Truck Accident Lawyers in Portland, TN
Legal advocacy after a truck collision from our Portland truck accident attorneys
An accident with a commercial truck can be devastating. From severe injuries to serious property damage, trucks can cause catastrophic accidents, especially when negligence is involved. If you or someone you love was injured in a commercial truck accident, talk to the Portland truck accident lawyers at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm today. We are here to help you fight for the compensation to which you’re entitled.
What types of truck accidents do your Portland lawyers handle?
Our Portland truck accident lawyers handle a wide variety of accidents, including the following:
- Jackknife accidents: This type of accident occurs when a truck's trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the cab, resembling the shape of a folding jackknife. Jackknife accidents can result from various factors, such as braking too hard or driving at high speeds in poor weather conditions.
- Rollover accidents: Rollover accidents happen when a truck tips onto its side or roof. These accidents can be caused by factors like excessive speed, sharp turns, overloaded cargo, or uneven distribution of weight.
- Underride accidents: An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a truck. These accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or fatalities for occupants of the smaller vehicle. Underride guards, which are safety features installed on trucks, aim to prevent or mitigate the severity of underride accidents.
- Override accidents: In an override accident, a truck collides with a smaller vehicle from behind, riding over it due to the difference in height between the truck's bumper and the smaller vehicle's hood. These accidents often result in severe injuries or fatalities for occupants of the smaller vehicle.
- Blind spot accidents: Trucks have large blind spots, known as "no-zones," where other vehicles are not easily visible to the truck driver. Accidents can occur when vehicles enter or travel in these blind spots, leading to collisions during lane changes, turns, or merging maneuvers.
- Cargo spills: Improper loading or securing of cargo can lead to cargo spills or load shifts, causing accidents and endangering other vehicles on the road.
- Brake failure accidents: Brake failure in a truck can lead to catastrophic accidents, especially when traveling at high speeds or on steep inclines. Brake failure can occur due to mechanical issues, inadequate maintenance, or driver error.
- Drowsy driving accidents: Truck drivers may operate their vehicles while fatigued, which can impair their judgment, reaction times, and ability to control the truck, increasing the risk of accidents.
If you’ve been involved in any type of truck accident, contact the Gladiators and Portland personal injury lawyers at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm today.
What types of injuries happen from Portland truck accidents?
Truck accidents, unfortunately, can be quite severe due to the size and weight of the vehicles involved. Some common types of injuries seen in truck accidents include:
- Broken bones: The significant force of impact can fracture bones anywhere in the body, with limbs, ribs, and facial bones being especially vulnerable.
- Head and brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a major concern, ranging from mild concussions to life-threatening damage.
- Spinal cord injuries: These can cause partial or complete paralysis, depending on the location and severity of the damage.
- Internal injuries: The impact can damage organs like the lungs, spleen, or liver, leading to internal bleeding and other complications.
- Amputations: In severe cases, crushed limbs or extensive tissue damage might necessitate amputation.
- Soft tissue injuries: These encompass sprains, strains, and tears in muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Common areas affected are the neck, back, shoulders, and knees.
- Burns: Accidents involving fires or explosions can cause burn injuries.
- Psychological trauma: The emotional impact of a truck accident can be significant, leading to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Wrongful death: The impact of a truck accident can also lead to loss of life.
If you've been involved in a truck accident, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention to promptly assess and treat any injuries and document them for future legal action.
What causes Portland truck accidents?
Truck accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, making it difficult to pinpoint a single culprit. However, here are some of the most common contributing elements:
- Distracted driving: Using cell phones, eating, or engaging in other activities that divert attention away from the road.
- Fatigue: Drowsiness due to long hours, sleep apnea, or other factors can impair judgment and reaction time.
- Impaired driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or even certain medications can significantly affect driving ability.
- Speeding and aggressive driving: Exceeding speed limits or engaging in reckless maneuvers like tailgating or unsafe lane changes drastically increases the risk of accidents.
- Inexperienced or inadequately trained drivers: Drivers who lack proper training or experience might not be equipped to handle challenging situations on the road.
- Improper maintenance: Neglected maintenance can lead to mechanical failures like brake problems, tire blowouts, or steering malfunctions.
- Overloaded cargo: Exceeding weight limits can affect handling and stability, particularly during turns or in poor weather conditions.
- Defective equipment: Faulty brakes, tires, lights, or other components can contribute to accidents.
- Poor weather conditions: Rain, snow, fog, or high winds can reduce visibility and make roads slippery, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Road hazards: Potholes, uneven surfaces, or inadequate signage can contribute to accidents, especially for untrained drivers.
- Traffic congestion: Heavy traffic can create stress and frustration, leading to aggressive driving and poor decision-making.
- Unfamiliarity with the route: Drivers who are not familiar with the roads may be more prone to making mistakes or misjudging distances.
- Blind spots: Large trucks have extensive blind spots. Other drivers need to be aware and stay out of these zones.
It's important to remember that these factors often interact with and compound each other. For example, a fatigued driver speeding in bad weather conditions is significantly more likely to cause an accident compared to someone driving attentively and cautiously in good weather.
Who is liable for my Portland truck accident?
Determining liability in truck accidents can be a complicated process and often involves multiple parties, including:
- Truck driver:If the driver's negligence (distracted driving, speeding, etc.) caused the accident, they could be held liable.
- Trucking company: As the driver's employer, the trucking company may share liability if they failed to properly maintain the truck, pressured the driver to violate safety regulations, or hired an unqualified driver.
- Other drivers: If another driver's actions contributed to the accident, they could be partially or fully liable.
- Cargo loaders: Improperly loaded or secured cargo can shift and cause accidents, making the loading company liable.
- Truck and parts manufacturers: If a mechanical failure due to a defective part caused the accident, the manufacturer could be held responsible.
At Rocky McElhaney Law Firm, we launch an investigation into your truck accident to identify all liable parties and hold them accountable for the harm you’ve suffered.
Do you have a Portland truck accident attorney near me?
Rocky McElhaney Law Firm has several locations throughout Tennessee to better serve our clients. We can also schedule phone or video consultations if you are too ill or injured to visit us.
Portland truck accident lawyers fighting for you
Take control of your recovery today. If you've been injured in a truck accident, don't face the aftermath alone. At Rocky McElhaney Law Firm our experienced team of Portland truck accident attorneys is here to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Call our offices or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation. Your rights matter, and we are here to protect them.