Truck Accident FAQs

Review truck accident FAQs if you are involved in a trucking accident and someone else is liable. In addition, meet with trucking accident lawyers serving Nashville, TN, as they can explain your legal options in the aftermath of this incident. Contact Selvidge Injury Law for a free consultation today.

What Should I Do If I Was Hit by a Truck?

Take care of yourself if a truck hits you. Below are the steps to take to protect yourself after your accident:

Call 911. This will bring emergency responders to the accident scene. Medical professionals will evaluate and treat your injuries, and police officers will gather information from you and others involved in the incident.
Get the truck driver’s information. Ask the trucker involved in your accident for their driver’s license, insurance, and employer information. You will need these things if you want to file a claim and pursue compensation from this truck driver or their employer.
Speak with witnesses. If anyone saw your accident, get their contact information. Witnesses can provide statements or testify on your behalf, making it clear that you’re not at fault for the accident.
Gather evidence. Take photos and videos of the accident scene and your injuries and jot down notes of what happened leading up to the incident, road and weather conditions, and other relevant information. This gives you evidence to use in your case against any liable parties.
Continue to treat your injuries. Receive medical care for your injuries for as long as your doctor recommends. Track your medical bills, and you can add these to your collection of evidence.
Consult with a truck accident attorney. Talk with an attorney familiar with hours of service (HOS) rules and other trucking industry rules that may apply to your case. Your lawyer can guide you through the process of filing an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Submit your claim. Notify your auto insurance company about your accident involving a truck. From here, your insurer will investigate your accident with the insurance companies of any other parties involved in the incident.
Don’t speak with an at-fault party’s insurance company. If you do, you risk saying something that hurts your chances of getting compensation for your truck accident losses.
Negotiate a settlement. Have an attorney handle your settlement negotiations. If your lawyer gets an offer, they’ll share it with you, and you can evaluate the proposal and make an informed decision on it.
File a lawsuit. If no settlement agreement is reached, exercise your right to sue for compensatory damages. Per Tennessee Code § 28-3-104, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit is one year.

Our Trucking Accident Lawyers in Nashville Await Your Call

Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?

The party liable for your truck accident depends on the circumstances of the incident. Some of the parties that can be held responsible for a truck accident include:

Truck driver
Trucking company
Cargo loader
Truck manufacturer
Truck parts manufacturer
Truck maintenance company
Another motorist
Government entity

What Types of Compensation Can I Get After a Truck Accident?

You can recover economic and non-economic damages after a truck accident. Reasons a judge or jury will award compensatory damages to truck accident victims and their families include:

Pain and Suffering: You can get money for your emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physical discomfort, and other pain and suffering from your accident.
Medical Bills: Damages can be provided for doctors’ visits, medications, physical therapy, surgery, and ongoing medical care for your truck accident injuries.
Lost Wages: If you can’t work due to a the injuries you sustain from your accident involving a truck, you may be entitled to damages for your lost wages.
Diminished Earning Capacity: If your truck accident injuries will keep you from working the same job you held previously, you may receive compensation based on your diminished earning capacity.
Burial and Funeral Expenses: If you lose a family member in a fatal truck accident, you may recover damages for your loved one’s burial and funeral expenses. Call our Nashville wrongful death lawyer for help during this difficult time.

According to Tennessee Code § 29-39-104, punitive damages can be awarded in personal injury lawsuits in conjunction with compensatory damages. These damages are intended to punish extreme behaviors. They are capped at $500,000 or twice the compensatory damages awarded, whichever amount is greater. While rare, it is important for you to speak with an experienced truck accident attorney so they can evaluate your claim for all the possible damages you may be entitled to, including punitive damages.

How Do I Prove My Truck Accident Case?

Use evidence from a wide range of sources to prove that your truck accident case is valid. Proof that can be used in truck accident cases includes:

Traffic camera footage of an accident
Accident scene photos
Witness statements
Police reports
A truck’s black box data
Truck maintenance records
Truck driver logs
Medical records
Pay stubs

Your evidence can be used to prove that a liable party acted negligently by committing a careless or reckless act that led to your truck accident, injuries, and damages.

Why Are Truck Accidents More Dangerous Than Car Accidents?

The size and weight of trucks can make truck accidents more dangerous than car accidents. Since trucks are bigger and weigh more than cars, they tend to cause more damage in accidents. Trucks can also be more difficult to handle than cars, increasing the likelihood of accidents involving trucks versus cars.

Why Do I Need a Nashville Truck Accident Lawyer?

Your Nashville truck accident lawyer will prioritize your case. They will learn about your truck accident by looking at traffic camera footage of the incident, interviewing you and witnesses who saw the incident, and taking other measures to investigate. Next, your injury attorney in Nashville can calculate your accident losses, file a claim or lawsuit on your behalf, and pursue compensatory damages from any liable parties for you.

Outside of these things, your Nashville accident attorney can negotiate a truck accident settlement with an at-fault party’s insurer. They know the tactics that insurance companies use to contest claims. If your attorney does not get a fair insurance settlement offer, they can help you proceed with a lawsuit.

Throughout your truck accident case, your lawyer prioritizes your legal rights and best interests. Your attorney can address your legal concerns and questions. They will position you to get outstanding case results.