Being hit by a large commercial truck may be among the most painful experiences of your life – a pain that is likely compounded by justified anger that someone else is to blame for what you’ve suffered.

You deserve to be compensated for your losses, but how can you go up against the powerful trucking companies when you’re trying to get your life back on track? Here’s how: By turning to the professionals at The Terry Law Firm. We’ve been combining small-town values with big-city know-how since 1960, and we’re ready to put that to work for you.

Our firm’s Johnson City truck accident lawyers are ready to fight for the money you need for your medical treatment, lost income, pain, suffering, and more, giving you the time and energy to focus on your health. And what’s more, we can do it without charging you a cent upfront. Instead, you’ll pay us only if we put money back in your pocket first.

There’s nothing to lose, so contact The Terry Law Firm today for a free consultation about your options for pursuing justice in a truck accident case.

Helping Truck Accident Victims in Johnson City, TN

Why You Need The Terry Law Firm After a Johnson City Truck Wreck

Why should you hire a semi-truck accident attorney after a truck wreck in Johnson City? Because:

  • Trucking companies are prepared to defend themselves. The trucking company is often the liable party in these circumstances, and it has the resources to defend itself from liability. Protect your rights by seeking representation from a tractor-trailer accident attorney who can take the fight to them.
  • Truck crash cases are often complex. Truck wrecks are often complex cases involving multiple vehicles and potentially liable parties. Determining who is to blame after such a crash could require a thorough investigation best conducted by a qualified truck accident attorney in Johnson City, TN.
  • Your injuries may be severe. Seeking compensation after any accident is tough. But more severe injuries can make that even harder, especially because the liable party wants to avoid paying a claim.

Don’t take this on alone. At The Terry Law Firm, you’ll find a truck crash attorney in Johnson City, TN, ready to represent you. We take the time to learn the specific details of your case so we can tailor our strategy accordingly.

Common Causes and Types of Semi-Truck Crashes in Johnson City

Truck wrecks may be the result of negligent actions like the following examples:

  • Speeding
  • Lack of truck maintenance
  • Defective parts
  • Intoxication
  • Driver fatigue
  • Not accounting for inclement weather
  • Driving in unfamiliar areas
  • Inexperienced drivers
  • Unsafe maneuvers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studied the causes of truck accidents. Their 2007 Large Truck Crash Causation Study found that truck drivers’ actions or negligence play a role in about 87% of trucking accidents nationwide.

Trucking Routes Through Johnson City: I-26 and US-11E

Johnson City sits along two major freight routes and, as a result, Johnson City truck accident lawyers at The Terry Law Firm have handled numerous cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents along these key roads.

Interstate 26 connects Johnson City with Erwin and Asheville, North Carolina, to the south, while providing access north to Interstate 81 and Kingsport. I-26 carries substantial long-haul tractor-trailer traffic moving between Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas. A Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) corridor study reported that truck traffic accounted for 6 percent of daily vehicle volume on I-26 near Johnson City in 2017. That amounts to roughly 3,850 trucks per day.

U.S. Route 11E links Johnson City with Jonesborough, Greeneville, Morristown, Jefferson City, and Knoxville to the west and the Bristol area to the northeast. TDOT identifies US-11E between Knoxville and the Tri-Cities as one of Tennessee’s key non-interstate routes for truck traffic.

Where Semi-Truck Crashes Tend to Happen Around Johnson City

Several heavily traveled stretches around Johnson City bring tractor-trailers into close contact with other traffic, whether through merges, turns, or general congestion. TDOT has identified traffic-operation or safety concerns at several I-26 interchanges in and around Johnson City. Some areas where truck crashes may be most likely to occur include:

  • I-26 at State of Franklin Road (SR-381): TDOT has identified congestion at this interchange, where vehicles enter and leave I-26 near one of Johnson City’s busiest east-west routes.
  • I-26 at North Roan Street/US-11E: This interchange connects interstate traffic with US-11E and local Johnson City traffic. TDOT reported crossroad traffic of about 23,800 vehicles per day on North Roan Street.
  • I-26 Near East Market Street (SR-91) and East Watauga Avenue/East Unaka Avenue: TDOT identified a traffic bottleneck between the SR-91 and SR-400 interchanges.
  • I-26 at Boones Creek Road (SR-354): This interchange handles traffic entering and leaving I-26 on the north side of Johnson City. TDOT recorded substantial crossroad traffic on Boones Creek Road.
  • I-26 Near Eastern Star Road: TDOT has specifically noted visibility concerns from sun glare in this area.

While I-26 truck accidents can happen anywhere, TDOT has documented specific areas of concern due to heightened risk factors.

Injuries Frequently Suffered in Truck Accidents

Occupants of smaller passenger vehicles are particularly susceptible to catastrophic injuries in crashes involving commercial trucks. A few examples of injuries truck accident victims may sustain include:

  • Joint damage
  • Internal injuries and bleeding
  • Deep cuts and bruises
  • Amputations
  • Burns
  • Wrongful death

Injuries resulting from large truck wrecks are often more severe than those resulting from collisions with smaller vehicles, as the weight of a commercial truck can allow such a vehicle to cause serious harm.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Crash in Johnson City?

You may seek compensation by filing a truck accident claim with the insurance provider of the party who caused your injuries. But first, you must identify who the liable party is. Depending on the circumstances, that might be:

  • The truck driver – Independent contractors are responsible for maintaining their own insurance. If the trucker isn’t employed by a carrier, they might be directly responsible for your injuries.
  • Trucking companies – If the trucker who caused the accident was an employee of a trucking company, their employer could be vicariously liable for the trucker’s negligence. A trucking company might also be independently liable for its own negligence, such as contracting with unsafe drivers, failing to supervise them, or neglecting maintenance on their vehicles.
  • Truck manufacturers and designers – The manufacturers or designers of large commercial trucks may be liable when crashes result from defective components.
  • Cargo loaders – Some crashes result from improperly loaded and secured freight. In such cases, the cargo loading company might bear liability for the crash.
  • Maintenance companies – If flawed maintenance or repairs contributed to the crash, the company responsible for providing those services could be at fault.
  • Other motorists – Another motorist might have caused the dangerous situation that led to the truck crash, making them primarily liable for its outcome.

Some truck wrecks involve multiple liable parties. Our truck accident attorneys in Johnson City, TN, are ready to identify everyone responsible for compensating you.

Unique Evidence Sometimes Available in Truck Crash Cases

Trucking companies often equip their vehicles with electronic data recording units and other such devices, sometimes by state or federal law. These devices may monitor important information about the condition or usage of a company’s trucks.

A trucker may also use an electronic logging device to track when they drive and for how long. In addition, trucking companies usually keep maintenance logs. All these may be sources of evidence that are not available in other motor vehicle wreck cases.

Compensation You Might Be Entitled to in a Truck Accident Claim

You could be owed compensation for the following after a truck accident in Johnson City:

  • Medical treatment
  • Lost wages and future income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Long-term disability
  • Loss of consortium
  • Property damage

Speak with a Johnson City truck accident lawyer at The Terry Law Firm to find out more about your potential compensation in a trucking accident claim.

Where a Washington County Truck Accident Case Is Filed

Under Tennessee Code § 20-4-101, if you need to file a lawsuit arising from a semi-truck crash in Johnson City, you’ll most likely do so at the George Jaynes Justice Center on West Jackson Boulevard in Jonesborough. Tennessee law generally allows civil actions against an individual defendant in the county where the cause of action arose or where the defendant resides. However, different rules may apply if the defendant is a trucking company or other business.

For example, if the trucking company is based outside Tennessee and the damages in your claim are $75,000 or more, 28 USC § 1332 may require you to file your Washington County truck accident case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, located in Greeneville.

If the crash that injured you occurred outside of Washington County, you may have to file a lawsuit in another county’s court. The Terry Law Firm can help determine the proper venue for your case and ensure the paperwork is filed properly.

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Truck Accident Case in Tennessee

In Tennessee, you have only a year from the time of a truck wreck to take legal action. Missing this deadline could bar you from recovering compensation. Schedule a meeting with our semi-truck accident lawyers as soon as possible to avoid this possibility.

Get Help from Our Johnson City Truck Crash Lawyers Now

Recovering after a truck accident requires prioritizing your health whenever possible. You would not be doing yourself any favors by attempting to pursue compensation on your own. Instead, put your case in the hands of a capable truck accident attorney in Johnson City, TN. Let The Terry Law Firm seek justice for you.

Contact us today to get started with a free consultation, and find out what we can do for you.

When you file a truck accident claim, you may be able to recover compensation for various expenses and losses you incurred due to the crash. Your case may provide you with financial recovery for your:

  • Medical and rehabilitation expenses
  • Lost income
  • Lost future earning potential and job benefits
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost enjoyment or quality of life
  • Vehicle repairs or reimbursement of your car’s value

Yes, it’s crucial to call the police at the scene of a truck accident. The police can investigate the crash scene, gather information from the truck driver and other motorists and eyewitnesses, and prepare an accident report. Police crash reports often provide critical information for truck accident claims.

Other steps you should take at the crash scene include:

  • Check on everyone involved in the accident to see if anyone requires immediate medical attention.
  • Move your vehicle out of the path of traffic if possible, or walk to the side of the road if your car has been disabled.
  • Get the truck driver’s employer and insurance information, and insurance information from any other drivers involved in the crash.
  • Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, license plates, visible injuries you suffered, skid marks on the road, and traffic controls at the scene.
  • Talk to eyewitnesses to obtain a brief statement of what they saw and their contact information.

In most cases, the insurer of the at-fault truck driver or the trucking company that employed the driver will pay you compensation for your truck accident claim if they are found liable. Other parties may also have liability for the accident, including:

  • The truck’s owner
  • The cargo company
  • The truck and trailer manufacturer
  • Manufacturers of parts used on the truck
  • Third-party auto shops that serviced the truck

You should contact a truck accident attorney immediately after a truck accident. A lawyer will know what it takes to thoroughly investigate the accident and prepare a compelling, persuasive legal claim. A lawyer can also document your injuries and losses and estimate future expenses to ensure you seek total compensation. Your attorney can also deal with trucking company representatives, insurance adjusters, defense lawyers, or bill collectors on your behalf so you can focus on healing.

Although liability for the truck accident is determined under traditional state negligence laws, other laws – such as state and federal trucking industry regulations – may affect the outcome of your case. For example, a truck driver’s violation of the federal or state hours-of-service regulations may serve as evidence that they were too tired to drive safely. Speak with your attorney to learn more about the laws that apply in your case.

Here are some factors that make truck accident cases more complicated than other kinds of auto accident claims:

  • Truck accident victims often suffer more severe injuries that require longer, more expensive medical care.
  • Truck accidents can injure more people than other types of crashes.
  • Truck accidents may have multiple liable parties who will fight with each other to shift financial responsibility among themselves.
  • Truck accident claims may involve lots of complex evidence.
  • Trucking companies may have complicated corporate structures or layered insurance policies that make it difficult to determine the extent of financial assets available to the company.