Knoxville Truck Accident Lawyers
Advocating passionately for clients injured by commercial vehicles
When a big truck like an 18-wheeler crashes into a smaller vehicle, the damage can be overwhelming. These trucks are huge and heavy, which means they can’t always stop in time, especially if the driver makes a mistake or isn’t paying attention. That combination can lead to serious, sometimes tragic, accidents.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash with a tractor-trailer or other commercial truck, the Knoxville truck accident lawyers at Banks & Jones are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. And if you lost a loved one in a truck accident, we’re here to guide you through a wrongful death claim with care and compassion.
How can we help?
- How deadly are truck accidents?
- What kinds of injuries can a truck accident cause?
- Which Knoxville roads have the most truck accidents?
- What are the causes of truck accidents in East Tennessee?
- What types of truck accidents happen in East Tennessee?
- Who is liable for a truck accident?
- What is the value of my Knoxville truck accident claim?
- How much does a Knoxville truck accident attorney cost?
- Do you have a Knoxville truck accident lawyer near me?
How deadly are truck accidents?
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, there were 156 fatal accidents involving trucks in 2024, resulting in 170 deaths. When trucks are involved in a crash, the chances of it being deadly are much higher compared to accidents between regular cars. Here’s why truck accidents are so dangerous:
- Trucks are way heavier than cars, which means they hit with much more force.
- They’re harder to control and stop, especially at high speeds or in bad weather.
- Trucks are larger in every way (wider, taller, and longer), so they can cause more damage.
- Some truck drivers speed to make more deliveries and earn more money.
- Drivers may be too tired, even though there are rules about how much rest they need.
Even when people survive a truck crash, they often suffer serious or permanent injuries; injuries that could have been less severe if the crash hadn’t involved a truck. That’s why truck accident cases need to be taken seriously and handled by someone who knows how to fight back.
Because tractor-trailers weigh literal tons, the impact of one of them hitting a car, a pedestrian, a cyclist, or a motorcycle rider is going to be catastrophic. Our firm routinely handles cases on behalf of people who have suffered:
- Burn injuries
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, like paralysis
- Loss of limb
- Organ damage
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent loss of vision or hearing
- Broken or shattered bones
- Wrongful death
Whether you are hurt in a head-on or rear-end collision, sustained injuries in a crash with a jackknifed 18-wheeler, or were hurt for any other reason, our team of talented Knoxville accident attorneys can help.
Which Knoxville roads have the most truck accidents?
Commercial trucks are a common sight in Knoxville. Smaller trucks, like delivery vans, garbage trucks, or moving vehicles, travel through neighborhoods and city streets every day. Bigger trucks, like semis and tractor-trailers, usually stick to major roads and highways.
At Banks & Jones, our Knoxville truck accident lawyers help people who’ve been hurt in crashes with commercial vehicles on roads and highways, such as:
- I-40
- I-275
- I-640
- I-75
- James White Parkway
No matter where your accident happened, if a commercial truck was involved, we’re ready to help you get the compensation you deserve.
What are the causes of truck accidents in East Tennessee?
At Banks & Jones, we’ve handled many trucking accident cases right here in Knoxville. We know how devastating these crashes can be, and we’re committed to helping victims and their families get the compensation they deserve. Our fearless legal team doesn’t back down, especially when someone’s future is on the line. We often represent clients who were injured because of a truck driver’s careless or reckless behavior, including:
- Driver fatigue
- Driving drunk or under the influence of drugs
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Medical emergency
- Failing to properly secure cargo, leading to shifting loads or debris flying from the truck
- Failing to properly maintain trucks
- Failing to properly train and supervise drivers
Sometimes, a crash happens because of a defective truck part. In those cases, we may be able to file a claim against the trucking company or even the part’s manufacturer. That includes major truck brands like Peterbilt, Mack, Dodge, Freightliner, Kenworth, and others.
These companies have teams of lawyers ready to fight your claim. They’ll try to delay the case, drown you in paperwork, or get you to settle for less. That’s why you need a skilled Knoxville truck accident lawyer who isn’t afraid to take these giants to court.
We’ve earned a reputation for being ready to go to trial, and that often pushes big companies and their insurers to offer fair settlements from the start. They know we don’t back down, and we won’t settle for less than you deserve. If you’re being denied justice, we’re prepared to stand up and fight for your future.
What types of truck accidents happen in East Tennessee?
Some truck accidents happen in the same manner as car accidents. These accidents include head-on crashes, rear-end crashes, sideswipes, and broadside collisions. Many truck accidents are unique to trucks. Some of the many types of crashes our Knoxville truck accident lawyers handle include:
- Jackknife accidents.These truck accidents happen when the trailer swings around after a forceful stop or turn, causing the trailer to be in a 90-degree position from the front of the truck. Some of the risk factors for jackknife accidents include slippery roads, speeding, road curves, and cargo that shifts. Trucks with empty trailers are at increased risk of a jackknife accident.
- Accidents due to blind spots. Large semis, cement trucks, and most large trucks have blind spots. These blind spots make it almost impossible for a driver to see directly behind the truck and to the right side of the truck. Mirrors often provide limited help. Some trucks are now using cameras to help drivers see what their eyes normally wouldn’t be able to see. Drivers should avoid driving directly behind or to the right of large trucks.
- Truck rollovers.Trucks are at an increased risk of rolling over because their center of gravity is different from a car. If a load shifts or a truck driver takes a curve at a high speed, the truck can easily roll over. Truck rollovers may cause multi-vehicle pileups, and other vehicles try to avoid the truck. The driver of the truck that rolls over often suffers severe injuries or death.
- Wide turn accidents. Trucks need a lot of room to make turns, especially right turns. They often need to shift into another lane to make the turn. The blind spots often mean the truck driver doesn’t see any cars or motorcycles near the truck when it turns. Drivers should also avoid being behind or to the side of a truck that is making a right turn.
- Rear-end collisions.Trucks require significantly longer stopping distances than cars, and when truck drivers are fatigued or speeding—common risk factors in trucking crashes—rear-end collisions can occur.
- Underride accidents.Passengers may slide under a truck when a crash occurs. An underride accident is often deadly. Trucks are generally required to have underride guards to help reduce the severity of an accident. Truck drivers should be sure to signal their intention to brake or turn as early as possible to reduce the likelihood of a truck underride crash.
- Improperly loaded trucks. There are rules and regulations governing how heavy a load a truck can haul and how the load should be secured. If cargo spills from a truck or falls off a truck, the cargo can strike another vehicle, causing death or injury. Drivers may also run into the cargo or may run into other cars in order to avoid the spilled cargo. Spills include liquids and gases as well as solids.
- Tire blowouts. Trucks have more tires than cars, which increases the odds of a blowout. If a tire blows out, the truck driver can lose control of the truck, causing a deadly or severe truck crash.
- Garbage trucks. The garbage truck companies and drivers that provide waste removal services have a duty to ensure that the trucks that keep our neighborhoods clean drive safely.
- Amazon trucks. For several decades now, Amazon trucks have been delivering all types of home, consumer, commercial, and industrial products. On almost any given day, you can see several Amazon trucks in your community. For a fee, you can get Amazon products fast, often on the same day or the next day. While shopping online is convenient, it comes with the price of relying on companies and drivers who might face tight delivery schedules, contributing to unsafe driving practices in Amazon’s delivery network.
- FedEx. FedEx promises speed. Speed is right there in their slogan: “When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.” Even when drivers operate their trucks without speeding, there are many other reasons FedEx accidents are likely to happen and likely to cause severe injuries or deaths.
Who is liable for a truck accident?
One of the tricky things about truck accidents is that more than one person or company can be held responsible. In fact, having multiple people or businesses involved can actually make it easier to reach a fair settlement, especially if one party has limited or no insurance coverage. Here are some of the possible defendants in a Knoxville truck accident case:
- The truck driver, whether they were driving a semi, box truck, 18-wheeler, or other commercial vehicle
- The truck owner, if someone other than the driver owns the vehicle
- The trucking company, meaning the company that hired or employed the driver
- The cargo broker, who is the person or business that arranged the shipment
- Any tavern or seller of liquor to a driverwho was visibly intoxicated or to a driver under 21, if the driver then caused the accident
- The company in charge of loading/unloading, if cargo was handled improperly or contributed to the crash
Depending on the details of your case, others may also share legal responsibility. An experienced Knoxville truck accident lawyer can investigate the crash, find out who’s at fault, and hold them accountable.
What is the value of my Knoxville truck accident claim?
If you were hurt in a truck accident, you’re probably wondering how much your case is worth. The truth is, it depends on several things, but here’s a quick breakdown to help you understand what goes into it.
Several factors affect how much money you may recover:
- Medical bills, including hospital stays, surgeries, rehab, medications, and more
- Lost wages, including time off work or long-term loss of income
- Pain and suffering, which is your physical pain, emotional stress, trauma
- Property damage, including car repairs or replacement, plus damaged belongings
- If you’re partially at fault, your compensation may be reduced
- Trucking companies usually have higher insurance policy limits, which can mean a larger payout
We’re here to answer your questions and fight for the compensation you deserve. Consultations are free, and you don’t pay unless we win. Let’s talk.
How much does a Knoxville truck accident attorney cost?
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we only get paid if your case settles (with your approval) or there is a trial verdict. The contingency fee is an incentive to fight as hard as we can for you.
Do you have a Knoxville truck accident lawyer near me?
Banks & Jones is located at 2125 Middlebrook Pike in Knoxville, Tennessee. Contact us for a free consultation. If you are too injured to come to us, we can come to you. Video conferences are available.
Contact a firm that tackles truck accident cases head-on
Defense lawyers at trucking and insurance companies in the Knoxville area have come to fear our legal team at Banks & Jones because we consistently represent accident victims with competence and tenacity. You can schedule a consultation to discuss your case with a Knoxville truck accident lawyer at our office by contacting us or calling our offices today.
