Tractor-Trailer Failure to Yield Accidents

Knoxville Lawyer Helping Truck Wreck Victims Throughout East Tennessee

The weight and size of a tractor-trailer—sometimes 80,000 pounds—may result in catastrophic injuries or even death if the tractor-trailer fails to yield to a smaller passenger car or motorcycle. Unfortunately, there are many situations in which a truck driver may not abide by the rules of the road. A driver who is drunk, fatigued, distracted, under pressure to make a delivery, or inadequately trained to check blind spots may not yield even when there are signs indicating that this is appropriate. If you were hurt in a failure to yield accident in East Tennessee, it is important to consult an attorney who is experienced in truck wreck cases. Knoxville tractor-trailer accident attorney Mark Hartsoe has the experience and skill to provide aggressive representation to crash victims in these lawsuits. Hartsoe has a 24-hour accident reconstruction team on call that he can send out to the scene of a crash.

Seek Representation After a Tractor-Trailer Accident Caused by a Failure to Yield

Tractor-trailer drivers who fail to follow the rules of the road, such as by running red lights or failing to yield when a smaller vehicle has the right of way, may be held accountable for the harm that they cause. If a tractor-trailer driver fails to follow a safety statute, ordinance, or regulation in failing to yield, it may be possible to hold the driver responsible under a theory of negligence per se. This may apply when a driver violates a safety statute, regulation, or ordinance, and the statute, regulation, or ordinance was designed to prevent the type of accident that happened. The defendant’s violation must also have been a direct cause of the crash.

In a case in which negligence per se is applied, the focus of the case may be the extent of the damages rather than liability. In other words, the defendant may dispute that you were as badly injured as you say, rather than disputing that they owe you compensation. Moreover, if a driver is found to have been negligent per se while on the job, their employer will likely be held vicariously liable for the driver’s failure to yield.

Sometimes a tractor-trailer driver's failure to yield is a result of negligent training, supervision, or hiring by a trucking company. All trucking companies are required to use reasonable care and follow detailed regulations when hiring employees to operate heavy commercial vehicles. A company's failure to conduct background checks, for example, may result in the company hiring someone who has had multiple failure to yield or aggressive driving accidents in a short window of time. Multiple accidents should be a red flag to a potential employer. If a trucking company fails to use reasonable care in hiring, training, or supervising its drivers, and this leads to an accident, the trucking company may be held directly liable for the victim’s damages.

Hire Knoxville Attorney Mark Hartsoe for Your Tractor-Trailer Accident Case

Knoxville tractor-trailer accident lawyer Mark Hartsoe has the experience to represent you in a failure to yield case and can develop a strategy to seek all of the compensation that you need. You can call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form to set up a free appointment. Motor vehicle collision attorney Mark Hartsoe represents injured people throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
I was on my way to Atlanta and a huge truck rear-ended me and knocked me off the side of the road. I was scared. Didn’t know what to do. I tried working with the insurance company. They are just difficult to work with. I had to call somebody to take care of me. So, My brother told me to call Mark Hartsoe. As soon as I called Mark Hartsoe, he let me know real quick that everything was going to be okay and that he would take care of everything. And, he did. He got me a great settlement. He took the worry off of me. Mickey Anderson
★★★★★
I was hit coming home late at night by a drunk driver who took off. And the next day I was able to track down his vehicle and get the state police involved. At that point, a family friend recommended that I talk to Mark Hartsoe. Pretty much at that point, Mark handled the police, the insurance company and the guy who hit me. Settled with the actual person that hit me. Outside of that, everything came out great. Did not have to go to court. Got a great settlement. Got my car replaced. Got a check. Mark Hartsoe is my lawyer. Nate Holder
★★★★★
I was involved in a motorcycle accident. It was a head-on collision. I broke my arm, injured by knee. I was out of work for a long time and had medical bills, other expenses. A personal friend handed me a card for Mark Hartsoe. I called Mark Hartsoe from the side of the road and he took care of everything. My case was settled out of court. I received a great settlement. Bike was totaled, motorcycle was replaced. It was easy, painless. About as painless as something like this can be. This is why my lawyer is Mark Hartsoe. John Lusinger
★★★★★
I wanted to thank you for the excellent representation and your ability to handle the situation so well with such compassion and strength. We appreciate all of your help, concern and for answering my many questions. It has been a difficult road to travel but when we come across people like you, it really helps to lighten the load. We just wanted you to know how much we appreciate what you’ve done and your ability to handle the situation so well. S. Carter
★★★★★
Thank you so much for all the work you did on our case. We received more than we expected. You were great through the whole time from the first meeting until the last. Thank you so very much. Sam & Judy Kachar