Were you hurt in a collision with an 18-wheeler or another commercial vehicle in Memphis, Tennessee? A Memphis commercial vehicle accident lawyer at Alders & Lewellyn, PLLC can fight for the compensation you need. Call (901) 602-5700 for a free consultation.
The company that owns the vehicle may be responsible for your damages, in addition to the at-fault driver. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to investigate your accident and identify the parties who may be liable for your injuries.
Why Choose Alders & Lewellyn, PLLC for Help After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Memphis?
A crash with a commercial vehicle usually involves a company, a driver, and at least one large insurer. Each has its own interests, and none of them is looking out for you. Your Memphis commercial vehicle accident attorney will look out for your interests and seek to maximize the compensation you recover.
Memphis, TN clients continue to choose Alders & Lewellyn, PLLC because:
- We are exclusively dedicated to personal injury law, especially car and truck accidents.
- We have decades of combined experience going up against insurers.
- We have recovered over $100 million for injured clients in Tennessee.
- We take accident cases on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover for you.
- Clients have rated our firm five stars on Google, and we have over 560 reviews.
Call today to talk with a Memphis personal injury lawyer who will listen to your story before telling you what it is worth.
What Is a Commercial Vehicle Accident?
A commercial vehicle accident is any crash involving a vehicle used for business. Generally, these vehicles are larger than traditional passenger vehicles, such as an 18-wheeler, and pose major risks in an accident.
Common examples include:
- Semi-trucks
- Box trucks
- Delivery vans
- Dump trucks
- Cement mixers
- Tow trucks
- Buses
- Utility trucks
Company cars driven by employees on the job can also be considered commercial vehicles. The important factor in these cases is that an employer may share liability for their employee’s negligence in causing a crash.
Insurance is another important issue in these cases. Tennessee law requires drivers to carry at least $25,000 in liability coverage per injured person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. But federal rules require trucking companies that haul freight across state lines to carry far more, generally starting at $750,000 for common freight.
How Much Is My Memphis Commercial Vehicle Accident Case Worth?
No two cases are alike, and anyone who gives you a number before reviewing your records is merely guessing.
The value of a commercial vehicle claim depends on several things:
- How serious your injuries are
- How long recovery takes
- Whether you can return to work, and in what capacity
- The amount of medical care you need, now and in the future
- Who was at fault
- The available insurance
- The strength of the evidence
- Tennessee’s damages limits
An experienced Memphis personal injury attorney will help you understand the potential value of your case during a free consultation and consult experts in medicine and finance to help you flesh out the full worth of your case. Reach out to us today to learn more.
Common Commercial Vehicle Accident Injuries in Memphis, TN
Truck and commercial vehicle crashes often cause serious harm, and some injuries do not show up right away.
We pursue compensation for injuries including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Whiplash
- Herniated discs
- Post-traumatic stress
Each of these can mean surgery, therapy, time away from work, and changes to how you live. If you are not sure whether an injury is related to the crash, tell us anyway.
What Causes Commercial Vehicle Crashes in Tennessee?
Commercial crashes are usually preventable. They are typically caused by driver error or decisions made by the company to speed up deliveries and maximize profit.
The most common reasons include:
- Fatigue
- Distraction from phones, dispatch screens, and navigation systems.
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Poor maintenance causing worn brakes, bald tires, and burned-out lights
- Improper loading
- Inadequate training
- Impaired driving
Federal rules limit how long truck drivers can drive and work, but drivers still push past those limits. Companies are generally responsible for the actions of employees acting within the scope of their jobs.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for My Tennessee Commercial Vehicle Crash?
In many commercial vehicle cases, more than one party can be held liable. Each party typically has its own insurance, which can increase the overall value of your claim.
Depending on the facts, responsible parties may include:
- The driver for their own negligence
- The employer or company that employed the driver
- A maintenance contractor that missed a dangerous defect
- A cargo loader or shipper that poorly secured freight
- A parts manufacturer that made a defective tire or brake system
Your attorney will identify all parties who share liability for your accident and ensure they pay for their share of negligence.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Commercial Vehicle Collision in Memphis?
Commercial vehicle injuries are often severe, and the costs can produce years of health challenges and financial strain. A claim can seek two kinds of damages to address these harms and mitigate them.
Economic damages cover the direct financial losses from the crash, including:
- Medical bills
- Future medical care
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-economic damages cover the personal toll of an accident, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Physical impairment
Tennessee limits non-economic damages in most cases to $750,000, but the limit can be higher for catastrophic injuries. Punitive damages may be available in rare cases to punish an at-fault party for extreme misconduct like drunk driving or willful safety violations.
What if a Loved One Died in a Commercial Vehicle Crash?
Tennessee law creates a right to file a wrongful death claim so that families can seek accountability. Through these cases, family members may be able to seek compensation for funeral and burial costs, medical bills before death, the income and support the person would have provided, and the loss of companionship.
Who can bring the claim and how damages are divided depend on who survived the person who died. We can explain how it works for your family.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for My Commercial Vehicle Accident in Tennessee?
It is possible. Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault rule, where a jury or insurer assigns a percentage of blame to each person involved. Here, your compensation will be reduced by your share of fault.
For example, if you are found 20% at fault on a $100,000 claim, you would recover $80,000. If you are found 50% or more at fault, you generally cannot recover anything.
Trucking companies and their insurers may blame you out of the blue, even if you didn’t share fault for the accident. You should view this as a negotiating tactic, not necessarily the truth. An experienced attorney can help you determine if you share blame and push back on accusations that don’t match reality.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Tennessee?
Tennessee generally gives you one year from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Courts rarely make exceptions, but there may be some for cases involving minors or government-owned commercial vehicles. For the latter, there may be special procedural requirements as well.
If you miss the deadline, the judge will likely dismiss any case you file and bar you from seeking damages. An experienced attorney can help you determine the deadlines in your case. Reach out to us today to get started.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney in Memphis?
Most commercial crash attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront legal fees, and you only pay if your lawyer wins money for you through a settlement or jury verdict. The attorney’s fee is a fixed percentage of the total recovery.
Case litigation expenses are generally handled separately from attorney fees.
Building a strong commercial vehicle claim requires substantial financial resources, including costs for:
- Accident reconstruction experts
- Medical expert testimony
- Obtaining official records and reports
- Court filing fees
- Witness depositions
You should also confirm whether you are responsible for case expenses if your claim does not win a financial recovery.
At Alders & Lewellyn, PLLC, we operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you owe us no legal fees unless we recover financial compensation for you. Reach out today to learn more about our fee agreements during a free consultation.
Contact a Memphis Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A crash involving a commercial vehicle can change everything. You should not have to fight for compensation for crash injuries that are not your fault.
At Alders & Lewellyn, PLLC, we are ready to build your case and seek maximum compensation for your losses. Contact our Memphis commercial vehicle accident attorneys today for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
