Causes of Trucking Accidents in Greeneville

A commercial truck accident can result in painful injuries, missed time at work, and life-changing financial losses. If a negligent truck driver or other party was at fault for the accident, you shouldn’t bear the burden of their poor decisions.

The dedicated Greeneville truck accident attorneys of The Terry Law Firm can help you pursue fair compensation for your losses in a personal injury claim. Contact us for a free initial consultation to learn more about how we can support you during this challenging time.

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Greeneville

Some of the most common factors in truck crashes include:

• Driver fatigue – When truck drivers work too long without adequate rest, chronic drowsiness can significantly increase their risk of causing truck accidents.
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions – Truck drivers who speed or drive too fast for road conditions often fail to leave enough time or distance to avoid devastating accidents.
• Overloaded trucks – If tractor-trailers are overloaded with cargo, the excess weight can affect the truck’s traction and stability, making loss-of-control truck accidents more likely.
• Improperly secured or balanced loads – When loads are unbalanced or poorly secured, displaced cargo can shift the truck’s center of gravity, increasing the risk of loss-of-control or cargo spill wrecks.
• Bad brakes – If trucks have bad brakes that fail in transit, truck drivers can easily lose control and cause catastrophic accidents with runaway trucks.
• Impaired driving – Truck drivers who are drunk or impaired by drugs can’t drive safely. Impaired reaction time, judgment, and coordination make truck accidents substantially more likely.
• Distracted driving – Text messages, vehicle controls, eating, and other distractions can cause truck drivers to overlook critical changes in traffic flow and collide with other vehicles.
• Following too closely – When truck drivers tailgate or follow others too closely, it can trigger rear-end collisions.
• Failure to check blind spots – Large trucks have extensive blind spots that require constant monitoring. When truckers fail to check their blind spots, they can overlook other vehicles and crash.
• Poor driver training – Inexperienced or unqualified drivers are less likely to understand the nuances of safe truck driving and substantially more likely to cause truck accidents.
• Poor maintenance – When drivers or owners neglect to keep up with routine truck maintenance, run-down components can fail in transit and contribute to serious loss-of-control accidents.
• Defective roadways – Inadequate drainage, missing signs, and large potholes on neglected roads can cause tire blowouts, loss of traction, and other issues that lead to truck accidents.

Who’s Responsible for a Truck Crash in Greeneville?

If you suspect you have grounds for a truck accident claim in Greeneville, it’s crucial to determine who was at fault so you can hold them financially accountable. Depending on the specifics of your situation, any of the following parties could be at fault for a truck accident:

• The truck driver, if they were distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent
• The truck owner, if the driver is not an owner-operator
• Other negligent motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians
• The trucking company that hired the driver or owned the truck
• A negligent truck repair shop
• Cargo-loading teams or companies
• Government agencies responsible for road maintenance
• Negligent truck parts manufacturers

Federal Regulations on Drive Time

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposes the following hours of service regulations on the trucking industry to help prevent drowsy driving truck accidents:

• An 11-hour driving limit – Truck drivers may not drive more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time.
• The 14-hour maximum – Truck drivers may not continue to drive after being on duty for more than 14 consecutive hours unless extreme weather or road conditions would make it unsafe to stop.
• 30-minute break requirements – Truck drivers must take 30-minute rest breaks after driving for eight consecutive hours without at least 30 continuous minutes of rest time.
• The 60/70-hour workweek limit – Truck drivers may not be on duty for more than 60 hours in a consecutive seven-day period or 70 hours in a consecutive eight-day period. Truck drivers can reset their seven- or eight-day periods with at least 34 consecutive hours spent off duty.

Greeneville Truck Accident Statistics

According to data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security:

• 12,189 large truck crashes occurred throughout Tennessee in one recent year
• 163 large truck crashes resulted in fatalities.
• Approximately 27 percent of all large truck crashes (3,307) occurred in rural areas of Tennessee, while roughly 73 percent (8,880) occurred in urban areas.
• 4,353 (36 percent) Tennessee truck accidents occurred on interstates
• 3,017 (25 percent) occurred at intersections.
• Greene County, home of Greeneville, TN, saw 155 large truck crashes, including three that resulted in fatalities.

How The Terry Law Firm Can Help

If you were involved in a truck accident in Greeneville, The Terry Law Firm can help you seek justice and fair compensation for your losses by:

• Explaining your legal rights, the truck accident laws that may apply to your case, the potential value of your case, and the parties who may be financially responsible for your losses
• Thoroughly investigating the truck accident to identify and preserve useful evidence, interview eyewitnesses, and determine who was at fault
• Managing claim paperwork, documents, and legal deadlines on your behalf
• Communicating with insurance adjusters and attorneys on your behalf
• Negotiating aggressively throughout settlement talks to demand the fair compensation you deserve for your losses
• Taking your case to court to seek money through a favorable trial verdict if the insurance company refuses to agree to a reasonable settlement

Talk to a Greeneville Truck Wreck Lawyer Now

To discuss the details of your Greeneville truck accident case with attentive and knowledgeable lawyers at The Terry Law Firm, contact us today to get started with your free initial case review.