Trucking Accidents in the Knoxville Area

Knoxville is located near the intersection of three very busy interstate highways: I-40, I-75, and I-81. Notably, I-40 was ranked 3rd on most dangerous highways in 2015, with 183 deaths based on a survey conducted by Auto Insurance Center. Also, I-40 is the third longest highway in the country. In 2016, according to Tennessee Department of Safety, there were 172 wreck fatalities in the Knoxville District and 963 total wreck fatalities in Tennessee alone.

If you were hurt in a trucking accident in the Knoxville area, Mark Hartsoe and the Hartsoe Law Firm may be able to help. We have an accident reconstruction team on 24/7 standby that we may be able to dispatch to the site. Knoxville truck accident attorney Mark Hartsoe is experienced in these cases and knows how to prove the liability of a careless truck driver or trucking company.

The heavy traffic flow on these interstates increases the risk of crashes. Specifically, in 2015, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) average annual daily traffic (ADT) count maps, the ADT count on I-75 in Knoxville was approximately 44,000. In 2013, I-81 in Knoxville had an ADT count of 33,000. In 2012, I-40 (near mile marker 380) had an ADT count of approximately 178,000. This traffic flow, reported by TDOT, attributed to 487 wrecks listed at mile maker 382. The largest number of accidents totaled 555 at the West Hills exit (mile marker 380).

Unfortunately, there were more than 12,000 wrecks on I-40 from Harriman to North Carolina between 2005 and late 2013. Of these wrecks, 555 were in Knoxville. In 2014, there were 29 fatal accidents in Knoxville, with 52 vehicles involved and two of them involved drunk drivers. In 2013, there were 38 fatal accidents in the city with 57 vehicles involved and 12 of them involved drunk drivers.

Many of the vehicles on the interstate highways in the Knoxville region are tractor trailers, big rigs, and other commercial vehicles. If you are injured in a trucking accident in the Knoxville area, you may be able to file a lawsuit for compensation. In most cases, you will need to show that the truck driver was negligent to get paid for your damages. If a truck driver fails to follow the safety rules promulgated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), for example, they may be held liable under a theory of negligence per se (negligence as a matter of law).

When a truck driver was in the course and scope of employment, the driver's employer may be held vicariously or indirectly liable under a theory of respondeat superior. Moreover, a trucking company may also be held directly accountable under a theory of negligent hiring or negligent supervision. Trucking companies must follow FMCSA safety regulations that require them to conduct background checks into prospective drivers and inspect their drivers' logbooks for accuracy. A trucking company that turns a blind eye to a driver's negligent or reckless driving may be held responsible for putting that driver in charge of a heavy truck.

In certain cases, a mechanical failure may be to blame for an accident. When there is a defective brake or another defective part that causes a truck crash, it may be possible to bring a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer.

Truck accidents may result in catastrophic injuries or deaths, particularly when the vehicles are moving at high speeds down an interstate highway. Often, the only way to cover these medical expenses is by bringing a personal injury lawsuit. If you are hurt or have lost a loved one in a trucking accident in the Knoxville area, you should consult experienced attorney Mark Hartsoe. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision lawyer. We represent people throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.