Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Published on: February 28, 2021

Truck Accidents in Bad Weather

Accidents are more likely to take place when the weather gets bad. Rain, snow, ice, and other storms increase the likelihood of drivers getting into wrecks which can cause personal injury and property damage. Even if you are a safe driver and understand the importance of going slower, other drivers on the road may not proceed with enough caution. This is when bad things can happen to people who are trying to do the right thing and drive safely.

When inclement weather hits, drivers must proceed safely and take necessary caution behind the wheel. This obligation means more in the context of commercial trucks, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers that can weigh 80,000 pounds and inflict serious damage on cars they strike. Obvious precautions include reducing speed and turning on your lights. The failure to act reasonably under the circumstances is a legal concept known as negligence. The law places a responsibility on everyone to act reasonably. Thus, if another driver hit you but it was not your fault, you can hold the at-fault driver responsible for negligent conduct.

Federal truck drivers have additional obligations when operating their vehicles during bad weather. Interstate trucking companies and their drivers must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The federal trucking regulations specifically discuss periods of bad weather, and steps truck drivers must take when facing these conditions. The rule is contained in Section 392.14 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Specifically, truck drivers must use “extreme caution” when operating a vehicle in “hazardous conditions” which can include:

Published on: August 27, 2020

Two Memphis Intersections Among Nation’s Most Dangerous

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

Two Memphis intersections have landed on a list of the riskiest roads in the United States. Lyxt, a company providing video telematics, data and analytics for commercial and public sector fleets, released a list of the top 10 intersections with the highest observed driver cell phone use, and two within the Memphis city limits made the list. Lytx provides dash camera technology to commercial trucks and 18-wheeler fleets. In 2018, the company identified over 1.3 million instances of cell phone use within trucks who used the technology.

The two Memphis intersections on the list are Compress Drive and S. Lauderdale Street (area code 38016), and E. Holmes Road and Lamar Avenue (area code 38118). Compress and Lauderdale ranked number 1 on their list of riskiest roads in the United States. This intersection is close to a FedEx Ground Hub, located at 555 Compress Drive, Memphis, TN 38106, meaning lots of commercial vehicles enter this area on a daily basis. Holmes and Lamar ranked number 4 on the list. This section is also known to Memphians as a high-traffic area.

According to Lytx, drivers who use handheld cell phones while behind the wheel are approximately 50% more likely to be involved in an accident compared to drivers who do not. Lyxt’s data appears in line with data collected by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): cell phone use and texting while driving significantly increase the odds of a collision. Per federal regulators, the odds of being involved in an accident, unintended lane change, or near-crash are 23.2 times higher for commercial drivers who text while driving. When reading or sending a text, drivers tend to take their eyes off the road for around 4.6 seconds – which can equate to driving the length of a football field at 55 miles per hour.

Published on: February 26, 2020

What to Do After an 18-Wheeler Accident

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

The time after an accident with another vehicle can be chaotic, not to mention stressful. Being involved in a wreck can affect your life in a split second. Consider medical bills, missing work, your damaged car – not to mention the physical injuries you may suffer. The chances of serious injury can increase with the presence of an 18-wheeler truck or big rig. The average sedan weighs between 3,500-4,000 pounds. The average 18-wheeler, on the other hand, weighs 80,000 pounds. In a car vs. 18-wheeler crash, the smaller car normally bears the brunt of the impact.

If you have been involved in a car accident with a commercial truck, here are some steps you can take:

Call the Police

Published on: November 11, 2019

School Bus Accidents in Tennessee

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

School buses are trusted with the most precious of cargo – our children. Each day, parents across Tennessee put their faith in school bus drivers to safely transport their children to and from school. One of the most dreaded phone calls a parent can get is that their child was injured in a school bus wreck.

School buses can be considered “common carriers” by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. A school bus is defined as “a passenger motor vehicle which is designed or used to carry more than 10 passengers in addition to the driver, and which the Secretary of Transportation determines is likely to be significantly used for the purpose of transporting pre-primary, primary, or secondary school students from home to school or school to home.” When a school bus crash results in numerous injuries or deaths, federal agencies typically get involved to conduct investigations into how and why it happened, and lessons others can learn to prevent tragedies in the future.

In Tennessee, school districts can handle their own transportation or contract out the service to a third party company. For example, Shelby County Schools contracts with Durham School Services. This private company is tasked with maintaining the bus fleet and hiring drivers. In contract, in Jackson, TN, school bus operations are handled by the Jackson Madison County School System. When pursuing a case involving a school bus accident, an important consideration is whether your claim is against a private company or governmental entity.

Published on: September 6, 2019

Truck Accidents Caused by Driver Fatigue and Drowsiness

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

One of the main causes of big rig truck and 18-wheeler crashes is driver fatigue. Unfortunately, Tennessee is no stranger to driver fatigue trucking accidents. In June 2019, a man pumping gas in Rutherford County was killed when a semi-truck driver fell asleep at the wheel. The trucker crashed into a pickup truck, hit a diesel tank at a convenient store and flipped over, causing it to catch fire before then hitting two more cars and the victim, who was fueling his vehicle. Tragic accidents like this Murfreesboro truck wreck illustrate the dangers of driving while tired or fatigued.

The National Transportation Safety Board is a federal agency charged with the task of investigating accidents, determining their causes, and making recommendation to improve safety within the transportation industry. The NTSB has estimated that driver fatigue plays a role in nearly 30-40% of commercial truck crashes. Science concludes that tired individuals are more prone to making mistakes. A recent AAA study found that drivers who get even 1 hour less sleep than normal have an increased crash risk. Drivers who only get 4-5 hours of sleep exhibit some of the same risks as one driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit of intoxication.

What constitutes driver fatigue, you may ask? A number of conditions can lead to driver fatigue. Common examples include the lack of sleep or driving too long of a shift, which could lead to lower reaction times and lapses in judgment. Since commercial trucks can weigh nearly 80,000 pounds and transport dangerous chemicals, getting proper rest should be of utmost importance. However, some trucking carriers put pressure on their drivers to make as many deliveries as quickly as possible, and the only way to comply with such strict deadlines could mean foregoing sleep and rest breaks.

Published on: July 2, 2019

Hiring a Lawyer After a Truck Accident

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

You’ve been involved in an accident with a commercial truck or 18-wheeler. Now what?

Each year, there are nearly 450,000 crashes involving big trucks and buses in the United States. They can happen anywhere – highway, interstate, rural road, residential street, etc. Accidents involving big trucks are rarely straight-forward, even if it may seem that way. Special considerations will apply in a commercial truck accident case, which is why it is recommended to seek legal advice as soon after the accident as possible so you can know your rights. An experienced lawyer can guide you through the legal process and take steps at the beginning of your case to ensure things go smoothly later on.

How can the right truck wreck lawyer help you? Consider these examples:

Published on: May 14, 2019

What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover for Truck Drivers?

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

iStock-921335184 On the job injuries are an unfortunate fact of life. This is why most states have laws requiring companies with five or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage, sometimes referred to as workman’s comp. If you are a commercial truck driver injured on the job, you may qualify for benefits under your employer’s coverage. Workers’ compensation laws are created and administered at the state level, and it is a specialized area of personal injury law. Below are common questions our firm has been asked by injured 18-wheeler drivers and passengers.

Who Is Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

Whether you are covered by workers’ compensation or not first can depend on your employment status. Independent contractors may not be covered. If you are an owner/operator, you may have occupational insurance, which differs from workers’ compensation administered at the state level. If you are covered by your employer’s policy, you can be covered for injuries that occur in the course and scope of employment. The most common example is a truck accident, which could be a single car accident or multi-vehicle pileup. You could also assert a claim if you get hurt after a slip and fall, either on the truck or someone else’s property.

Published on: April 1, 2019

New Truck Accident Statistics Released

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

Each year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) releases its Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts. In March 2019, the FMCSA released its report for accidents in 2017. In compiling its report, FMCSA regulators research accidents involving vehicles such as 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, buses (including school buses), passenger transport vans, and other commercial vehicles, with “large truck” being defined as a truck weighing more than 10,000 pounds and a “bus” defined as any vehicle designed to transport 9 or more people, including the driver.

The report analyzes statistics and reports on the total number of accidents, number of vehicles involved in crashes, number of individuals involved, injuries, fatalities, contributing factors, and more. Ultimately, the goal is to identify trends and reduce bad outcomes from taking place in the future.

Key Truck and Bus Wreck Statistics Released in the New Report

Published on: March 12, 2019

Knee Injuries from Truck and 18-Wheeler Crashes

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

iStock-1000963578-Large If you are involved in any type of motor vehicle accident, all bets are off when it comes to injuries. You can walk away unscathed or not make it out alive. If you are fortunate enough to survive the crash, you can have minor cuts and bruises, broken bones, or more traumatic and permanent injuries. Some of the more severe injuries one can suffer in a car accident involve one’s knees.

Each day, knee pain affects millions across the United States. Suffering from a knee injury can cause intense pain and severely affect your quality of life, including limiting your ability to go to work, complete basic household tasks, and participate in hobbies or extracurricular activities.

Those who suffer pain as a result of being involved in an accident have a right to be seen by a doctor. If you experience any of the following symptoms after a car accident, you may need to be checked out by the doctor.

Published on: November 28, 2018

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Truck Accident?

By Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC

18-wheeler wrecks are some of the most devastating out there today. While any type of motor vehicle accident can cause someone involved to get hurt, serious injuries are more common to arise when at least one vehicle involved is a big rig truck. Whether it’s the heavy weight, size, or force of impact, it is not uncommon for truck wreck victims to get hurt. If you or a loved one is going through the aftermath of one of these accidents, undoubtedly there is a lot going through your head. When can you get back to work? When will you get better? Who will take care of household responsibilities? Who will pay for medical bills?

While all of this is going through your head, you should first realize time is not always on your side. All states have strict statutes of limitation within which a lawsuit must be filed. Further, big trucking companies often begin investigating the accident almost immediately, which means they can start gathering evidence and building their defense. Why should you get a lawyer after an 18-wheeler accident? Consider the following ways in which an experienced attorney can help you.

Identify All Liable Parties