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Truck Accidents

  • Truck Accident

Knoxville Truck Accident Lawyers

Advocating passionately for clients injured by commercial vehicles

When 18-wheelers, semis, rigs, and other heavy trucks collide with other vehicles, the consequences are often devastating. The sheer size of these beasts can keep them from stopping in time; add in driver negligence and error, and the results can be catastrophic. If you or your loved one has suffered an injury because of a collision with a tractor-trailer or other large commercial truck, the Knoxville truck accident lawyers at Banks & Jones are ready to fight aggressively for your rightful compensation. If you lose a loved one in a truck accident, our firm is here to support you throughout the wrongful death claim process.

We have decades of experience and working relationships with truck industry professionals and medical professionals to help victims obtain all the compensation they deserve. Our legal team is ready to tackle tough cases in court every day. We handle the cases that other lawyers think are too complex. Call us now to assert your rights.

Our record of recoveries in truck accident cases includes:

  • A confidential seven-figure recovery in West Tennessee for an accident involving a big rig
  • A seven-figure sealed resolution in a case involving a tractor-trailer accident

How can we help?

  • What types of truck accidents happen in East Tennessee?
  • What are the causes of truck accidents in East Tennessee?
  • What kinds of injuries can a truck accident cause?
  • How much does a Knoxville truck accident attorney cost?
  • How deadly are truck accidents?
  • Which Knoxville roads have the most truck accidents?
  • Who is liable for a truck accident?
  • FAQs
  • Do you have a Knoxville truck accident lawyer near me?

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 have an 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 truck driver to see directly behind the truck and to the sides 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 have an increased risk of rolling over because their center of gravity is different from that of 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 harm the occupants of other vehicles as they 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 avoid being behind or to the side of a truck that is making a right turn.
  • Rear-end collisions. Trucks need a much greater distance to stop than cars because of the size and weight of the truck, creating a risk of rear-end collisions.
  • 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 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.

Accidents due to specific types of trucks

Our Knoxville truck accident lawyers handle accidents involving semis, rigs, tractor-trailers, box trucks, and all other types of trucks, including the following:

  • 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 that regularly prioritize speed over safety.
  • 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.
  • Other types of delivery trucks. Banks & Jones also files personal injury and wrongful death claims against Walmart truck drivers, DHL truck drivers, and local delivery trucks (like pizza delivery trucks).

What are the causes of truck accidents in East Tennessee?

Our Knoxville truck accident lawyers work with professionals and through the discovery process (where we question everyone who has relevant information and examine black boxes and electronic logging devices) to show why your accident was preventable.

Some of the common causes of truck accidents include the following:

In cases where a truck part malfunctions or is deemed defective, you may be able to file a claim against the trucking company or the manufacturer of the part itself.

Bringing a claim against some of the county’s largest truck manufacturers – Peterbilt, Mack, Dodge, Freightliner, Western Star, Caterpillar, Kenworth, and the like – can be a challenge. These companies have a team of attorneys on their side who have no problem trying to bury you in paperwork.

That is why you need a skilled Knoxville truck accident lawyer who has experience taking these commercial giants on in a courtroom. Our willingness to take a case to trial has often led big companies and insurers to offer a fairer and just settlement offer from the start, because they know we won’t settle for anything less than what you deserve. If you are being denied your rightful compensation, we’re prepared to fight for you and your future.

What kinds of injuries can a truck accident cause?

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:

Our team of talented Knoxville accident attorneys can help, regardless of how your truck accident happened.

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.

How deadly are truck accidents?

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, there were 170 fatalities from truck accidents in 2024. Through mid-August 2025, there have been 87 truck accident fatalities in Tennessee.

A Knoxville vehicle crash is much more likely to be deadly when a truck is involved than a car, for several reasons:

  • Trucks are much heavier than cars
  • Trucks are much more difficult to operate than cars
  • Trucks are much wider, taller, and longer than cars
  • Truck drivers often speed more than car drivers because the faster a driver makes deliveries, the more money the driver can make by doing more trips
  • Truck drivers often drive tired, even though there are rules regulating how much sleep and rest they should get

Even when car occupants survive a truck crash, they are much more likely to suffer a catastrophic or permanent injury than if trucks weren’t involved in the vehicle crash.

Which Knoxville roads have the most truck accidents?

Commercial trucks can be found all over Knoxville. Smaller box trucks, like delivery vehicles or garbage trucks, drive all throughout the city. Semis, however, will largely stick to larger thoroughfares and interstates. Our team of Knoxville truck accident lawyers helps people who have been injured in auto accidents with commercial vehicles on highways like:

  • I-40
  • I-275
  • I-640
  • I-75
  • James White Parkway

Who is liable for a truck accident?

Many different people and companies may be liable for a truck accident. The more defendants to a case, the easier it often becomes to settle a case. If a responsible driver only has the minimum insurance or doesn’t have insurance, the other defendants can help pay a settlement or a verdict.

Possible defendants in a Knoxville truck crash are:

  • The driver of a semi, 18-wheeler, rig, box truck, or any other type of truck
  • The owner(s) of the truck, if they are different than the driver
  • The trucking company that hired the truck driver
  • The broker who arranged for the delivery of the cargo or inventory
  • Any other companies involved in the shipment
  • Any tavern or seller of liquor to a driver who was visibly intoxicated or to a driver under 21 – if the driver then caused the accident
  • The company that owned the loading or unloading docks

Other people or businesses may also be liable, depending on how the accident occurred.

FAQs

What’s the value of my truck accident claim in Tennessee?

At Banks & Jones, we work with your doctors to understand the full scope and severity of your injuries. We also work with your employer, life planners, truck repair and valuation experts, and others to determine your damages. We demand compensation for all your damages so far and all your future damages, including your:

  • Medical bills of every kind
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Loss of income, including compensation if you cannot work again
  • Loss of bodily function
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
  • Loss of consortium (enjoyment and comfort of your spouse)

If the conduct of a defendant is unconscionable, we seek punitive damages.

If a loved one died in a truck accident due to the negligence or fault of others, we file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family. Wrongful death damages in Tennessee include the funeral and burial expenses, the loss of financial support your loved one would have provided, and the loss of personal support (love, guidance, comfort, and society) your loved one would have provided.

How much time do I have to file a truck accident claim in Knoxville?

Generally, truck accident victims and the families of loved ones must file their personal injury claim or wrongful death claim within one year from the date of the truck accident. Some shorter time limits may apply.

The best course of action is to contact us immediately. The sooner we speak with you, the better we can prepare your claim.

Do you have a Knoxville truck accident lawyer near me?

Banks & Jones is located at 2125 Middlebrook Pike in Knoxville, Tennessee. We also speak with new and current clients by phone and through online video platforms like Zoom. If your health prevents you from traveling, we’re able to make arrangements to see you away from our office.

We’re here to answer your questions and guide you through the claims process.

Contact our tough Knoxville truck accident lawyers today

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 free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers at our office by calling us or using our contact form. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our success depends on your success.

Truck Accident Blog Posts

What Is a Blind Spot Accident?

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I would definitely recommend Scott Jones to my friends and family. He made me feel very comfortable during the entire process and helped me understand how to help myself! Best in Knoxville! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [Google Review]