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Causes of Tractor-Trailer Crashes

Maryville Attorney Representing Truck Wreck Victims

There are fewer tractor-trailer crashes than car crashes, but when tractor-trailer wrecks occur, they are usually more disastrous, sometimes resulting in catastrophic injuries and even death to multiple people. The injuries sustained in these types of collisions may include brain trauma, spinal cord damage, paralysis, broken bones, amputations, burns, disfigurement, and death. The cause of a tractor-trailer crash may affect whether you can recover compensation for your injuries. At the Hartsoe Law Firm, Maryville truck accident lawyer Mark C. Hartsoe can examine your case closely and determine an appropriate strategy.

Causes of Tractor-Trailer Crashes

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has found that most of the common reasons for tractor-trailer crashes involve truck driver mistakes or the condition of the driver before the wreck. Causes may include prescription drug use, over-the-counter drug use, speeding, unfamiliarity with the road, congestion, fatigue, brake problems, and road surface problems. In some cases, drivers may fall asleep behind the wheel or suffer a seizure or heart attack. In other cases, drivers may overcompensate or panic. This may result in jackknifing, in which the trailer goes one way, while the cab moves another.

While a truck driver may walk away unscathed from a wreck, people in vehicles around them at the time are unlikely to be injury-free. You may be able to recover compensation from the driver by establishing their negligence. The driver's breach of duty (dangerous driving) may be based on their use of over-the-counter drugs or distracted driving, for example. Both the driver and the trucking company need to be properly investigated as part of a trucking company investigation.

It also may be appropriate to look at the truck company's liability when the condition of the driver or the truck is the cause of the crash. Under FMCSA regulations, trucking companies are required to conduct background checks on drivers and provide adequate supervision and training. If a driver has a red flag, such as a DUI or a crash related to a medical condition, in their background, the trucking company should not hire or retain that driver as an employee. A trucking company may be held directly liable for its own negligence under a theory of negligent hiring, negligent supervision, or negligent training.

When brakes or other components of the truck are at issue, the pool of potential defendants is expanded to include not only the trucking company but also the manufacturer of the truck or the brakes. In some cases, a trucking company's negligence in maintaining the brakes is to blame for a wreck. The FMCSA has strict rules related to truck maintenance, and a company's violation of these rules may be a breach of duty, or perhaps in some cases negligence per se. A manufacturer may be held strictly liable for defective auto parts, and it may be appropriate for it to be joined as a defendant.

Enlist a Truck Crash Attorney in Maryville to Assert Your Rights and Get Your Justice

Not all motor vehicle collision attorneys are equipped to go up against truck drivers, trucking companies, and their insurers. Trucking crashes may be complex, and usually the defendants are well represented. A truck wreck case requires a resourceful and knowledgeable plaintiff's attorney. Maryville truck accident lawyer Mark C. Hartsoe understands the potential causes of tractor-trailer crashes and can develop an appropriate strategy to seek compensation. The Hartsoe Law Firm has an accident reconstructionist on call to immediately investigate truck wreck scenes prior to the loss of physical evidence. Properly documenting the scene with photographs and measurements can sometimes make the difference in a case. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form to set up a free consultation. We represent victims throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.


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Mark: We would like to thank you for all the hard work you put in winning our medical malpractice lawsuit. The money we were awarded will certainly change our lives. The fact that you never treated us like clients but instead like friends meant so much to us. Again from our hearts we say thank you. Client
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The Peroulas family and I deeply appreciate your help and expertise. Although I am certain that it would have been most enjoyable to work with you on the trial, my clients are happy with what they and I believe to be a very favorable settlement, thanks in large part to your guidance. James S. Tipton, Jr.
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We appreciate the great job that you did on our case. You watched out for our interest even before you took our case. Mark Hartsoe did a wonderful job. He showed great expertise as he went up against a multi-national corporation with multiple lawyers. He had a thorough understanding of the many details and events that occurred. We were especially impressed with his skill during mediation. Mark’s PowerPoint presentation was excellent, overwhelming the opposition. It was refreshing to work with someone who does what he says he will and truly had our best interest in mind. Thank you for everything. Dennis and Julie Greene
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We would very much appreciate it if you would be so kind as to e-mail to our office the Powerpoint presentation that you made at the commencement of the mediation. Our General Manger was very impressed and would like to show it to the CEO and may in turn show it to other corporate personnel as an example of what can happen to the same or similar case when placed in the hands of an excellent lawyer such as Mark Hartsoe. William T. Wray
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