Nashville Dump Truck Accidents

The greater Nashville area is growing, with millions of residents and visitors driving through the city on any given day. As a result, construction crews across the area are constantly working on the roadways to maintain them in a safe condition and to keep up with the high volume of traffic. Constructions crews usually have multiple dump trucks on site to transport loose materials such as gravel and dirt. Because of their extreme weight, size, and load, dump truck accidents often result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a crash with a dump truck, you should call Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable Nashville truck accident attorney.

Pursuing Compensation for Your Injuries Following a Dump Truck Accident

Dump trucks are usually owned by a private company or, in some instances, a state or government entity. In Tennessee, a trucking company may be considered vicariously liable for the negligent actions of its employees if committed during the course and scope of employment. This means that a dump truck accident victim may be able to sue the dump truck company itself for his or her injuries. An injured party may also be able to pursue a claim against the State of Tennessee for injuries caused by a state employee driving a dump truck. Special rules apply when pursuing claims against the State of Tennessee, so it is important to consult with an attorney as soon after the accident as possible so that your legal rights can be adequately protected.

Whether pursuing a claim against an individual dump truck owner, a large private company, or a government entity, a showing of negligence will be required in order to recover compensatory damages. Simply put, the accident victim will need to prove that the dump truck operator’s negligent actions caused the accident which, in turn, caused his injuries. If the dump truck driver received a traffic citation for the accident, such as failure to maintain control of the vehicle, then the injured party may be able to seek compensation for his or her injuries under the theory of negligence per se, where an act may be deemed negligent merely because it violated a traffic law designed to protect individuals like the victim.

If the dump truck driver was not cited for the accident by the Nashville Police Department, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, or another law enforcement agency, then the victim may be able to prove fault through the truck driver’s admissions, eyewitness testimony, accident scene photographs, and other evidence obtained from the crash site. It is important to act quickly and consult with an attorney who handles Nashville trucking accident cases before evidence is lost or damaged so the dump truck driver can be held responsible for negligent actions.

Dump trucks accidents can cause devastating injuries, including head and neck injuries or even wrongful death. No matter how serious the injuries are or how long the victim may treat for those injuries, the injured party has one year to either settle his claim out of court or to properly file a lawsuit in court. If these actions are not taken, then the injured party will forever lose his or her right to recover. Likewise, wrongful death actions arising out of a dump truck or tractor-trailer accident must also be filed within one year of the date of the wreck.

Contact an Experienced Nashville Lawyer After a Dump Truck Accident

Commercial and government entities and their insurance carriers may dispute liability for a trucking accident and deny your claim outright, or they may try to settle your claim for less than it is worth. The attorneys at NST are committed to helping accident victims and their loved ones, and we will listen to the facts of your case and discuss with you the different legal avenues that may be available, depending on the particular circumstances of your case. We will work diligently on your case to identify all forms of damages to which you may be entitled, and to date, our injury attorneys have recovered more than $1.5 billion in compensation for accident victims in Tennessee and across the South. Call us toll-free at 800-LAW-4004 or complete our online form to set up a free consultation with one of our truck accident lawyers.