Chattanooga’s busy roads are often populated by massive commercial trucks. While these vehicles are essential for our economy, they also pose serious risks to other motorists. When a truck accident occurs, the aftermath can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to know what to do next.
Our Chattanooga truck accident attorneys from Woodard Injury Law will bring our extensive experience and resources to bear against trucking companies and their insurers. If you were injured by a negligent truck driver, trust our firm to fight for the fair and full compensation you deserve.
Why Trust Our Chattanooga Truck Accident Lawyers with Your High-Stakes Claim?
- Truck incidents can be complex cases, and with our Chattanooga car accident attorneys having 19 years of legal experience, especially in truck accidents, we can help you navigate your claim with confidence. We will thoroughly investigate your accident, gather evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf.
- Severe injuries from truck accidents can make travel difficult. Our Chattanooga truck accident attorneys will meet you anywhere for consultations and case discussions, including your home and hospital room.
- We are proud to be recognized among the best in our field, with awards including NAOPIA Top Ten Attorney 2024 and Best Car Accident Lawyer in Nashville for 2023 by Expertise.
Our Firm’s Awards & Associations
Identifying Liable Parties in Chattanooga Truck Accident Cases
After a truck accident in Chattanooga, you have the right to pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit against the person or entity that caused the crash. This party is financially liable for your medical expenses, property damage, and other losses that you endured.
Depending on the cause of your accident, multiple parties may bear responsibility:
- The truck driver could be at fault due to reckless driving, fatigue, impairment, or other acts of negligence.
- The trucking company might share liability if they violated their duties, such as failing to properly maintain the vehicle or pushing drivers to exceed legal working hours.
- The manufacturer of faulty truck parts may be liable if a vehicle malfunction caused the collision.
- Government entities responsible for road maintenance might be liable if poor road conditions contributed to the accident.
Injured? Call Our Truck Accident Attorney
A Truck Accident Attorney in Chattanooga Can Level the Playing Field After a Dangerous Collision
After a truck accident, you’ll likely face trucking companies and their insurers who have teams working to minimize their liability. In these situations, you need someone who can level the playing field and protect your interests—and a personal injury attorney in Chattanooga from Woodard Injury Law with experience in truck accidents can help.
Our Chattanooga truck accident lawyers possess a deep understanding of federal trucking regulations, which allows us to identify violations that may have contributed to your accident. We also have years of experience dealing with trucking companies and their insurers; we know their tactics and can anticipate their strategies to protect your right to fair compensation.
We also have the time and resources to invest in comprehensive investigations and evidence preservation. Our Chattanooga truck accident attorneys will act swiftly to secure electronic logging devices, maintenance records, and other vital information that can support your case.
$1.3m
Settlement
Settlement for client injured by commercial truck.
$600k
Settlement
Settlement for a delivery driver who was rear-ended by a careless driver operating a commercial truck.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Accident in Chattanooga?
Truck accident victims in Tennessee can pursue both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages address your financial losses, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Ongoing medical care
- Lost wages/diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Costs for ongoing rehabilitation
Non-economic damages cover the ways the accident has affected you personally, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Trauma and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Conditions like PTSD and depression
- Decreased quality of life
Punitive damages may be available as well, but only in rare cases that go to trial and that involve egregious conduct from the defendant.
How Long Do I Have To File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Chattanooga?
You have one year from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee per Tennessee Code § 28-3-104. That deadline applies to truck accident cases just like any other personal injury claim in the state, and missing it will almost certainly result in your case being dismissed.
However, note that there are a few exceptions that could adjust this time limit for your specific situation. We recommend reaching out to our truck accident lawyers in Chattanooga as soon as you can to best protect your legal rights.
Have You Been Hurt in a Truck Crash?
We Will Fight For You.
State and Federal Regulations That Apply to Truck Accident Cases in Tennessee
Commercial trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country. Truck drivers and the companies they work for must comply with a detailed set of rules at both the state and federal levels.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the primary standards that govern how trucks are operated. Some of the most important regulations include:
- Hours of service limits, as mentioned above, which cap how long a driver can operate a commercial vehicle before taking a mandatory rest break
- Electronic logging device (ELD) requirements that track driving hours and prevent falsified logbooks
- Drug and alcohol testing protocols that apply before hiring, after accidents, and on a random basis
- Driver qualification standards covering everything from licensing to medical certifications and background checks
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance schedules that require routine checks
- Cargo securement rules that dictate how freight must be carried during transport
Tennessee also imposes its own regulations on commercial vehicles operating within the state. Violations of any of these laws could serve as valuable evidence of negligence for your claim. If you hire our lawyers, we’ll be able to dig into your case and unearth every possible piece of proof to make your case as successful as it can be.
Stacy L.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Chattanooga
Chattanooga sits at the junction of I-24 and I-75, making it one of the busiest commercial trucking corridors in the Southeast. That volume of heavy truck traffic increases the risk of serious collisions, many of which lead to life-changing injuries and damages for victims.
Some of the causes our attorneys see most often in Chattanooga truck accident cases include:
- Fatigued driving after exceeding hours of service limits
- Distracted driving
- Poorly maintained brakes and other critical equipment
- Speeding
- Overloaded cargo
- Impaired driving
- Aggressive driving and unsafe following distances
- Negligent hiring and training by the trucking company
In many of these cases, the trucking company itself bears just as much responsibility as the driver. Our legal team will investigate every level of the operation to identify all parties who played a role in causing the crash, aiming to help you increase the value of your claim as much as we can.
Contact Our Chattanooga Truck Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Truck accidents can leave victims facing an uphill battle to recovery. The attorneys at Woodard Injury Law can support you during this difficult time and fight for the compensation you need to pay for medical care, property repairs, and more. Contact us by calling or texting us at (615) 216-5757 for a free consultation and to learn how our truck accident lawyers in Chattanooga can advocate for your rights.