Side-Impact Truck Accidents in Nashville

Semi-trucks and other heavy commercial vehicles are a common sight in Nashville. Although these vehicles are important to Tennessee’s economy, they also pose a danger to others on the road. Because these trucks are so much larger and weigh so much more than most vehicles, when they are involved in an accident, serious damage is possible.

When you or a loved one has been involved in a side-impact truck accident in Nashville, you know that there is much more than the physical damage to contend with. These are emotional and traumatic events that can take a toll on you mentally. Severe collisions also come with many costs and a variety of administrative and logistical responsibilities.

The local truck accident attorneys at Ponce Law may be able to help you after such a wreck. They could assist you with identifying the people responsible for causing the crash, calculating the damages you incurred, and aggressively pursuing justice and fair compensation for what you lost.

Frequent Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents

Side-impact, or “T-bone” truck wrecks in Nashville can be a particularly dangerous type of collision. In most vehicles, the frame of the car, the airbags, and other safety features are primarily designed to defend against force applied to the front or rear of the vehicle. In a T-bone crash, however, the truck strikes the side of the car, presenting most of the force where the struck car is weakest and potentially pinning the car’s occupants inside.

These types of collisions could occur in any number of scenarios, but some of the most common factors that contribute to side-impact wrecks include:

• The truck driver operating the semi-truck without proper rest
• The failure to yield the right of way at an intersection, stop light, or when two lanes merge together
• The truck driver operating the semi-truck while under the influence of alcohol, distracted, or texting while driving
• The truck driver losing control of the vehicle due to brake failure, jack-knifing, or a shift in the semi-truck’s load or cargo

Regardless of the cause, side-impact truck crashes can lead to severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, nerve damage, paralysis, compound fractures, or severe lacerations or burns.

Determining Liability for T-Bone Truck Wrecks

Another difficulty with side-impact tractor-trailer accidents in Nashville is that there are numerous people or entities that could bear legal and financial responsibility for the wreck; some of these parties could include:

• The truck driver – If they did not operate the semi-truck in accordance with the rules of the road, such as by driving drunk, speeding, or driving while distracted
• The trucking company – In some situations, the trucking company can be held responsible for the actions of the driver, or it may have failed to properly train the driver or had policies in place that encouraged or incentivized dangerous practices
• The truck manufacturer – If the accident was caused by a fault in the design or production of the semi-truck
• The cargo company – In some situations, a third party may be responsible for loading the truck’s cargo; if done improperly or in an unsafe manner, the cargo could shift or fall off the truck and lead to a wreck

In many situations, identifying the person who ultimately caused the accident is not possible at the scene of the crash. However, an experienced lawyer could help you collect and analyze the appropriate evidence to identify what caused the accident and who is ultimately responsible.

Contact a Nashville Attorney After a T-Bone Crash With a Commercial Vehicle

Side-impact truck accidents in Nashville are often catastrophic. You or a loved one may have received serious injuries that could impact the quality of the rest of your life. You do not deserve to be the burden of those consequences yourself.

Ponce Law could help you receive justice and compensation for your losses by investigating the crash, identifying the responsible parties, and fighting to protect and assert your legal rights in court, if necessary.

The Tennessean’s Best of Music City Awards has repeatedly voted Ponce Law Nashville’s Best Law Firm. Schedule an initial consultation today to learn more about how we may be able to help you.