Nashville Truck Accident Lawyers Discuss What’s Involved in Holding a Trucking Company Liable for an Accident
Being injured in a truck accident is a traumatic experience that can have life-changing consequences. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you build a strong case to hold the responsible party (or parties) liable for the damages you suffered as a result of being involved in a big rig accident. Trucking companies are often found to be liable for crashes caused by drivers operating trucks on their behalf, though the facts of your particular case will determine exactly who is liable.
The skilled truck accident attorneys at GriffthLaw have experience suing trucking companies on behalf of clients who have been injured in Tennessee truck accidents, and we’re ready to put our experience to work for you. Find out what to expect throughout your truck accident case.
Preparing to Sue a Trucking Company for a Truck Crash
When you have been injured in a semi-truck accident, it’s important to start working with an experienced truck accident lawyer immediately after the crash. A complete investigation will need to be conducted to determine who is liable for the crash, and it’s not likely that you’ll be able to handle this on your own immediately after being hit by a commercial truck.
Gathering the evidence needed to build a solid case requires legal expertise. A skilled personal injury attorney with truck accident experience knows exactly what to look for and how to collect and preserve critical facts about this type of accident that will be relevant to your claim. It’s important to gather evidence right away to prevent the loss of key information that may be critical to your case.
You should act quickly to select a lawyer to help you with your case because the investigation has to be completed before it’s possible to determine which party (or parties) were responsible for the truck crash. If the investigation reveals that the trucking company can be held liable for the accident, then you can move forward with filing a lawsuit against them, as well as any other parties who may also have liability.
Potential Defendants in a Truck Accident Case
Trucking companies are often liable for truck crashes because they can be held responsible for their own negligence and the actions of an agent or employee (i.e., the driver) acting on their behalf. However, they aren’t always the only liable party. Other parties that may have liability for a truck crash include:
- The driver of the truck (if they acted in a negligent manner)
- The company that manufactured the truck (if a problem with the vehicle caused the crash)
- The manufacturer of a part on the truck (if it was defective or otherwise played a role in the crash)
- A business or contractor responsible for maintaining the truck (if a vehicle maintenance problem contributed to the accident)
- The government responsible for maintaining the road on which the crash occurred (if poor road maintenance is to blame for the accident)
- The company that loaded the cargo onto the truck (if the cargo played a role in causing the crash)
While your first instinct may be to focus on suing the trucking company, a number of other parties may also have liability. In Tennessee, trucking companies are usually liable for only up to $1 million in damages, which may not cover all damages arising from a serious truck accident. Naming all liable parties in your claim can give you the best chance of recovering full financial compensation for your injuries. It’s important to let the facts your truck accident lawyer gathers by investigating the crash help you decide how to proceed with your lawsuit.
What to Expect When Suing a Trucking Company
When you win a truck accident lawsuit, the trucking company and/or other liable parties will be required to compensate you for your damages. The GriffithLaw team is committed to fighting to help ensure that our clients are awarded the full damages they deserve. A truck accident settlement or award may include compensation for:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Lost past wages
- Lost future earnings
- Pain and suffering
Damages for pain and suffering may include compensation for both short- and long-term effects of the accident, including physical suffering, mental anguish, and loss of quality of life.
Rely on an Experienced Tennessee Truck Accident Attorney
When you are recovering from a big rig accident or a crash with another kind of oversized vehicle, you need to be able to concentrate on recovering from your injuries rather than trying to navigate the complexities of figuring out how to seek fair compensation for your injuries and damages. It’s best to enlist the services of a skilled truck accident lawyer to help handle that for you.
When you hire GriffithLaw, our skilled and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys will work diligently to prepare your Tennessee truck accident case while you focus on healing. Our lawyers will put their experience to work performing crucial tasks on your behalf, such as:
- Investigating the cause of the truck accident
- Gathering and securing the evidence you need to prove your claims
- Estimating the value of the damages you are seeking in a lawsuit
- Continuing to build your case through the discovery process
- Negotiating a settlement with the trucking company (and/or other defendants)
- Arguing your case in court if the defendant(s) don’t agree to a fair settlement
Our team has a successful track record of securing truck accident settlements for clients. You can count on us to help you build a solid case that can help you receive the fair compensation you deserve.