Elizabethtown Truck Accident Lawyer
Commercial trucks are a vital part of the US economy. However, when involved in an accident, the results tend to be frightening, traumatic, and emotional.
These large vehicles weigh up to 80,000 pounds and require some form of expertise to drive them properly. Failure of the relevant knowledge when operating these large commercial vehicles could result in many fatalities and catastrophic injuries.
Elizabethtown lies between Louisville and Nashville and is along Interstate Highway 65. As a result, it gets more-than-average truck traffic as well as a relatively high number of serious truck accidents. In fact, Hardin County is the fifth highest of all counties in Kentucky for most truck accidents. In 2018, there were about 10,500 truck accidents recorded in Kentucky only, with 108 of the casualties involved in those accidents resulting in deaths.
Call Us 7 Days a week, even on weekends At (888) 782-9090
Commercial trucks are a vital part of the US economy. However, when involved in an accident, the results tend to be frightening, traumatic, and emotional.
These large vehicles weigh up to 80,000 pounds and require some form of expertise to drive them properly. Failure of the relevant knowledge when operating these large commercial vehicles could result in many fatalities and catastrophic injuries.
Elizabethtown lies between Louisville and Nashville and is along Interstate Highway 65. As a result, it gets more-than-average truck traffic as well as a relatively high number of serious truck accidents. In fact, Hardin County is the fifth highest of all counties in Kentucky for most truck accidents. In 2018, there were about 10,500 truck accidents recorded in Kentucky only, with 108 of the casualties involved in those accidents resulting in deaths.
Call Us 7 Days a week, even on weekends At (888) 782-9090
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HARDIN COUNTY
When she’s not engaged in her legal practice, Flora is giving back in the Hardin County community, helping in the schools, charities, and fundraising events. If you’ve been out and about, you might have seen her law firm’s mascots, Poppy and Pixie, the raccoons. She has donated over $200,000 to charities and fundraisers over the years including: BG OnStage, Kiwanis Club, Stuff the Bus, Lions Club, Toys for Tots for Southern KY, International Center of KY, Band Together BG, Poppy Field Trips, Thunderfest, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, South Central KY Kids on the Block, Operation Stand Down, Buddy Walk, and Save Our Kids Coalition.
If you or your family member is suffering from an injury or loss of a loved one owing to a semi-truck accident, you may be wondering what the next step is to get justice and compensation. Luckily, there are several available options. If the negligent actions of another were responsible for your suffering, you have a legal right to seek compensation.
Our experienced Elizabethtown KY truck accident lawyers at Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers are ready to help you demand justice and damages while holding the at-fault party accountable for their careless actions.
What Causes Commercial Truck Accidents?
According to Kentucky law, a commercial vehicle is a motor-propelled automobile with a registered weight of at least 10,000 pounds and whose primary function is to transport merchandise or freight. In turn, semi-trucks and big rigs fall in the commercial motor vehicle category due to their huge weight.
Several factors can cause truck accidents in Kentucky. However, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, driving errors by truck drivers are the leading cause of commercial truck accidents as it contributes to approximately 87% of truck accidents. According to the report, other common causes of truck accidents include bad driving conditions, which result in 3% of these accidents, and faulty trucks (1%).
More popular causes of truck accidents include:
- Dangerous conditions of the roads
- Driver fatigue
- Overspeeding
- Impaired or distracted driving
- Faulty loading of cargo on the truck
- Vehicle system failure
- Over-the-counter or prescription drug use
Knowing the cause of the truck accident you were involved in aids your truck accident lawyer in determining who is responsible for the accident, and consequently, who should pay the damages.
Who is Responsible for Your Elizabethtown KY Truck Accident?
Generally, truck accident cases tend to be more complex and time-consuming compared to other motor vehicle accidents. This is because of the possibility that more than one company or individual may be responsible for the accident. With the help of your Elizabethtown KY Truck accident lawyer, you can easily identify the parties to hold accountable and their available insurance coverage options to help in maximizing your compensation.
It is also worth noting that you can name several parties as defendants in your truck accident case. Entities or individuals that can be held responsible include:
The Truck Driver
If the cause of the truck accidents is due to the negligence of the truck driver, then he is legally responsible. Such negligence may be as a result of violating various traffic laws, intoxication, or driver fatigue, which may cause him to fall asleep at the wheel.
Cargo Loaders
If it is determined that the cause of the truck accident was improper loading of cargo, then you will claim damages from the cargo loaders. It could be an individual, a loading company, or the trucking company itself who is responsible. A skilled truck accident lawyer will assist you in determining the party responsible for the faulty loading of cargo on the truck.
The Trucking Company
Often, trucking companies take responsibility for the driver’s actions that caused the accident. In other cases, like if vehicle system failure was the cause of the truck accident, then the trucking company is directly responsible. They are also legally responsible if they are overworking their drivers by requiring them to drive for longer hours than permitted by state laws. With the help of a professional Elizabethtown KY Truck accident lawyer, you will easily determine the extent of responsibility of the trucking company.
Truck Owner
Sometimes, the trucking company and the truck owner are the same people. However, if they are not the same person, then it is possible to also claim against the owner of the truck involved in the accident. Often, truck owner responsibility arises when he/she negligently fails to inspect, repair, and maintain the truck to ensure its proper functioning.
The Mechanic
When the truck owner or the trucking company hires the services of a truck mechanic to perform repairs and maintenance, but he/she fails to do so adequately, then it is possible to claim against him as well.
Manufacturer of Truck Parts
Generally, commercial trucks consist of several complicated parts that aid in their smooth operation. If one of these parts is defectively manufactured, designed, or installed in the truck, it may result in its malfunctioning, which can result in severe injuries. If it is possible to prove that your truck accident came from a faulty component of the truck, then the part manufacturer can be held accountable.
Why Do I Need an Elizabethtown KY Truck Accident Lawyer?
As mentioned earlier, several legal issues arise from truck accidents. Our Elizabethtown KY truck accident lawyers will help you analyze and determine the claim. They will help you to:
- Analyze the merits of the claim
- Determine the parties accountable
- Assess and collect evidence beneficial to your claim
- File the relevant documents on your behalf
- Find expert physicians, economists, reconstructionists, and witnesses to help with your case
- Try to reach an agreement with the insurance companies involved
- Represent you at trial (if necessary)
Given that the events following a semi-truck accident may be overwhelming, it is beneficial to engage the services of an experienced semi-truck accident injury team to handle your legal claim as you focus on getting well.
Why Choose Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers?
Flora Templeton Stuart and her expert team of accident injury lawyers have been helping truck accident victims in Kentucky for over 45 years. We are passionate and dedicated to the people in our community and always strive to offer compassionate and personal legal services to all our clients. Our team is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure your claim is successful, even if it means coming to you if you cannot come to our offices physically.
Ms. Flora Stuart is an accomplished truck accident lawyer who enjoys giving back to the community. Being a former teacher, she is passionate about schools, education, and students and is the founding member of Today’s Leader and Poppy’s Field Trips. She also travels to different parts of the region donating school supplies to different schools. For more information about her charitable events, visit our Giving Back Page.
If you sustained injuries from a truck accident in Elizabethtown KY, contact our knowledgeable Elizabethtown KY truck accident lawyers as soon as possible. Call Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers at (888) 782-9090 or online for a free evaluation of your case to see how we can help you.
Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers
607 E 10th Ave
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(888) 782-9090