Meridian Tanker Truck Accidents
Trucking Crash Lawyers Experienced in Handling Mississippi Accidents
When operated improperly, tanker trucks pose a deadly risk to those sharing the road with them. Not only can they be 20 times the average weight of a standard size car, but they also often carry large quantities of highly flammable or toxic chemicals that could explode, catch fire, or emit toxic fumes after a collision occurs. Victims of tanker truck accidents may sustain permanent burns, lung damage, paralysis, or other long term personal injuries. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in a tanker truck accident, contact one of the Meridian truck accident attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz. For over 30 years, our attorneys have been representing motor vehicle wreck victims and their families against large truck companies to recover the compensation they deserve. NST lawyers are experienced in handling the complexities of tanker truck accident cases, and we are willing to discuss your legal options with you today.
Recovering After a Tanker Truck Accident in Lauderdale County
In order to transport hazardous materials, interstate truck drivers must obtain a specialized commercial driver’s license (CDL) with a HAZMAT endorsement. This involves passing a Hazardous Materials Endorsement Knowledge Test that covers certain requirements and regulations all truckers will need to know. Moreover, these drivers will also need to be properly trained on how to operate a tanker truck safely on the road. The trucker’s employer is responsible for ensuring the driver has the required licensing and training before allowing him or her to transport these materials. Failure to do so could make them directly liable for the injuries a victim suffers in an accident.
Under Mississippi law, a trucking company may also be held vicariously liable for a tanker truck accident using the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. Under this doctrine, the trucking company could be held liable if the accident happened while the trucker was acting in the course and scope of the trucker’s employment. For example, let’s say a tanker truck is making a fuel delivery near the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum on 4th Street in downtown Meridian. On his way to the gas station, the driver is late to notice a stop sign, slams on his brakes, and the vehicle jackknifes, causing the tank to swing across the road and into your car. Here, the trucking company would likely be liable because the trucker was on a delivery when the accident happened.
Damages recovered after an accident with a tanker truck often include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and scarring. In order to prove your damages, experts may need to be retained. At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, we have the resources to hire qualified experts for tasks such as determining permanent impairment, calculating expected future medical treatment, and documenting loss of earning capacity. Our truck accident lawyers take pride in examining all potential theories of recovery on behalf of Meridian victims.
Let Our Personal Injury Lawyers Get to Work for You
Tanker truck accidents can leave victims with catastrophic injuries that keep them from returning to work and providing for their families. Moreover, exposure to chemicals and flammable objects can cause permanent disfiguration. At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, we represent tanker truck accident victims all throughout Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky, which includes the greater Meridian area, Collinsville, Nellieburg, and Meridian Station. Contact us today by calling us toll-free at 800-529-4004 or by completing our online form to schedule a free appointment with a truck crash lawyer. We look forward to showing you why NST is the way to go.
Most car accidents are preventable and occur as a result of errors by one or more drivers. To prove liability, you will need to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the driver owed you a duty of care, which was breached, and that your injuries resulted from the driver’s carelessness. Damages that may be available in these cases often include medical expenses, lost income, mental anguish, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.
Truck drivers are required to follow numerous detailed regulations, including rules related to hours of service, keeping a logbook, and maintenance procedures. Many of these regulations are intended to protect other people on the road from harm. In some states, if a driver violated a law that was enacted to protect the public, the violation can create a rebuttable presumption of negligence. Trucking companies are also required to follow a number of regulations, including rules related to background checks of drivers and proper supervision. They often may be held directly or indirectly liable for a truck accident.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates applications for disability benefits. Although many people pay into this system throughout their lives, many legitimate claims are initially denied, and this process may be less straightforward than claimants expect. The SSA uses a five-step sequential evaluation to determine whether to grant benefits to an applicant. Each step is considered in a set order. We can present your case in a persuasive manner and help you appeal a denial of a meritorious claim if needed. This could include representing you in a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Workers’ compensation functions slightly differently in each state. In Tennessee, for example, businesses that employ five or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you are injured on the job, you may recover benefits, such as medical costs and disability. Neither your employer’s nor your own culpability for your injuries will prevent you from collecting these benefits. However, it may still be a struggle to obtain benefits from your employer’s insurer. We can help you navigate this challenging process.
If you were harmed by a health care professional’s failure to use the appropriate level of care in providing treatment to you, you may be able to recover compensation. Most medical malpractice lawsuits require retaining an expert to determine the accepted standard of care and explain what the defendant did that fell short of this standard, as well as how the inappropriate conduct caused the patient’s injuries.
When you buy a toy, car, medication, or other product, you do not expect to be hurt. If you are injured, you may have grounds to file a product liability lawsuit. There are three types of defects that may be actionable: manufacturing, design, and marketing (also known as failure to warn). Manufacturers may be held accountable under multiple different theories, including strict liability, negligence, breach of warranty, and concealment. For example, if you take a drug that causes you to develop cancer, but you were not told that a potential side effect of the drug was developing cancer, you may have grounds to hold the manufacturer strictly liable for its failure to warn you of the risk.
Nursing home residents are often elderly or disabled, and thus they are especially vulnerable to neglect, physical abuse, and exploitation by staff members. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed or employ staff members who are inadequately trained to deal with potentially frustrating situations. Nursing homes are required to protect their residents from physical, mental, and emotional harm by providing a safe environment, as well as adequately training and supervising staff. A failure to do so may be grounds for a nursing home negligence lawsuit for damages.
Property owners have a duty to keep their property reasonably safe. In most situations, this includes an obligation to inspect the property for dangerous conditions and fix them or provide warnings about them so that visitors are not harmed. One type of dangerous condition, which may present a particular problem in apartment complexes or shopping centers, consists of inadequate security measures such as broken locks, poor lighting, or a lack of security guards. A failure to take security measures when appropriate may allow third-party criminals to assault, rob, rape, or otherwise harm visitors and tenants. You may be able to recover damages if you can prove that the defendant knew or should have known about a history of attacks similar to yours and taken appropriate security measures to reduce the risk of further incidents.
Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer in Memphis or the Surrounding Regions
If you are dealing with a devastating injury or medical condition, the Memphis personal injury attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz can evaluate and explain your options. Our firm has 30 attorneys and more than 100 staff members, and we serve injured people in many areas of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky, including Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Jackson, Meridian, Tupelo, Columbus, Grenada, Starkville, Oxford, Hayti, and Caruthersville. Contact our office toll-free by calling 800-529-4004 or by completing our online form to set up a free consultation with a personal injury, workers’ compensation, or Social Security Disability lawyer. Once you have learned more about our vigorous advocacy for the rights of the injured, you will realize that NST is the way to go.