Tennessee Truck Accident Statistics

Large commercial vehicles play a significant role in the East Tennessee economy. The trucking industry is heavily regulated both federally and by state laws because of the potential for devastating injuries when a big rig or tractor-trailer is involved in a crash. Experienced Knoxville truck accident attorney Mark Hartsoe may be able to help you pursue damages. We have an accident reconstruction team available 24/7 to evaluate the site of a crash immediately after it happens.

Tennessee truck accident statistics show that between 2006 and 2008, there were 2,750 heavy and medium truck accidents in Knox County alone. If you are hurt in this type of crash, you may experience life-altering injuries. Interstate truck companies and their drivers in Tennessee are subject to the federal regulations put forward by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. According to the FMCSA, of about 411,000 large truck accidents across the country reported to the police, 1% resulted in at least one death, and 20% resulted in at least one non-fatal injury. Tennessee has about 2.8% of the annual truck accident fatalities across the country each year.

If you are injured by a truck driver in Tennessee, you may have a basis to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Most of these allege that a truck driver was negligent. Negligence exists if the defendant had a duty to drive safely, the defendant failed to drive safely, the failure to drive safely was the cause of the victim's injuries, and actual damages like pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost income were sustained. Some actions that are typically considered unsafe driving include speeding, failing to yield the right of way, distracted driving, drunk driving, improperly judging the distance that it takes to safely stop a large commercial vehicle, and improper maintenance.

Sometimes drivers fail to abide by federal or state safety laws, and this may be the cause of a truck accident. For example, the FMCSA has strict rules about truck driver's rest, break, and sleep schedules. If a truck driver has violated these rules, negligence per se may apply. Negligence per se occurs if a defendant violates a safety law, the victim is among the people whom the law was intended to protect, and the violation was the cause of the victim’s injuries. Both a driver and a trucking company that violate safety laws may be found negligent per se. For example, trailers and semis operated on Tennessee highways generally must have a safety chain of sufficient strength under TCA 55-7-114. If a truck that is supposed to have a safety chain of sufficient strength does not have the chain, thereby causing injuries to one or more other people, the trucking company may be considered negligent or negligent per se in addition to facing fines.

Tennessee truck accident statistics underscore the importance of safe driving. For many victims of unsafe truck driving, filing a lawsuit may be the only way to pay for their expenses. If you were hurt in a crash, you should consult knowledgeable Knoxville truck accident lawyer Mark Hartsoe. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form to schedule a free consultation. Mark Hartsoe represents injured individuals and families who need a motor vehicle collision attorney throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.