Common Causes of Nashville Truck Accidents
Hundreds of thousands of semi-trucks and 18-wheelers are on the road every day in the United States. A truck accident, as with any
auto accident, can happen in the blink of an eye. While these accidents are costly and often tragic, many of them are avoidable. Some of the most common scenarios that lead to truck accidents in Nashville include:
- Lane departures: In 2024, a majority of Tennessee truck accidents took place as the driver was changing lanes. Accounting for nearly 10% of all large truck accidents, lane changes and departures can be costly. Whether the accident was caused by the driver of a large truck or another vehicle, rapidly changing lanes, especially without using a turn signal, can have serious consequences.
- Tailgating: The next leading cause of large truck accidents in Tennessee is improperly following, or following too closely to, another vehicle. Tailgating is highly dangerous for large trucks, as their size and weight often require much more time and space to slow down or make a stop. Vehicles that cut in front of large trucks in traffic are also at risk of being involved in a rear-end accident, as the truck may not have enough time to slow down to avoid a collision.
- Distracted driving: One of the leading causes of all auto accidents in the United States, distracted driving is a huge factor in Tennessee truck accident cases. Semi-truck and commercial truck drivers often spend long hours on the road at a time. The temptation to use mobile phones, eat and drink while driving, and adjust controls inside the vehicle can easily lead to an accident.
- Speeding: Speeding is a major factor in all auto accidents. It can be excessively dangerous for truck drivers to speed because of the amount of time and space that they need to slow down or come to a complete stop. In 2024, speeding was a factor in about 5% of all accidents involving a large truck. Speeding also makes the impact and injuries much more significant in a truck accident.
- Driving fatigued: Driver fatigue is a serious issue among truckers in Tennessee and throughout the United States. Truck drivers often work long hours through the night. When a driver is fatigued, their reaction time is slowed, their decision-making is impaired, and the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel and causing an accident is greatly increased.
- Driving under the influence: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol greatly impairs a driver’s ability. This behavior in truck drivers can lead to serious accidents that cause considerable damage. The legal limit for blood alcohol content in Tennessee is .08%. However, drivers can also receive a DUI for driving under the influence of drugs, even when they are medically prescribed by a doctor.
- Improperly loaded truck: Trucks that are either overloaded or improperly balanced are at a high risk of toppling over and causing an accident. When this happens, a semi-truck may lose control and roll over, causing serious damage to itself and other drivers on the road.
As you can see, driver negligence plays a huge role in many truck accident cases. Unsafe behavior like drinking and driving, texting while driving, speeding, or driving fatigued can result in major accidents that leave victims seriously injured. Most truck accidents occur on highways, where speeds are higher and traffic is much more dense.
Regardless of the cause, Glenn Injury Law is proud to represent victims who have been seriously injured in Nashville truck accidents. Our firm has over a decade of experience successfully representing clients in Nashville and its surrounding cities in truck accident cases, and we are here to help you too. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Nashville truck accident, call us today for a free consultation.
Common Injuries from Nashville Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are among the most dangerous traffic accidents in which you may be involved. Collisions often leave victims with serious injuries and can even result in death. About 3% of all auto accidents involving a large truck resulted in a fatality in 2024. If you or a loved one have been injured in a Nashville truck accident, do not hesitate to reach out. Some of the most common injuries that our firm has witnessed in truck accident cases include:
- Neck and back injuries: Back injuries can range anywhere from minor injuries to ruptured discs and spinal cord injuries that can lead to paralysis and last a lifetime. Head and neck injuries, such as whiplash, are also common due to the severe force of the impact.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Serious brain injuries can be caused by the impact of the accident or by striking objects inside of the car. Victims in Nashville who suffer a TBI may experience concussions, cognitive impairment, memory loss, and long-term neurological issues.
- Broken and fractured bones: An accident involving a semi-truck or 18-wheeler can cause serious bodily damage to everyone involved. Truck accidents commonly lead to broken arms, legs, ribs, and more.
- Internal injuries: It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a truck accident. Even if you are lucky enough to walk away without any apparent injuries, internal bleeding or organ damage can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Victims of these accidents in Nashville often experience serious psychological trauma as well. After a serious truck accident, many victims are fearful of returning to the road and often develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
These are just a few examples of some of the common injuries that a truck accident may cause. Regardless of your injury, our team is here to help you secure compensation if a Nashville truck accident has left you with costly medical bills and unable to return to work. If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, our team is also available to help you pursue a
wrongful death claim. Do not wait. Contact Glenn Injury Law today to get started on the path toward justice.
Determining Liability in a Nashville Truck Accident
There are countless factors that can come into play during a truck accident. An accident may be caused by driver negligence, another vehicle on the road, poor weather, or malfunctioning equipment. After a Nashville truck accident, some parties that are commonly held liable for negligence include:
- Truck drivers: The driver of the truck may have been acting negligently or driving recklessly at the time of the accident, in which case, they would be held liable. Truck drivers may be in violation of federal regulations or engage in reckless behavior like speeding, texting and driving, drinking and driving, and more.
- Trucking companies: In some cases, the trucking company could be held liable if they hired an unqualified driver or failed to provide the proper training. Trucking companies may also share liability if they pressure their drivers to meet strict deadlines and work extra hours.
- Manufacturers: The truck may have malfunctioned and caused the accident. If the truck had faulty brakes or a tire blowout, the manufacturer could be held liable for their defective parts.
- Cargo loaders: We mentioned earlier that some truck accidents are caused by overloaded or improperly balanced loads. In these instances, the person or persons responsible for loading the truck could be responsible.
- Maintenance companies: Some trucking companies in Nashville will hire a third-party maintenance company to work on their vehicles. When these maintenance companies either fail to provide adequate service or perform necessary repairs, they could be held accountable for the accident.
There are several parties that could be held liable for your injuries, and some parties may even share responsibility for the accident. Regardless of who is at fault for the accident, our team at Glenn Injury Law is able to help victims of these accidents in Nashville recover economic and noneconomic damages, including:
- Medical expenses: Our team can help you recover compensation for medical expenses like hospital stays, medical bills, physical therapy, surgeries, medications, and more.
- Lost wages: This includes past and future income that you were unable to earn while recovering from your injuries.
- Pain and suffering: Glenn Injury Law can also help you recover non-financial losses caused by the accident. Victims who are faced with prolonged pain and discomfort from their injuries can seek compensation, as well as those who are suffering from mental and emotional distress after the accident.
Trust the team at Glenn Injury Law to secure you the maximum compensation in your Nashville truck accident case. We stand with our clients every step of the way and can make a serious difference in your case. Come see why clients in Nashville and Brentwood have trusted us to represent them in their truck accident cases for over a decade.
Contact Glenn Injury Law Today for Legal Support
If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a Nashville truck accident, our team wants to hear from you. As a member of the Academy of Trucking Accident Attorneys, Craig Glenn and the team at Glenn Injury Law have years of experience successfully representing clients in truck accident cases statewide. Our firm provides compassionate legal support and works closely with our clients every step of the way.
Our firm can help with your truck accident case in a number of different ways. We assist our clients by:
- Gathering evidence: Our Nashville team will help investigate the accident to gather strong evidence that can be used in your case. This includes gathering information such as police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and more. This evidence goes a long way in determining liability after your truck accident injury.
- Filing a lawsuit: Our team will work diligently to secure you a fair settlement for your injuries. If this settlement cannot be reached, we are well-prepared to help file a lawsuit and represent our clients in court.
- Communicating with insurance companies: After an accident, it is important to communicate with your insurance company wisely. Your insurance company may try to lowball you with an unfair settlement and pressure you into accepting it. Glenn Injury Law will communicate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that you receive a fair settlement for the accident.
An experienced truck accident attorney like Craig Glenn will be able to help victims of Nashville truck accidents secure the maximum compensation and hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence.
Glenn Injury Law is the personal injury law firm that you can trust. With over a decade of experience representing victims of personal injury cases, Craig Glenn provides the personalized service and attention of a smaller firm with the resources and expertise of a larger one. While our team is greatly experienced in handling truck accident cases, we also offer valuable legal representation and support in many other areas as well, including:
Call Glenn Injury Law today and schedule a free, confidential consultation to get started on your Nashville truck accident claim. We are committed to securing the maximum compensation for our clients and can help make a major difference in your case. We are here to offer support and guidance through these extremely challenging times. With Glenn Injury Law, there are no fees for our clients unless we win.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, come see us at our Brentwood office. Glenn Injury Law is the personal injury law firm that you can trust.
