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Truck Accidents
Approximately 125,000
people are injured and 5,000 people are killed every year in truck
accidents. A fully loaded tractor-trailer may weigh up to 80,000
pounds, while the average passenger car weighs less than 4,000 pounds.
Not surprisingly, most people killed in truck accidents are drivers
and passengers in cars and vans.
Legal responsibility for truck
accidents is controlled by the law
of negligence. A truck driver who violates the rules of the
road or who drives unsafely is negligent. Truck drivers,
like all other drivers, must obey state and local traffic laws.
In addition, truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to
the
Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, a comprehensive set of rules
covering a variety of subjects, including driver qualifications,
alcohol and drug testing, limitations on drivers' working hours,
and vehicle inspection and maintenance.
The truck driver, his trucking
company and the insurance company are financially responsible for
the injuries and damages that the driver causes. Federal law requires
trucking companies engaging in interstate commerce to have liability insurance to pay for injuries or damages caused
by drivers. Many trucking companies have one million dollars or
more of liability insurance. Trucking companies transporting hazardous
materials must have additional in liability insurance.
The lawyers at Hawkins, Bingham & Miller believe that a successful truck accident case
begins with a thorough accident investigation. In almost all cases
we recommend preserving the evidence, particularly if fault is disputed
or if there is any doubt as to the cause of the accident. |
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Our lawyers and
our staff interview the investigating officers, the eyewitnesses,
and the emergency medical personnel. We photograph the vehicles
and the scene of the accident and take measurements of the vehicles
and at the scene. Hawkins, Bingham & Miller also frequently
work with qualified and trained accident reconstructionists who
examine the physical evidence and give expert opinions regarding
the cause of the accident. These experts can often substantiate
or corroborate eyewitness testimony and help win the case.
| If you have been injured or
a member of your family has been killed in a truck accident you
may want to contact us to investigate
your case. There is no charge for a consultation and we do not charge
an attorneys' fee unless we are successful in your case and you
recover compensation. |
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Our Offices:
Hawkins, Bingham, & Miller
1397 E. Center St.,
Kingsport, TN 37664
423.246.9100
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