Rogersville Truck Accident Attorney

We’re With You For The Long Haul

Any kind of traffic accident is dangerous and can leave victims seriously injured. The additional power of a semi-truck can significantly increase the potential damage in a collision. The results may be severe injuries or death in a fatal truck accident, so it is important to contact an experienced attorney right away to get the representation you deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident with an 18-wheeler or other large commercial truck, Stapleton Law Office in Rogersville is here to help. We work with commercial drivers and the victims of truck accidents in eastern Tennessee by seeking to get the resolutions our wrongfully injured clients need and the recovery that they deserve.

Holding large trucking companies responsible for their negligence for over 35 years has given founding attorney Mark Stapleton and his team the opportunity to gain an in depth understanding of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulations that apply to the commercial trucking industry. Securing millions of dollars against large trucking companies, by trial and by settlement, has given our firm the opportunity to contribute to making our roads a little safer for those who travel them every day.

To get the compensation you need after a collision with a semi-truck, call (423) 418-8469 or contact us online to set up your free consultation.

Dangers of Semi-truck Accidents

There are plenty of reasons why a truck accident can occur and why they tend to be more devastating than an accident in a passenger vehicle. Trucks weigh much more and carry much more force than other motor vehicles. This means they can do extraordinary amounts of damage to passengers when they are involved in a motor vehicle collision.

Accidents can occur for many reasons, including:

• Aggressive driving
• Distracted driving, such as texting and driving
• Exhaustion due to the driver being over their allowed hours of service
• Failure to inspect tires, brake, lights, engine, and other parts of the truck regularly
• Illegal or unsecured loads
• Negligence on the part of the truck driver or the trucking company

As you can see, truck accidents may be caused by parties other than the truck driver alone, which can complicate truck accident claims further.

Types of Truck Accidents

Dump trucks, 18-wheelers, and other heavy trucks are potentially dangerous for several reasons—their size, weight, design, and other features make them especially dangerous and unpredictable during a collision.

Five common truck accident types you should be aware of include:

• Rollover accidents: This is one of the most common—and devastating—types of truck accidents. During such accidents a truck may either rollover completely and tumble or rollover and skid, destroying anything in its path. Rollover accidents are often caused by speeding, sharp turns, and unbalanced cargo loads.
• Head on collisions: It should come as no surprise that being struck head on by a truck can be devastating and tragic. Fortunately, these accidents are rare. A head-on collision occurs when a trucker loses control of their truck, perhaps due to fatigue or alcohol consumption, and swerves into an oncoming vehicle.
• Rear end collisions: While rear end collisions between two vehicles of similar sizes are often minor, that is generally not the case when a heavy truck rear ends a smaller, passenger vehicle. If going fast enough, a semi-truck can demolish a car in its path. Rear end collisions are often caused by distracted driving and poor weather.
• Jackknife accidents: This type of accident occurs when the truck’s cab and trailer fold in on each other in a “V” shape, similar to a jackknife. Jackknife accidents occur when a tractor-trailer’s cab stops suddenly, but the cargo area of the truck continues forward due to the inertia and swings to the side.
• Underride accidents: These accidents occur when a small vehicle, like a car, crashes into the side or rear of a tractor trailer and gets stuck under the trailer. This is one of the most fatal types of truck accidents.

Be Prepared to Be Pressured to Settle

You should consult with a lawyer immediately after being involved in a truck accident. Trucking company representatives and their insurance company agents will try to contact you and get you to negotiate directly with them, but their goal is to mitigate your claim and lower your amount of compensation. These representatives are skilled at negotiation and accident investigation. They will try to persuade you to accept unsatisfactory resolutions, or they will use things that you say or sign against you in the future.

These representatives and agents are employed to save their companies money. Do not take any chances in your case. Contact the Stapleton Law Office right away and protect your rights.

Trust Us to Represent You & Your Interests

At Stapleton Law Office, we have worked with trucking companies and insurance companies that try to get our clients to settle for much less than they are owed. Our firm will protect your rights and help you and your family get back on track.

We offer a free initial consultation in every case so that we can discuss your situation and present you with your best options. Our firm will be honest about your chances for success and the likelihood of getting a good resolution in your case.

Reach out to us today for a free, confidential consultation about your truck accident case. Call us toll free at (423) 418-8469 or contact our firm online.