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Tractor-trailers are an essential part of America’s economic infrastructure, ferrying as much as 80,000 pounds of cargo per trailer hundreds of miles every working day. Unfortunately, long hours on the road combined with numerous other risk factors make traffic accidents involving these massive machines all too common in Tennessee—and unfortunately, often the source of life-altering injuries and losses.
Filing suit after this uniquely dangerous type of incident can be difficult without a seasoned personal injury attorney’s guidance. By working with an experienced Red Bank truck accident lawyer, you could more effectively enforce your right to demand fair recovery for every loss that negligence by a truck driver, trucking company, or affiliated third party caused you.
One of the biggest reasons truck accident litigation can be especially complicated is the fact that multiple parties could bear civil liability for a single wreck. Of course, like any motor vehicle operator, an individual truck driver who causes a crash by violating traffic laws, driving recklessly, or simply not paying attention behind the wheel could be considered legally negligent and therefore liable for ensuing damages.
However, trucking companies can sometimes be held vicariously liable for negligence by their employee or directly liable for their own negligence—and more importantly, they tend to have more money with which to pay damages than individual truckers do. Additionally, some semi-truck wrecks stem partially or even primarily from mechanical malfunctions rather than driver or employer error, which could impose liability upon a negligent mechanic, supplier, or component manufacturer.
It should also be noted that plaintiffs filing suit over truck accident injuries can also be found partly to blame for causing or worsening their injuries through their own misconduct. In such cases, the court hearing their claim may reduce available compensation accordingly or possibly bar them entirely from financial recovery. A Red Bank 18-wheeler crash attorney could explain how these, and other rules, might impact recovery in a particular situation.
A comprehensive tractor-trailer accident claim can demand restitution for both economic and non-economic losses, including:
However, Tennessee Code §29-39-102 caps recovery for non-economic damages at either $750,000 or $1,000,000 per plaintiff, with the higher cap applying only if the plaintiff suffered a “catastrophic injury.”
Furthermore, anyone wishing to pursue civil reimbursement for the effects of a truck wreck usually has a maximum of one year after sustaining injury to start the filing process, as per TN Code §28-3-104. Assistance from a knowledgeable lawyer can be absolutely essential to understanding and overcoming these kinds of procedural obstacles when filing a truck accident claim in Red Bank.
Commercial truck wrecks often cause devastating injuries and losses to people involved, especially when they happen on highways or in crowded intersections. Unfortunately, demanding comprehensive compensation for those damages from the party or parties responsible can be extremely challenging without professional legal support.
Contacting a Red Bank truck accident lawyer as quickly as possible following a wreck involving a tractor-trailer could be vital to preserving your financial security and future prospects. Schedule your initial consultation by calling today.