Tupelo Head-On Truck Accidents

Big rig trucks and 18-wheelers are significantly bigger than the cars and SUVs that most people drive in and around Tupelo. For instance, many tractor-trailers weigh more than 70,000 pounds, while the average four-door car weighs between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds. When a large truck crashes head-on into a smaller car, injuries often result.

Head-on truck accidents may occur if a truck driver crosses over the centerline and into another car’s path. To assert a successful case, the victim will need to demonstrate the trucker’s negligence in causing the collision. Common causes of truck accidents are driver fatigue, distracted driving, and texting while driving. Under regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), interstate truck drivers must follow specific hours-of-service regulations designed to ensure they receive proper rest, and violating a safety rule is often proof of negligence. For instance, if a truck driver was driving for 15 straight hours with no breaks, dozed off, then collided with another vehicle head-on, it is likely that the driver’s failure to get proper rest led to the head-on truck accident.

What if the truck driver (or trucking company) tries to blame the victim for contributing to the accident? Under Mississippi law, while a victim’s own negligence will not automatically bar the claim, the victim’s recovery may be reduced by any percentage of fault attributed to him or her. In complex trucking accident cases, it may be appropriate to retain an accident reconstruction expert to defend against allegations of comparative fault. Proving the defendant’s liability can allow the plaintiff to recover damages allowable under Mississippi law, which may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or permanent scarring.