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PRACTICE AREAS: Pain Pump Litigation OFFICE: MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: CONVENIENT PARKING:
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TRACTOR-TRAILER ACCIDENTS Each year trucking accidents are responsible for an alarming number of fatal or severe injuries, often leading to overwhelming financial and emotional burdens for victims and their families. There are special safety laws, rules, and procedures that apply to trucks over and above those that apply to cars. Every year there are nearly 500,000 tractor-trailer accidents in the United States. Approximately 5,000 of these tractor-trailer accidents are fatal. In fact, 1 out of every 8 fatal auto accidents is caused by a collision with a large truck. State and federal law regulates how trucks are maintained through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Oftentimes, freight, driver fatigue, and speed are factors in truck accidents. The federal government requires tractor-trailer truck drivers and other large truck operators to acquire a commercial license and undergo limited drug and alcohol testing. Many truckers are employed by large corporations that may put delivery of their goods ahead of your safety. Because of the enormous size and weight, large semi-trucks and tractor-trailers pose extensive inherent risks to other vehicles on the road. These trucks have large blind spots and difficulty stopping quickly, making smaller passenger vehicles hard to detect and avoid. Tractor-trailers are also prone to overturning on curves due to their high centers of gravity, and they often carry hazardous cargos that can be extremely dangerous if spilled. Many times trucking accidents involving tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles cause severe, life-threatening injuries or death to those involved. Obtaining financial compensation for injuries resulting from these types of accidents can often be a complex task due to the immediate involvement of insurance adjusters and other professionals working to protect the vast financial interests of the trucking company. The mechanical aspects of the accident can also be difficult to understand by someone without specialized training or experience in tractor-trailer operation and trucking accidents. Actions taken soon after the accident typically have a dramatic effect on the outcome. It is important to preserve physical evidence, investigate the accident scene, and take witness statements. Photographs of the accident scene should be taken immediately. Physical evidence such as skid marks and debris must be evaluated by a well-qualified accident reconstructionist as soon as possible. Drivers are required to fill out vehicle inspection reports. These reports can be crucial evidence that can help our experienced counsel reconstruct the accident by establishing the condition of the truck. If you or someone you love has been injured in a trucking accident, contact us or call us at 865-522-4191 for a free telephone consultation.
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