle and you live in Putnam County, Cookeville, TN, or the surrounding area, give our attorneys a call.
Call Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Cookeville Today
This type of event can be devastating for anyone. Whether you received a horrible personal injury or escaped relatively unscathed, there will be a range of emotions that you experience in the aftermath. You could be fearful, angry, frustrated, or grieving depending on the severity.
When you are feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances, having an attorney that you trust to help navigate the intricacies of Tennessee law could be exactly what you need. The legal intricacies that you may not understand will decide the strength of your case, and you should not have to face this process on your own.
Truck collisions/accidents are often catastrophic and while you focus on your injury recovery, our Cookeville, TN truck accident lawyers will take care of every detail of your claim. At Mitch Grissim & Associates, we are dedicated to helping our clients obtain the compensation they deserve and we want to put our experience to work for you. We believe in protecting your rights, winning a fair settlement, and giving you peace of mind after a tragic event.
If you live near the city of Cookeville, TN, call us today at 615-255-9999 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
