The Holiday Season May Increase Your Risk of a Truck Accident

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, many of us are starting to think about gifts for our friends and families. While our holiday celebrations may look a bit different this year, it's a safe bet that the holiday shopping season will continue as it always has, resulting in more package delivery traffic than at other times of the year. In addition, as more and more shopping occurs online, you can expect there to be even more delivery traffic than usual. In fact, according to a CBRE report, E-commerce sales are expected to double their record growth from 2019 as brick-and-mortar sales slow.

All of these large trucks on the road can increase your risk of involvement in a serious accident. When large trucks collide with smaller passenger vehicles, it can cause extensive damage and result in serious injuries. For this reason, if you have been hurt in a commercial truck accident, it's critical that you do everything you can to protect your legal rights. To learn more about your options, call our office today to speak with a Nashville truck accident lawyer about your case.

When Can You Recover Compensation for a Truck Accident in Tennessee?

Not every truck accident entitles victims to compensation. In order to recover, you need to be able to show that your accident was someone else's fault. Under Tennessee law, a party is said to be “at fault” if his or her negligence caused an accident. Some examples of the kinds of negligence that can lead to a truck accident include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Ignoring poor weather conditions
• Violating traffic laws
• Improperly loaded or secured cargo
• Failing to properly maintain a truck
• Negligent hiring
• Defective truck design or manufacture
• Impaired driving
• Fatigued driving

Truck accidents are often very complicated, and it can be extremely difficult for someone without experience litigating truck accident cases to spot negligence when it occurs. For this reason, if you have been injured in a truck accident, it's critical that you ask an experienced personal injury attorney to review your case.

How Much are Truck Accident Cases Worth?

Truck accidents often leave victims with devastating injuries and losses. In many cases, victims' vehicles are totaled, and they are left with severe injuries that will require significant medical care and prevent them from working for weeks, months, or even longer. Fortunately, these and other crash-related losses are often recoverable in a truck accident claim. Some examples of the losses that truck accident victims often seek in truck accident cases include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Property damage
• Lost quality of life
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering

The value of your case depends on a number of factors, including the severity of your injuries, your age, your occupation, your prognosis, and whether you were partially at fault for your accident. Importantly, if you have injuries that will leave you with permanent issues like disfigurement or disability, you can claim future damages as well. In the most serious cases, victims often seek a lifetime of lost income and opportunity. Establishing evidence that supports these kinds of damages often requires the assistance of financial and medical experts. Failing to present adequate documentation regarding future losses can be catastrophic to your case, so be sure to discuss your options with a lawyer before accepting a settlement offer.

How to Reduce Your Risk

Thankfully, there are things that you can do to reduce your risk of involvement with a large truck this holiday season and beyond.  Some of the specific things you can do to stay safe include:

Give Large Trucks Plenty of Space

The easiest way to avoid an accident with a semi or delivery truck is to give them plenty of room when you are sharing the road. Large vehicles require more space to maneuver and take longer to slow down and stop than smaller passenger vehicles. By giving trucks plenty of space, you can significantly reduce your risk of involvement in a collision.

Avoid Blind Spots

Trucks have much larger blind spots than passenger vehicles than smaller passenger vehicles. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), commercial trucks have large blind spots around all four sides, and motorists should take extra care when passing or being passed by large trucks. In addition, it's critical to stay out of blind spots when a large commercial vehicle is backing up, changing lanes, or turning.

Watch Your Speed

When you are around large trucks or other traffic, it's a good idea to slow down - especially if you are dealing with winter weather. Heavy traffic and poor weather are a significant cause of serious accidents, and slowing down gives you an opportunity to react to situations as they develop around you.

Steps to Take if You are in an Accident with a Truck

Unfortunately, accidents can occur even when you are as careful as possible. If you are injured in an accident with a commercial truck, there are certain things that you should do to protect your rights, including:

• Call 911 and report the accident
• Note any marking on the truck that identify the company that is owns and operates it
• If you can, take pictures of the scene of the accident and your injuries
• Seek medical attention and follow your treatment plan
• Contact an attorney as soon as you can

Call Us Today to Discuss Your Case with a Truck Accident Lawyer in Nashville

At Labrum Law, we understand how seriously a commercial truck accident can impact victims' lives. That's why we do everything we can to ensure that every client we represent gets the compensation to which they are entitled under Tennessee law. Our legal team will review the facts of your accident at no cost to determine whether you have a claim, and we will only charge legal fees if we win your case.

To schedule a free consultation with a Nashville truck accident attorney, call our office today at (615) 338-9500 or contact us online.