Memphis Truck Accident Lawyers
Due to the considerable size of most commercial trucks and 18-wheelers, truck accidents frequently result in exceedingly severe and life-threatening injuries. If you have experienced such an accident, you likely know that there can be both short-term and long-term physical and emotional consequences afterward. Our Memphis legal team believes that you should not have to be responsible for the resulting medical bills, loss of income while recovering, and property damage that can occur due to the reckless or negligent behavior of others.
The Memphis truck accident lawyers at John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers have helped accident victims just like you aggressively pursue justice and compensation following a truck accident caused by another party. Despite your hardships, there is help available through our knowledgeable and experienced attorneys. Contact us at 888-WE-FIGHT, fill out an email contact form, or chat with us live to speak with a member of our team today.
Protecting the Rights of Truck Accident Victims
Truck accident cases are typically more complicated than other types of highway accident cases, so it is imperative to contact an attorney immediately after your accident with a commercial truck or 18-wheeler. The best course of action is to speak with a lawyer who knows how to preserve evidence in your case, consult appropriate experts, find eyewitnesses, locate the truck driver, and handle the details to make sure you get the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.
Immediately after a truck accident, trucking companies will have their investigators on the scene to start preparing their defense. Often, trucking companies will have their lawyers at the scene of a truck accident within hours of the crash itself. These trucking companies will have their investigators and attorneys fighting for them; you need someone like us fighting on your behalf.
Why Choose John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers?
If you are a victim of an accident with a truck or tractor-trailer in Memphis, now is the time to act. John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers has successfully fought for justice and compensation for people just like you. We have developed lasting relationships with our clients who rely on us for our legal assistance and depend on us to be compassionate, communicative, and tough.
John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers are continually striving to remain at the top of our field, keeping up to date on the latest technologies in trial work, and continuing to educate ourselves on updates in truck accident injury law. Our truck crash attorneys are committed to fighting for you to get the justice and compensation that you deserve.
At John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers, we have the skills, knowledge, and experience help secure the compensation you are owed, so that you can get on with your life after an accident. Our track record of success on behalf of our clients speaks for itself, as we have assisted many individuals and families in the Memphis and surrounding areas with cases just like yours.
With John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers we are ready to fight to protect your best interests. For a free consultation regarding your trucking accident, contact us today at 888-WE-FIGHT, or use our online contact form or chat live with us to speak with one of our representatives. We do not collect a fee unless we win your case for you.
Truck Accident Cases We Handle
As a rule, trucking companies and their drivers should take every precaution to prevent accidents from occurring because they know the catastrophic results that can happen when a truck collides with a car, passenger truck, or motorcycle. In the Memphis area, truck accidents still occur far too frequently. Listed below are some of the types of causes of truck accidents:
- Drunk Driving – If a truck driver chooses to operate the vehicle while under the influence, they should be held accountable for their actions if they are involved in a collision with another vehicle.
- Mechanical Defect and Malfunction – Trucking companies have a responsibility to maintain their vehicles to keep them free from defects or malfunctions. Failure to do so puts other drivers at risk and may result in serious injury accidents.
- Employer Negligence and Liability – If the trucking company is negligent in any way, from failing to train or supervise drivers in their employ correctly, they may be held liable for injuries that their drivers cause to others.
- Truck Driver Error and Negligence – If a truck driver fails to uphold his or her duty of safety on the road, legal action may be taken against them if they cause harm to others.
- No-Zone Accidents – Drivers should be careful of vehicles that are traveling in their “no-zones” or the multiple blind spots on the vehicle. Failure to take proper care and drive with caution can result in an injury accident.
- Wrongful Death – If an individual is killed in an accident with a truck or 18-wheeler, the family of the victim may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties.
In addition to the above, some other common causes of truck accidents are driver fatigue, overloaded freight, excessive speed, and defective tires. When truck drivers and trucking companies injure unsuspecting and innocent motorists, they need to be held accountable for their wrongdoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I speak to the trucking company if I don’t have an attorney yet?
It is not advisable for you to speak to a trucking company or their insurance provider if you do not have an attorney to represent you. They may look to trap you into giving a recorded statement or may look to get you to sign paperwork giving up your rights to take legal action. As a general rule, you should not deal with the company or their insurance agents until you have an attorney on your side that can protect your rights and make sure your case remains strong.
What can I do to protect my rights after a truck accident?
If you or someone you love has been hurt in an accident with a large commercial vehicle, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries and damage to your property. Truck accident cases are often more complex than simple passenger vehicle to passenger vehicle collision cases because there are often larger companies and insurance providers involved in the matter. Large commercial shipping companies, usually have vast resources to fight against claims, and often have a large team of attorneys assisting them with their defense. That’s why it is critical that you hire a team that has the experience and the resources of their own to take on the aggressive insurance and commercial companies that will fight tooth-and-nail to deny your claim.
Who can be sued in a truck accident case?
If you decide to pursue your truck accident case, the company or owner of the truck may be held liable for the driver’s actions, as long as they were operating within the standards and rules of the company. If they were operating outside of their instructions by driving during hours they were supposed to be resting or operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, then the driver may be held accountable.
Should I have a police report ready?
After an accident, it is important to obtain a copy of your police report, as it typically has information that will help strengthen your case. This often has witness names and statements, an official description of the circumstances surrounding the accident, citations that may have been given at the scene, and the officer’s early indication of which party may have been responsible for the crash.
U.S. Truck Accident Statistics
Key findings from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration:
- In 2014 there were 3,903 people killed in crashes involving large trucks, a 2-percent-decrease from 2013.
- An estimated 111,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks in 2014—an increase of 17 percent from an estimated 95,000 in 2013.
- In 2014 seventy-three percent of people killed in large-truck crashes were occupants of the other vehicles.
- Seventy-nine percent of the fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2014 occurred on weekdays.
- Two percent of the large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2014 had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .08 g/dL or higher, much lower than drivers of other vehicle types (22% for passenger cars, 22% for light trucks, and 29% for motorcycles).
- In 2014 drivers of large trucks in fatal crashes were less likely to have previous license suspensions or revocations than were passenger car drivers.
- Large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2014 had the highest percentage (14.9%) of previously recorded crashes compared to drivers of other vehicle types (motorcycles, 13.6%; passenger cars, 12.6%; and light trucks, 12.0%).
Call John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers Today
Seeking the compensation that you need after a truck accident might seem overwhelming, and it is not something you should try to handle on your own. Our attorneys are committed to helping motorists pursue compensation from the truck driver, manufacturer, or trucking company that is found to be responsible for their accident.
To discuss the legal options that may be available to you with one of our Memphis 18-wheeler accident attorneys, complete our online form, chat live, or give our offices a call at 888-WE-FIGHT today. At John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers, we are here to protect your rights and make sure that you do not suffer any further harm following this serious accident. We are here to help you put your life together after a serious truck accident, and we won’t allow you to be bullied by the trucking company or their powerful insurance provider. We are here to fight for you, so choose the legal team that has the experience you need on your side.