Bristol Attorneys Seek Damages for Truck Driver Negligence

Holding truckers accountable for serious accidents

Trucks are the biggest things on the road. Truck drivers must be precise in their operation of their vehicles or they risk tipping over, jackknifing or running cars off the road. Drivers must take care to inspect their trucks daily and ensure that all cargo is loaded properly. Additionally, truckers must comply with rules limiting their hours of service and a variety of other regulations. These rules exist because of the extreme danger posed by even a minor mechanical issue on a truck or a simple mistake by a truck driver. At the firm of Massengill, Caldwell & Coughlin, P.C., we take truck driver negligence seriously and strive to hold negligent drivers accountable for the damages their mistakes cause.

Understanding common causes of tractor trailer accidents

Truck accidents in the Bristol area have many causes. Because trucks are large and complicated machines operated by humans and pulling heavy loads, every aspect of maintenance and operation must be done competently. Some of the most common causes of truck wrecks in Tennessee include:

• Poorly secured loads. Trucks carry large amounts of weight. When loads are not secured properly, they can move during transit. This is called load-shift and leads to trucks tipping over when they turn. In other cases, loads may be improperly balanced. Putting too much weight in one section of the truck makes it more likely to tip over or blow out a tire. A truck that overturns on a highway often creates a pileup by blocking multiple lanes. Truckers are responsible for making sure cargo is loaded properly. When they don’t, we hold them responsible for the consequences.
• Distracted driving. In recent years, we have all become aware of the dangers caused by using a cell phone while driving. Many truckers are caught talking on their phone or even sending text messages while they are supposed to be focused on the road. Looking down for even a second can make it nearly impossible for a trucker to stop their vehicle in time when they finally spot a dangerous situation. We represent clients who have been injured by distracted truck drivers.
• Exhaustion. Truck drivers often work long hours. Many are pressured by their companies to ignore federal regulations and work long shifts without required breaks. Fatigued truck drivers are a major hazard to everyone else on the road. Our attorneys work to hold these drivers and their employers responsible after an accident.

Poor maintenance, defective parts and violations of traffic laws also lead to truck wrecks. Regardless of the reason an 18 wheeler wrecked, our attorneys will find the cause of the accident and work with you through a settlement or litigation.

Helping truck accident victims get justice and compensation

We can help after your Bristol-area accident. Our attorneys will collect, review and preserve evidence. Using that evidence, we work in conjunction with accident reconstruction experts to determine what happened and who is responsible for your injuries. The lawyers at our firm have decades of experience negotiating settlements for injured clients and litigating truck accident cases in courtrooms throughout Tennessee. We help injury victims get compensation after truck wrecks. We also help families get justice if they have lost a loved one in an accident involving a truck.

Trust us to hold truckers liable for their negligence after an accident

Our firm believes that truck drivers and trucking companies have a duty to operate as safely as possible. When innocent people are harmed through truck driver negligence, it is our privilege to be able to represent them in court. We take on any trucking company or insurer, regardless of their size. Our attorneys work to get justice for our clients and to make the roads safer for everyone. For an initial consultation, contact us online or call us today at 423-797-6022 .