Chattanooga Speeding Truck Accidents
Big Rig Crash Attorneys Assisting Victims in Chattanooga and Beyond
Speed is one of the most heavily-regulated aspects of operating a motor vehicle. On roads and highways across America, one of the most common types of signs that drivers see are speed limit signs. These signs should serve as a constant reminder to drivers that speeding is both dangerous and illegal. However, too often drivers ignore the signs – and the law – and travel at speeds well in excess of the posted speed limit. When the speeding driver is sitting behind the wheel of a semi-trailer truck, that driver is placing others on the road in extreme danger, something Chattanooga truck accident lawyers see far too often. At high speeds, the size and weight of big rig trucks can turn them into rolling weapons for anyone or anything that cannot get out of their way in time. If you have been injured in a speeding truck accident in Chattanooga or the surrounding area, let Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz assist you in pursuing compensation for your injuries and suffering. As the largest personal injury law firm based in Tennessee, our trucking accident lawyers have the knowledge and experience necessary to fight for your rights.
Building a Case for Negligence Against a Speeding Truck Driver
Usually, a truck accident victim seeking compensation for bodily injuries must establish that the truck driver who caused those injuries was negligent in doing so. In the case of a speeding truck accident, the driver’s speed is the negligent action that supports the injured victim’s claim. If the injured victim can prove that the truck driver was speeding, the victim could be entitled to recover damages such as past medical bills, future medical bills, past lost wages, future lost wages, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and possibly more. An example of negligence in a speeding accident case is a truck driver rear-ending you while driving 90 miles per hour on Interstate 24, even though the speed limit on the interstate is only 70 miles per hour. If the trucker was acting within the course and scope of employment at the time of the collision, the employer may be vicariously liable for what happened.
An attorney experienced in truck wreck cases in Chattanooga can assist injured victims in obtaining proof of the truck driver’s negligent speeding. The attorney will review the police report, contact witnesses, request driving logs, and pursue other avenues of investigation to find the evidence that the victim will need to support their claims. If finding proof of the truck driver’s speed through those usual sources proves difficult, the attorney can also draw on resources that are beyond what most victims will have access to on their own, such as accident reconstruction experts who may be able to analyze data from the truck, including Engine Control Module (ECM) data and information from the truck’s GPS, if available.
Once the truck driver’s excessive speed has been proven, the accident victim will have the foundation for a negligence claim against the driver. Under Tennessee law, a speeding truck accident victim will likely be able to use the doctrine of negligence per se to hold the driver responsible for their injuries and other damages. Under the doctrine of negligence per se, a victim can recover for injuries caused by the violation of a safety law – like the ones that regulate speed – if the harm caused was of the type that the law was designed to prevent and the victim is within the class of persons that the law was designed to protect. This can shift the focus of the case to damages, which could be severe following a high-speed crash. Damages recoverable are normally compensatory in nature, including medical bills, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering. However, if the defendant’s speed is so excessive that it would be considered reckless, punitive damages could be available.
Discuss Your Case With a Chattanooga Lawyer
At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, our lawyers are dedicated to helping accident victims obtain the compensation that they deserve. In pursuit of that goal, our firm has recovered over $1.5 billion for our personal injury clients over the last 30 years. If you have been injured in a speeding truck accident, contact our Chattanooga attorneys today to discuss your case. We serve accident victims throughout Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas, including in cities like Chattanooga, Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville, Tupelo, Jackson, Meridian, Columbus, Oxford, Grenada, Starkville, Hayti, Caruthersville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, and more. To set up a free consultation, call us toll-free at 800-529-4004 or fill out our online form. If you have been hurt in an 18-wheeler crash in Hamilton County, NST is the way to go.