Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in Memphis, Tennessee
The firms in this guide
1. NST Law
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Tractor-trailer accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial truck accidents, delivery truck accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, rear-end truck collisions, driver fatigue accidents, hours of service violation accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence investigation, FMCSR violation investigation, Tennessee state trucking regulation analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims
Background: NST Law has been advocating on behalf of truck accident victims and grieving families in Memphis and across the South since 1990. Over 30 years of experience handling trucking cases. Attorneys are nationally recognized for their commitment to clients and ability to achieve top results in truck accident cases. Content reviewed by Attorney A. Parker Trotz, who has handled injury cases involving auto accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, and negligent security. Not afraid to take on powerful trucking companies and insurance adjusters.
Location: Memphis, Tennessee (serves throughout Tennessee and the South)
Contact: https://www.nstlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement
2. The Gold Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, big rig accidents, commercial truck accidents, box truck accidents, delivery van accidents, flatbed accidents, tanker truck accidents, driver fatigue accidents, failure to yield accidents, distracted driving accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence investigation, federal regulation violation analysis, Tennessee Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division regulations, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages
Background: The Gold Law Firm has over 25 years of experience handling personal injury claims. Has successfully handled more than 5,000 personal injury claims. Secured tens of millions of dollars in compensation for clients. Over 165 five-star reviews and hundreds of client testimonials. Memphis-based attorneys understand Tennessee’s modified comparative fault rules and one-year statute of limitations. Thorough investigation to uncover responsible parties and prove liability.
Location: Memphis, Tennessee (serves Shelby County and surrounding areas)
Contact: https://www.dgoldlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement
3. Dunk Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial truck accidents, delivery truck accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, driver fatigue accidents, driver intoxication accidents, defective parts accidents, improper cargo loading accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence investigation, cargo loading investigation, vehicle maintenance investigation, federal regulation violation analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, property damage claims
Background: Dunk Law Firm has handled countless auto accident cases for the last 15 years. Attorneys know what evidence to look for to hold at-fault drivers and other parties accountable. Takes not only emergency expenses into consideration but future costs of care as injuries from truck accidents can be long-lasting and permanent. Ready to stand up against insurance adjusters, trucking companies, and more on behalf of clients. Recovered millions of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage for clients.
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Contact: (901) 231-4779 | https://www.slamdunklawyer.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement
4. The Law Office of David E. Gordon & Elissa M. Coombs
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, car accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Highway truck accidents (especially I-240), tractor-trailer accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial truck accidents, driver fatigue accidents, freight broker negligence accidents, shipper negligence accidents, overloaded truck accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence investigation, freight broker liability investigation, shipper liability investigation, federal regulation compliance analysis, Tennessee law and insurance regulation analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, pain and suffering damages, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims
Background: The Law Office of David E. Gordon & Elissa M. Coombs has years of experience handling serious highway truck accidents, especially those on Interstate 240. Attorneys know how the regulations of truck companies work and ensure these corporations follow the letter of the law. Every detail is managed professionally from start to finish. Individual attention to each case. Known for victories in negotiated settlements and at trial. Available 24/7 to serve clients. Treats clients with utmost compassion and care.
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Contact: https://www.davidgordonlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
5. Chiozza Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, car accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial truck accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end truck collisions, driver fatigue accidents, speeding truck accidents, reckless driving accidents, improper maintenance accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence investigation, road condition analysis, police report evaluation, federal and state trucking regulation investigation, driver licensing verification, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, psychological damage claims, physical damage claims, emotional damage claims
Background: Chiozza Law Firm understands the legalities and regulations related to trucking law. Investigates all aspects of trucking law from the trucking company and the driver to the road conditions and any additional parties involved. Committed to achieving a just outcome on behalf of clients. Attorneys help clients find out what factors led to the trucking accident, gather evidence, and pursue reimbursement. Evaluates traffic volume, weather, visibility, police reports, driver fatigue, distraction, speeding, and reckless driving.
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Contact: (901) 526-9494 | https://www.chiozzalaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement
Carrier Coverage, Driving Limits and Several Liability in Memphis Truck Crash Claims
A truck crash in Memphis brings federal carrier rules into the claim: the commercial vehicle definition, the carrier’s coverage minimum and the limits on the driver’s day. Tennessee law then makes each defendant liable only for its own share of fault and sets when punitive damages are allowed and capped.
Which Trucks the Federal Rules Reach and Their Coverage
Under 49 CFR 390.5, a commercial motor vehicle includes a vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or actual gross weight, of 10,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater. Under 49 CFR 387.9, a for-hire carrier hauling nonhazardous property in interstate or foreign commerce in a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000, and under 387.7 it may not operate until that coverage is in effect.
The Daily Driving Window and Post-Crash Testing
Except as otherwise provided in 49 CFR 395.1, 49 CFR 395.3(a) requires a property-carrying driver to have 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving, limits driving to 11 hours, bars driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and bars driving once more than 8 hours of driving time have passed without a consecutive 30-minute interruption. Under 382.303, a fatal crash requires alcohol and drug testing of the surviving driver, and an injury or tow-away crash requires it when the commercial driver is cited for a moving violation arising from the crash within 8 hours (alcohol) or 32 hours (drugs).
Each Defendant’s Share
Under Tennessee Code 29-11-107(a), when multiple defendants are found liable under comparative fault, each is severally liable only for the percentage of damages attributed to it. Under (b), joint and several liability remains for civil conspiracy and for manufacturers in strict liability or warranty product actions; under (c), vicarious liability and respondeat superior are not affected; and under (d), fault may be allocated to a nonparty, including an immune third party or a settling party.
Punitive Damages
Under Tennessee Code 29-39-104(a)(1) and (a)(2), punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of malicious, intentional, fraudulent or reckless conduct and are decided in a bifurcated proceeding. Under (a)(5) and (a)(6), they may not exceed the greater of two times compensatory damages or $500,000, a limit not disclosed to the jury, and under (a)(7) the limit does not apply in listed cases, including substantially impaired judgment under the influence of alcohol, drugs or another intoxicant, other than lawfully prescribed or over-the-counter drugs taken as directed.
Memphis Truck Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue the carrier?
One year after the cause of action accrues for injuries to the person under Tennessee Code 28-3-104(a)(1), or two years when criminal charges are brought against the person who caused the injury and the other conditions in (a)(2) are met.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, provided your negligence is less than the carrier’s. The Tennessee Supreme Court held in McIntyre v. Balentine (1992) that “so long as a plaintiff’s negligence remains less than the defendant’s negligence the plaintiff may recover”, with damages reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage. For example, imagine $250,000 in damages and 20 percent of the fault on the injured driver: the recovery would be $200,000. In apportioning noneconomic damages among defendants, Tennessee Code 29-39-102(b) also bars recovery for any damages if the plaintiff’s comparative fault, or in a wrongful death action the decedent’s fault, is equal to or greater than 50 percent.
Is pain and suffering capped?
Yes, with exceptions. Under Tennessee Code 29-39-102(a) and (e), all noneconomic damages for each injured plaintiff may not exceed $750,000 in the aggregate, and under (c) and (d) the limit is $1,000,000 for a listed catastrophic loss; under (h), no limit applies in listed cases, including specific intent to inflict serious physical injury and substantially impaired judgment under the influence of alcohol, drugs or another intoxicant, other than lawfully prescribed or over-the-counter drugs taken as directed.