Tennessee Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer

An accident involving a commercial tractor-trailer and a car brought to mind some advice that I would like to share for the families of those who are injured or killed in Tennessee by a negligent tractor-trailer driver. For a trucking company whose vehicles travel millions of miles per year, accidents are an everyday occurrence. Trucking companies have gotten this process down to a science and in many cases have specialized accident investigators at the scene of an accident interviewing the truck driver even before he she talks to the police investigation.

According to local media sources the tractor-trailer, loaded with flour, was going too fast around the curve getting off of I-65 and hit a car as he was tipping over.

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these kind of  cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

Tractor-Trailer Accident

Local East Tennessee media reported that the driver of the commercial truck lost control around 6:30 Sunday night after passing a car in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 341, and then crashed into a guardrail and overturned. Fortunately, neither the driver nor his dog were injured

Police investigators are going to have to figure out what caused the driver to lose control. As an experienced Nashville tractor-trailer lawyer, my first thought was that the driver might have been going to fast for the circumstances and had to swerve and lost control.

Fortunately, no other drivers were injured or killed. What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these kind of  cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

Deer Related Fatality

A local media report came across my desk that tells of a family highway tragedy. Seven people in a minivan full of relatives were killed, and four were injured when their vehicle hit a deer on an Indiana highway and slowed down or stopped just before a Tractor-trailer slammed into them from behind, this past Friday.

Several things came to mind. The first is that all drivers are required to maintain a safe distance while following so that if something happens that cause the vehicle ahead to slow, that there is plenty of time and space for the following vehicle to respond.  From what I’ve read, the cause of the fatalities is the truck driver’s failure to follow at a safe distance and maintain control of his/her vehicle.

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney, I want to take this opportunity to once again remind you all of you to pay particular attention, especially in the morning and at dusk, for deer. The Tennessee Department of Safety cautions motorists to watch out for deer, especially during the months prone to deer-related crashes, October through December.

Deer-related crashes are on the rise in Tennessee as urban growth encroaches into rural areas. In 2006, there were 5,884 deer-related crashes, including 289 that involved injuries and two that were fatal. That was up 19 percent from 4,942 in 2005. Since 2003, deer-related crashes in Tennessee have risen over 33 percent.

In the month of November Tennessee recorded 1,334 deer-related crashes, by far the highest month for such crashes. December and October were the second and third highest months, which saw double the average number of deer-related crashes throughout the year.

A couple of suggestions:

If you see one deer there will probably be several more

If you happen to collide with a deer, never approach it, an injured deer can prove very dangerous.

Do not try to swerve around an animal.

If you swerve you could lose control of your vehicle and hit a tree or another vehicle, both potentially much worse than hitting a deer. If you swerve, there’s also a chance that the animal will panic and run into your path. Instead, keep your lane position and sound your horn while braking in a controlled manner.

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these kind of  cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

Commercial Truck Accident

As an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer, I still find it hard to believe it when a tractor-trailer driver, after slamming into stopped traffic on Interstate 81, tells police he “didn’t notice traffic on the Interstate had stopped.” Fortunately no one died. The next question the investigators are going ask is, “what were you doing that prevented you from paying attention to the traffic in front of you on the interstate highway?”

The first step in the investigation is to confiscate the drivers cell phone and log book. Under Federal law it is a violation if a commercial truck driver uses a cell phone while driving. The logbook will reveal whether the driver has violated the law on how many hours he/she may drive.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes. Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a serious Tennessee tractor-trailer accident due to somebody else’s negligence, then you may be feeling angry, frightened, or even alone in your suffering.

There is no reason for you to bear your burden alone.  The experience of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident is traumatic enough and your recovery will bring its own challenges.  You don’t need the added stress of worrying about who will pay for the medical care you need, how your car will be repaired, and if the individuals responsible for your suffering will be brought to justice.  This is the time to call Phillip Miller & Associates, the law firm of local Tennessee attorneys and staff who for the past 25 years have dedicated their lives to protecting the rights of injured men, women, and children in Tennessee. Call 615-356-2000.

Drive To Road Conditions

A tractor-trailer overturned in Claiborne County Tennessee when he failed to negotiate a curve on State Highway 33. A driver is responsible for maintaining control of his/her vehicle. This is especially true on hilly windy rural highways. Fortunately there were no other vehicles involved and no one lost their life.

Thousands of drivers every year are injured and killed because of commercial truck accidents. One of the main causes of these accidents is driver fatigue. Commercial trucking is a vital component to our economy and every year it seems to this experienced Nashville tractor-trailer lawyer that this commercial pressure causes more and more commercial drivers to violate the law by driving longer and further to make an extra buck.

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these kind of  cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

If you are involved in a Tennessee accident with a tractor-trailer contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

Motorcycle And A Tractor-Trailer - Bad Mix

In Bristol, Tennessee a collision between a tractor-trailer car hauler and a motorcycle killed the motorcyclist on Wednesday afternoon. The motorcyclist and the tractor-trailer were both driving in the same direction when the motorcycle hit the rear of the tractor-trailer around 3:23 p.m. According to local media reports, police do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were involved in the collision but police did tell the press that charges are pending.

Without more information it’s impossible to say what caused this fatality, but the fact that charges are pending means that the police think that the truck driver was at fault. What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?

It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators.

The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these kind of cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates.

If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case.

Practice Interstate Highway Safety

A Brownsville, Tennessee man was killed when he was struck by a tractor-trailer truck while he was standing outside of his vehicle on Interstate 40 near mile marker 66, according to local media reports. The 45-year-old man had parked his vehicle in the right emergency lane with its flashers on and was standing outside, according to the reports.

The driver of an eastbound tractor-trailer was traveling in the right lane, saw the vehicle pulled over, and merged to the left lane in plenty of time. According to the fatality report filed by the THP, the man waved his hands as the tractor-trailer approached and jumped into his path, striking the right running board. From the media reports it appears that the tractor-trailer driver did everything by the book, but was unable to avoid the suicide by truck.

For these and other important Tennessee highway safety tips visit the website of Phillip Miller & Associates or call 615-356-2000

Distracted Truck Driver

In heavy traffic, one act of negligence can turn into a chain reaction collision that might well have fatal consequences. That was the case this past week when two people were badly injured in a rear-end collision that began when cars began to slow for an upcoming construction project zone.

Somewhere back in the line was a tractor-trailer that failed to slow down and slammed into the vehicle ahead of it, and on and on, to the vehicle ahead of it. Fortunately no one was killed but a number of vehicle were wrecked and their drivers and passengers injured.

When questioned by police, the truck driver told them he was adjusting his mirrors and when he looked ahead it was too late to stop. As an experienced Tennessee accident attorney, I would remind this truck driver and all Tennessee drivers that the time to adjust your mirrors is before you put your vehicle on the road.

Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes. Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.  Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, and drowsiness. Investigators will most probably review his cell phone records and find that he was engaged in a conversation with someone and concocted the mirror story to avoid getting fired.

This accident brings to mind some advice that I would like to share for the families of those who are injured or killed in Tennessee by a negligent tractor-trailer driver. For a trucking company whose vehicles travel millions of miles per year, accidents are an everyday occurrence. Trucking companies have gotten this process down to a science and in many cases have specialized accident investigators at the scene of an accident interviewing the truck driver even before he she talks to the police investigation.

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

Time is of the essence in these type of cases. Although most cases can be reconstructed at a later time it is important to have someone looking out for your best interests as soon as possible. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer accident lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. If you or a loved one is injured in a car tractor-trailer accident act quickly and take advantage of a no-cost-no-obligation consultation and learn about your rights and put our crack team of lawyers and investigators on the case. Call 615-356-2000.

Truck Driver High On Dope

North Carolina State troopers say the driver of a tractor-trailer was under the influence of marijuana and methadone when his vehicle caused a crash on Interstate 40 that killed three people Thursday. The 50-year-old Tennessee man is in the Durham County jail after being charged with driving while impaired and three counts of felony death by vehicle.

The man was driving a truck owned by an East Tennessee company that has been cited for dozens of violations related to fatigued drivers and unsafe driving, according to federal inspection records. The accident killed the drivers of three other vehicles.

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises.

During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

If you are the victim of a Nashville or Tennessee tractor-trailer accident we urge you to contact our experienced Tennessee accident attorneys today for a free consultation. When you hire an auto accident attorney from Phillip Miller & Associates, you’re getting a qualified and dedicated lawyer. Details about our attorneys and staff can be found by viewing our website at www.seriousinjury.com where you can get to know the men and women who will be looking out for your best interest.

Double Tractor-Trailer Fatality

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a one-vehicle accident that killed two New York men riding in a tractor-trailer just before 6 a.m. today on Interstate 40 in Decatur County. Officials said the truck was west bound on I-40 and six miles west of Sugar Tree when it ran into the median, hit a beam, went over a bridge barrier and caught fire.

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney my best guess is that one of three things caused this accident. The driver had a medical emergency, fell asleep at the wheel of was somehow distracted and left the roadway.

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney we know that these crashes are referred to as “Roadway Departure Crashes” (RDCs). The Federal Highway Administration defines a RDC as a non-intersection crash that occurs when a vehicle crosses an edge line or a centerline, or otherwise leaves the traveled way. According to the Federal Highway Administration roadway departure crashes are frequently severe and account for the majority of highway fatalities.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities.

As our population ages we might expect to see more Tennessee automobile accidents caused by drivers who suffer medical emergencies while they are driving. Incidences of drivers who had crashes precipitated by their medical emergencies while driving are relatively rare and account for only 1.3 percent of all road fatalities.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes. Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee tractor-trailer traffic accident contact the experienced Nashville tractor-trailer accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.