Nashville T-Bone Truck Accidents

In order to obtain compensation in a truck accident case, you generally must prove that your losses were caused by the negligence of the truck driver or the trucking company that employed the truck driver. In T-bone truck accident cases, which frequently occur at intersections, the negligent party could be the truck driver. For example, a truck driver may blow through a red light and T-bone your vehicle because the trucker was texting and did not notice the light change. The same could be said if the trucker disregarded a stop sign and crashed into your car. If the truck driver’s negligent action(s) can be proven by a preponderance of the evidence – through witness statements, video footage, driving logs, or other means – then the injured party’s claims of negligence against the driver will likely succeed.

Once the truck driver’s negligence has been confirmed, the injured party may also be able to hold the trucking company liable for the trucker’s negligence under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability. Vicarious liability holds employers responsible for the actions of their employees that are committed during the course and scope of employment, such as in a delivery truck accident. In some cases, the trucking company may be liable for its own negligence as well. Examples of trucking company negligence can include hiring unqualified drivers, failing to properly train or supervise drivers, encouraging drivers to work longer hours or shifts than allowed under the law, and failing to properly maintain equipment.

After the negligence of the truck driver, trucking company, or both has been established, damages will come into play. For cases involving non-fatal injuries, the damages available may include past medical bills, past lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. If a wreck with an 18-wheeler causes catastrophic injuries rendering the victim unable to return to work, future lost wages could be obtained. For fatal truck accident cases, the damages available may also include funeral expenses and the pecuniary value of the life of the deceased pursuant to Tennessee’s wrongful death statute.