Frequently Asked Questions | Knoxville 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer
- What is the difference between a commercial truck and an ordinary truck?
- What is the difference between a Knoxville truck accident lawyer and a regular car accident lawyer?
- When would I need a Knoxville truck accident lawyer and why is it so important?
- What should I look for in a Knoxville truck accident attorney?
- Do I have to come up with money to pay for an attorney in a truck accident case?
- Why is it so important to conduct an investigation after a Knoxville truck accident?
- Who exactly would be sued if there is a lawsuit resulting from Knoxville truck accident?
- Where should the lawsuit be filed for a truck accident in Knoxville or Knox County?
- If the suit is filed in Knoxville or Knox County, in what court will the lawsuit be filed?
- If I am hurt in a semi truck accident, what should I do?
- If I miss work as a result of a truck accident, will I recover any loss of wages?
- If I am involved in a truck accident, what should I do or not do?
What is the difference between a commercial truck and an ordinary truck?
Commercial trucks are large, heavy vehicles used for interstate and intra-state commerce for the transport of commercial goods. A semi truck, big rig, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, tanker truck, or dump truck involved in an accident in Knoxville are examples of commercial trucks. These kinds of vehicles are governed by federal, state, and local regulations that do not apply to non-commercial vehicles like pickup trucks or SUVs.
What is the difference between a Knoxville truck accident lawyer and a regular car accident lawyer?
A Knoxville truck accident lawyer who practices law in Knox County, Tennessee, is qualified to handle truck accident law in Tennessee and is familiar with the various rules and regulations that apply to commercial vehicles. If you become involved in an accident with a semi truck or other commercial vehicle and you suffer property damage or injury, you need to protect your rights. Because of the nature of truck accident law, it is imperative that you select a Knoxville truck accident attorney who is skilled in handling truck accident cases.
When would I need a Knoxville truck accident lawyer and why is it so important?
There is a big difference between handling legal cases involving commercial vehicles and those involving non-commercial vehicles and passenger cars. A qualified Knoxville truck accident lawyer will be able to protect your rights and will know how to conduct a proper investigation. He or she will be able to check for compliance with the many regulations that apply to commercial vehicles. A good Knoxville truck accident attorney will also know how to select the proper venue, the party against whom the claim should be made, and whether multiple parties may be joined as defendants.
What should I look for in a Knoxville truck accident attorney?
Select a lawyer who has a track record of being successful in obtaining compensation for clients in truck accident cases. Your attorney should also care about clients, display compassion for your situation, and listen to your concerns. Select a Knoxville truck accident lawyer who is trustworthy and has a good reputation in the community. Also, it is important to select a lawyer or law firm that has the resources to go the distance in a long and involved case.
Do I have to come up with money to pay for an attorney in a truck accident case?
In most cases, you should be able to retain a truck accident attorney in Knoxville on a contingency basis without having to pay attorney fees out of pocket. Usually, any attorney fees will be paid out of the proceeds of a settlement or court case result. This means that you only pay your Knoxville truck accident lawyer if you win! To be certain, make sure to ask your attorney beforehand.
Why is it so important to conduct an investigation after a Knoxville truck accident?
It is crucial to collect evidence and do a thorough and competent investigation after an accident with a semi truck or commercial truck. Trucks are bigger and heavier than passenger cars and require greater stopping distance. Commercial trucks are required to have proper maintenance, for example, adequate and fully functioning brakes. Additionally, truck drivers are only permitted to drive a certain number of hours per day and their hours must be properly logged and recorded. Only a complete and accurate investigation, including investigation of all logs and maintenance reports, will reveal the facts necessary to support your case.
Who exactly would be sued if there is a lawsuit resulting from Knoxville truck accident?
It depends on the circumstances of the case. Sometimes a claim should be filed against the trucking company. In other cases, a claim may be filed against the truck driver. It is also possible that the loading facility where the contents of the trailer were secured could be a responsible party, or even the owner of the trailer's contents. Who should be sued can also depend on whether or not there was negligence involved on the part of the truck driver or the trucking company, or whether any traffic violation occurred and contributed to the accident. Some other factors that may be involved are responsibility for truck maintenance, brakes, driver fatigue, recklessness, improper loads, and drug and alcohol use.
Where should the lawsuit be filed for a truck accident in Knoxville or Knox County?
When a truck accident occurs and a lawsuit is filed, the selection of where to file that lawsuit is referred to as “choice of venue.” Generally, venue is proper in the following locations:
- The county wherein the accident occurred;
- The county wherein the defendant company’s principal place of business is; or,
- The county wherein the defendant truck driver resides.
Even though the accident may have occurred in Knoxville, the truck company and the truck driver may be from another state. This is because trucking companies often operate in states other than where they are registered. The venue where an ensuing lawsuit could be filed may be the state where the truck accident occurred, the state where the trucking company is located, or even a state where the trucking company regularly does business, if different. For example, the accident may have occurred in Knoxville, Tennessee, making venue proper in Knox County, but the claim may be filed against a trucking company from another state. A qualified Knoxville truck accident lawyer is necessary to decide what the best venue would be for your truck accident case.
If the suit is filed in Knoxville or Knox County, in what court will the lawsuit be filed?
An experienced Knoxville truck accident attorney will determine what the best court is depending on the circumstances of your case. The lawyer will decide the venue and jurisdiction to use. Some Knox County Courts are:
Knox County Circuit Court
400 West Main Street, Suite M-30, Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 215-2400
Knoxville County General Sessions Court
400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 215-2146
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Howard Baker U.S. Courthouse 800 Market Street U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee |
City-County Building 400 Main Street General Sessions Criminal Courts (3) Criminal Courts (3) Circuit Courts (3) 4th Circuit Court Chancery Courts (3) Probate Court |
Old Courthouse 300 Main Street General Sessions Civil Court Juvenile Child Support Courts (3) |
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City Safety Building 800 East Church Avenue Municipal Court |
Post Office Building 501 Main Street Tennessee Supreme Court Tennessee Court of Appeals Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals |
Plaza Towers 800 South Gay Street Bankruptcy Court |
If I am hurt in a semi truck accident, what should I do?
If you sustain an injury in an accident, the most important thing to do is seek medical care for any pain or discomfort that you may experience. Delaying treatment can often make an injury worse. Many times it takes days for symptoms of soft tissue injuries to appear. Seeing a doctor immediately following the accident is necessary in order to receive a preliminary diagnosis. Extreme injuries such as burns, or neck and spinal cord injuries caused by a big rig truck accident often require immediate paramedic and trauma care unit assistance at the scene. In these cases, the victim must be taken to a hospital for treatment immediately.
Knoxville Hospitals include Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, St Mary's Medical Center, and Parkwest Medical Center. These are some of the most common medical treatment centers where Knoxville truck and automobile accident victims receive emergency medical care after a serious truck accident.
If I miss work as a result of a truck accident, will I recover any loss of wages?
Wages lost as a result of a truck accident can be recovered as compensation.
If I am involved in a truck accident, what should I do or not do?
Try to get witnesses to support your case, if you can. If possible, take photographs of the scene of the accident. Do not sign anything or make any statement to the insurer of the other party, or do anything when you feel pressured without consulting a lawyer first. Above all, do not admit any degree of fault.
Truck Accidents Occur in Knoxville and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Eastern Tennessee, including Alcoa, Athens, Bean Station, Blue Grass, Brentwood, Cleveland, Clinton, Concord, Eagleton Village, Farragut, Fox Hills, Gatlinburg, Huntsville, Jefferson City, Kingston, Knoxville, La Follette, Lenoir City, Maryville, Mentor, Morristown, Newport, Oak Ridge, Pigeon Forge, Powell, Sevierville, Seymour, Sweetwater, Wedgewood Hills, Westhaven, Wildwood, areas in the vicinity of Knoxville Airport, and other communities in Knox County.
Knoxville Truck Accident Lawyers are here to answer your questions. Contact a Knoxville Truck Accident Lawyer today for help from an experienced legal professional.