Memphis Truck Wreck Attorney | Truck Accident Lawyers Memphis TN
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Author: Larry “Jimmy” Peters
Updated August 2025
Truck Accident Injury Attorneys Memphis TN
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Why Truck Accident Claims in Memphis Are More Complicated Than You Think
When searching for a truck wreck attorney in Memphis, you need experienced lawyers who understand the devastating reality of 18-wheeler accidents. All accidents on the road are frightening but when it comes to fatal accidents in Memphis, truck accidents come to front of mind. The damage and personal injuries that are caused by truck accidents in Memphis, Tennessee are more serious than other types of accidents like passenger car accidents, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, van and bus accidents, bicycle accidents and others. That’s because trucks are usually massive in size. A fully loaded semi-trailer truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When you compare the 18-wheeler weight to your car which probably weighs around 2,500 to 4,000 pounds, you’ll understand why a trucking collision in Memphis can be disastrous.
Memphis is a major hub for freight transportation, making our Memphis truck accident attorneys particularly essential. This makes heavy tractor-trailer traffic run throughout our city with a lot of traffic on I-55, I-40, I-240, and even Lamar Ave/US-78 and Airways Blvd. There are many more accidents with underride, jackknife, and rear-end impacts with 18-wheelers throughout Memphis and Shelby County. Our truck accident lawyers in Memphis have seen how these crashes devastate families.
When a truck collides with a smaller vehicle on Memphis roads, people inside the smaller vehicle may suffer severe personal injuries like brain trauma, broken bones, spinal injuries, and others. These injuries can take months or years to recover from, and sometimes, the damage done to the victims may impair them permanently. If you’ve been in a truck wreck in Memphis, you need attorneys who understand these complex cases.
We have some trauma hospitals that are the best in the midsouth for injuries like these. Our Memphis truck wreck lawyers often see clients at Regional One Health (used to be The Med), Methodist University Hospital, and Baptist Memorial Hospital. Often times we see our clients in or after they have gone to these Memphis hospitals with significant injuries from truck accidents.
Most people believe that the truck driver is always the only one to blame after an accident in Memphis and that he/she should be held accountable for the damages. However, truck accident cases in Memphis don’t work that way. Faults are usually not limited to an individual or a company because truck drivers and trucking companies are guided by special regulations from federal and state laws. For example, drivers are not supposed to spend too many hours behind the steering wheel without a rest break, trucks should be checked and maintained frequently and freight loaded in a particular way. Failure in any of these can lead to or be the cause of a crash on Memphis highways. And that means you may be able to hold more than one person or business accountable. Our Memphis truck accident attorneys are here to show you how to hold trucking companies accountable.
When you are involved in a crash in Memphis, the commercial trucking insurance will have a team of lawyers and insurance representatives. Their job is not to assist you or help you in any way. Their job is to defend their business and pay you as little as possible or nothing. They may try to settle with you quickly even when you don’t know the extent of your injuries or they might even attempt to blame you so that they do not have to pay. This is the reason why trucking wrecks are not like other car accidents. They’re harder. They cost more to fight. And you have to fight with companies that do this on a daily basis. So, to get a fair chance, you will need a truck wreck attorney in Memphis who knows how all these things work. You need a trained Memphis attorney who will sift through driver logs, truck inspection reports, GPS records and even the black box of the truck.
Why You Need Southern Injury Attorneys for Your Memphis Truck Accident Claims
Within hours of a truck accident in Memphis, carriers can repair trucks or cycle drivers off duty. We immediately send legal hold letters and move to secure ECM/ELD, dashcam, GPS, DQF, and maintenance records before they disappear. The maintenance requirements on the trucks are important due to the parts wearing much quicker and the wrecks delayed maintenance causes is so much more significant. You may want to wait and get your bearings before proceeding with getting a Memphis truck wreck attorney. But the clock starts ticking the moment the truck hits you on a Shelby Drive in Memphis. Just as the song goes: Shelby Drive, look alive. You need to move quick. The more time you take, the more difficult it will be to defend your rights. The insurance company and trucking company are not taking a break.
At Southern Injury Attorneys, our truck accident lawyers in Memphis, TN have seen how fast important evidence gets destroyed after an accident. The trucking company may be in a hurry to repair or even destroy the vehicle involved in the Memphis crash, the logbooks of the drivers may be discreetly tampered with or even misplaced, and, worst of all, the black box, the digital data recorder that monitors speed, braking, and hours of service, can be overwritten if it is not preserved on time. All this evidence is usually needed for the establishment of fault in Memphis truck accidents and once it is destroyed, it becomes more difficult to prove your claims. That is why when you call Southern Injury Attorneys, our Memphis truck accident lawyers move quickly. We issue legal preservation notices to preserve the truck immediately and we hire the best hands to examine the truck, go through records and secure all the information that could be used to support your Memphis truck wreck claim.
Apart from evidence getting destroyed, you also need to call our experts on time because of a term called the statute of limitations, which is the legal time limit that you have to file your lawsuit in Memphis. If you fail to file it, even by one day, your whole case can be dismissed, no matter how serious your injuries are or how clear the fault of the trucking company is. It is not only the court deadlines that you need to worry about. The insurance companies usually have their own internal deadlines for filing a claim or submitting the necessary documents. And when you fail to meet those, they can use it as an excuse to delay or deny your payout. That is why you need Southern Injury Attorneys, Memphis truck wreck attorneys, to watch your back from the first day.
As you are attempting to rest and heal in a Memphis hospital, the insurance team of the trucking company is on the ground taking photos, interviewing witnesses, reviewing the scene, and sometimes looking for ways to spin the story to make their driver appear as the victim. Sometimes, their investigators may get to the scene of the crash within hours and may already start preparing a defense even before you see a doctor. So, if you try to do things yourself or wait to see how bad things can get, you will usually lose even before you start. That is where our Memphis truck accident attorneys come into the picture. Our 18-wheeler attorneys at Southern Injury Attorneys get involved early, level the playing field and defend your interests from day one.
We do not just sit back and wait to respond; we assume control of the case at the onset. Our qualified truck accident attorneys in Memphis are familiar with the trucking industry. We understand what they must do according to federal safety regulations and we understand the shortcuts that they tend to take. We will not just scratch the surface of the case, but also research driver history, vehicle maintenance history, inspection reports, and safety violations by the company. We immediately start moving to get ELD/ECM, dashcam footage, GPS/Qualcomm data, the driver qualification file, post-trip inspection reports, bill of lading and shipper instructions, and even request warehouse CCTV. Our Memphis truck wreck lawyers will work to create a bullet-proof case to keep the trucking companies on their toes and get you the compensation you need to recover completely and get compensated.
Calling our truck wreck attorneys in Memphis early also gives you room to breathe. You do not have to figure out what to do. There is no need to fear not being able to meet deadlines or work with confusing insurance documents. You will not need to worry about taking shady phone calls from the 18-wheeler insurance adjusters whose job is to lure you into making inappropriate statements. With Southern Injury Attorneys at your side, you have the time to concentrate on recovery while we work on victory.
Allow experienced Memphis truck accident lawyers at Southern Injury Attorneys to remove this burden off of your shoulders and to fight on your behalf to get you compensated. You can call us when you are ready, and the earlier you do, the better your Memphis truck accident case will be.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Memphis and Tennessee?
The increase in the number of truck accidents in the United States, including Memphis, at one point was so alarming that the federal government was forced to intervene. This prompted the creation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) by the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. The mission of this agency was quite straightforward: to minimize the occurrence of crashes, personal injuries, and deaths from large-trucks in Memphis and nationwide by implementing the national safety rules and controlling the interstate trucking industry.
Despite such endeavors the statistics for truck accidents in Memphis are still quite alarming. In 2021 alone, the FMCSA revealed that there were 5,340 fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses, which is a frightening indicator of how much these vehicles continue to endanger American roads, including Memphis highways. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also estimated 415,000 police-reported accidents involving large trucks in the U.S. in 2020 and of those crashes, 4,444 were fatal.
Worse still, about 70% of the people who died were not the truck drivers but occupants of other vehicles on roads like I‑40 and I‑55 in Memphis. In 2022, 5,936 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks. In Tennessee, large trucks were involved in about 8% of vehicles in fatal crashes (2022). The Truck Safety Coalition’s “Deadliest Dozen” has included Tennessee among states with elevated risk, underscoring the danger on high‑volume freight corridors like I‑55/Crump and Lamar Avenue. The region’s freight intensity is documented in the Memphis MPO’s 2024 Freight Report.
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Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Memphis You Need to Know About
When a truck accident in Memphis occurs, it’s easy to point fingers at the driver. However, truck accidents in Memphis, Tennessee are rarely black and white. In most cases, multiple factors—some obvious, others hidden—combine. Knowing the true cause helps build a stronger case. Our Memphis truck‑wreck attorneys investigate all potential contributors.
Truck Driver Fatigue on Memphis Highways
Truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road, including long hauls through Memphis on I‑40 and I‑55. Even with federal hours‑of‑service limits, delivery pressure to reach Memphis warehouses can push drivers past safe limits. Fatigue slows reaction time, degrades focus, and impairs judgment—often harder to detect unless you know how to read ELD data, logbooks, and driver schedules. Our truck‑accident lawyers in Memphis know exactly what to look for along key corridors like I‑55/Crump and Lamar Avenue, as highlighted in the Memphis MPO Freight Report.
Distracted Driving Through Memphis
Distractions are everywhere. Using a phone or GPS while guiding a 40‑ton rig on I‑240 or Lamar Avenue, flipping dispatch screens, eating, or reaching for paperwork can be enough to cause catastrophe. When distraction causes a Memphis truck crash, proof can vanish quickly. We move fast to subpoena phone records and telematics, and we correlate timing with traffic patterns near I‑55/Crump and freight flows documented by the MPO.
Poorly Loaded or Overloaded Cargo in Memphis
Loads moving to and from Memphis distribution centers must be properly balanced and secured. Shifting freight can cause swerves, tip‑overs, or jackknifes; overloaded trailers lengthen stopping distances on I‑55 and I‑40 and make evasive maneuvers harder. Responsibility may extend beyond the driver to third‑party loaders—adding additional defendants. Our attorneys trace that chain of custody and match it against corridor work on Lamar Avenue and I‑55/Crump, as well as the freight‑intensity data in the Memphis MPO Freight Report.
Trucks travel hundreds of miles daily through Memphis under heavy loads. Lack of routine maintenance can make parts wear out and systems fail. The most common mechanical problems that cause accidents in Memphis are .
Trailer detachment on Memphis highways, brake failure causing rear‑end collisions, steering problems leading to loss of control, and tire blowouts on I‑40 or I‑55. Trucking companies are legally obligated to inspect and maintain their vehicles. When they fail to conduct safety checks or postpone repairs, they endanger everybody on Memphis roads, so they can be held liable when accidents happen. Our truck wreck attorneys in Memphis investigate maintenance records thoroughly.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving in Memphis
Although trucks are large and heavy, some drivers operate them like sports cars through Memphis; speeding, tailgating, and weaving in and out of traffic on I-240 to meet a tight schedule. The quicker a truck travels through Memphis, the more difficult it becomes to stop it. Massive collisions happen every day due to impatient 18-wheeler drivers.
Why This Matters for Your Memphis Truck Accident Case: Gathering this evidence is important. It allows our Memphis truck accident lawyers to pursue the driver, the trucking company, and possibly distributors. It lets us propose new theories of liability to go after. That gets us more pockets to delve into. We could get the driver’s file and discover that there was a long list of accidents and that the company was negligent in even hiring the driver for Memphis routes.
Defendants & Theories in Memphis Truck Accident Cases
Negligent Hiring, Training, Supervision, and Retention (Motor Carrier/Employer)
When a company puts an unsafe driver behind the wheel in Memphis—or keeps them there after warnings—the company shares the blame. Our Memphis truck wreck attorneys build this by pulling the driver’s qualification file and training records, comparing MVRs (driving records) and prior crash/violation history under §391.23 Investigations and inquiries, and lining that up with complaints, write-ups, and PSP data. If the paper trail shows they knew (or should have known) the risks and looked the other way, corporate liability—and in some cases punitive exposure—comes into play in Memphis truck accident cases.
Bad brakes, bald tires, dead lights, or ignored defect reports are not “accidents” on Memphis roads—they’re maintenance failures. Our truck accident attorneys in Memphis audit DVIRs, pre‑/post‑trip inspections, work orders, roadside and out‑of‑service reports, and systematic inspection/repair/maintenance records (§396.3). A single missed inspection is one thing; a pattern of skipped checks or pencil‑whipped forms turns a driver‑error case into a systemic noncompliance case that shows that the company should be responsible for their negligent maintenance.
Shipper/Loader/Broker Liability (Load Securement or Scheduling Pressure)
Improper load securement at Memphis warehouses, overweight or imbalanced cargo, and rushed timetables can push a safe trip into a rollover or loss‑of‑control on I‑55 or I‑40. Shippers and warehouse loaders face exposure for bad loading or instructions; brokers and 3PLs can face negligent selection/control claims if they use unfit carriers or set delivery windows that all but guarantee hours‑of‑service violations. Bills of lading, load diagrams and weight tickets, emails and texts about delivery windows, and the contracts allocating duties tell the story. These claims are fact‑specific and often draw FAAAA preemption defenses (with courts recognizing a safety exception, e.g., Miller v. C.H. Robinson), but they can open additional paths to coverage and responsibility upstream. Memphis truck accident lawyers at our firm investigate all parties.
MCS-90 Endorsement (Insurance Backstop)
MCS-90 isn’t a standalone claim—it’s an endorsement on certain motor carrier policies that, in the right circumstances, requires the insurer to satisfy a final judgment for public liability even if the loss wouldn’t otherwise be covered. After payment, the insurer can seek reimbursement from the insured. Our Memphis truck wreck attorneys review the full policy and endorsements, confirm the carrier’s operating status, and analyze whether the crash falls within the endorsement’s scope. Practically, it’s about collectability when coverage gets messy, while the underlying negligence case stays focused on what the carrier did—or failed to do.
What To Do After a Truck Accident in Memphis (And Not Ruin Your Case)
After a truck accident in Memphis, you are possibly hurt and trying to figure out what has just happened. However, the way you react, minutes, hours and even days after the crash, can influence your case in a big way. Let’s see what you need to do (and what to avoid) after a truck crash in Memphis. Our Memphis truck accident attorneys recommend these steps:
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
There are injuries such as head, neck or internal injuries that do not present symptoms immediately. Adrenaline can conceal these pains and you may feel okay when you are actually not. If you postpone treatment at Memphis hospitals like Regional One Health, Baptist, or Methodist, your condition might worsen and the insurance firm will exploit that time to argue that your injuries are not related to the accident. The insurance company argues that you could not have been hurt because if you were, you would have gone to the hospital.
Call the Police and Get a Report
It is always advisable to call the Memphis Police or Tennessee Highway Patrol after a truck accident, regardless of how minor one thinks it may be. Once the officers get there, they will take pictures of the scene, take statements, and make an official accident report. When insurance companies and Memphis truck wreck attorneys are looking at your case, this is one of the first things they look at. Speak to the officer honestly, but make it straightforward. Do not speculate on what occurred or utter a phrase such as, I am sorry, which might be distorted to mean that the person admits responsibility.
Take Photos of the Memphis Accident Scene
If you can and it is safe, take photos of everything at your Memphis truck accident scene. Document your car and the truck, the location of the incident, the traffic signs, and weather conditions, skid marks, debris, or cargo that fell on I-40, I-55, or local Memphis roads, and any visible personal injury on you or your passengers. Photographs can serve as strong evidence in the future for your Memphis truck accident lawyer. Do not depend on memory or on the chance that someone will record the scene. You need to document the scene by taking photographs because they will help prove your case against the Defendant truck driver and trucking insurance company. Take the pictures of the details with your phone before they are cleaned up or forgotten.
Get Contact Information of All Parties
Get the full name of the truck driver, the name of his company, the license plate number, the Department of Transportation numbers on the vehicle, and also the insurance details of the driver and trucking company. If there are witnesses to your Memphis truck wreck, obtain their names and contact details as well. Their testimonies can be used to back your account of what occurred particularly when the trucking company attempts to pass the blame. Memphis truck accident attorneys know witness testimony is crucial and they need to be contacted for a statement immediately.
Do Not Talk to the Trucking Company or Their Insurers Alone
After the crash in Memphis, you likely will receive a call by an insurance adjuster or by a representative of the trucking company. They are usually very polite and might tell you that they only need a quick statement. But do not be misled, they are not your friends. Any conversation you have with them will be recorded and whatever you say may be used against you. They want to get you to say something that will hurt your claim and often get you to re-explain the same things to get you to say something different. Let your Memphis truck wreck attorney handle these calls.
Contact a Memphis Truck Accident Lawyer
The earlier you get legal assistance from truck accident lawyers in Memphis, the better. A qualified truck accident lawyer will be able to start defending your rights right away—collecting evidence, sending the necessary notification and handling the aggressive insurance companies so you do not have to.
Trucking Company
The trucking company usually holds a big part of the blame for truck accidents in Memphis. Why? Because they are the ones that hire, train, and supervise drivers operating on Memphis roads and highways. They have drivers making moves in big rigs and might miss a smaller car while driving. A smaller car will have a lot harder time missing the 18-wheeler going down the road.
Truck Driver
Truck drivers are supposed professionals and they are expected to drive better than regular passenger car drivers on Memphis streets. However, this does not imply that they are always obedient to the rules. If a driver was driving too fast on I‑240, texting while driving when the accident happened, or driving under the influence in Memphis, he/she can be personally sued. But to show that a driver was in error, your Memphis truck accident attorney may need to dig deep into records such as dash cam footage, driver logs (RODS/ELD), or phone records / handheld device use.
Trucking companies normally outsource the maintenance of their trucks to third‑party companies. If a maintenance crew failed to do their job properly—perhaps they missed an inspection or patched a problem instead of fixing it—they could be at fault for your Memphis truck wreck. Federal rules require systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance, including periodic inspections, inspector qualifications, inspection recordkeeping, and brake‑inspector qualifications.
Cargo Loaders
The way the cargo is loaded into the trailer at Memphis warehouses is also important. A driver may not even see the cargo before driving away—especially when loading is done by a third-party company. If the cargo loaders caused the crash because of their error, they might be mentioned in your claim by your Memphis truck wreck lawyer. These can be unique cases that cause the load to sway or flip and the negligence allows your truck lawyer to go after the warehouse or the loaders.
What is the Average Settlement for a Memphis Truck Accident Lawsuit?
There is no universal amount for truck accident settlements in Memphis. The settlement of truck accidents may run into tens of thousands of dollars or into millions of dollars depending on factors such as the extent of your injuries from the Memphis truck wreck, the medical bills from Memphis hospitals and lost income, whether you have permanent disability or not, insurance coverage available, and fault and comparative negligence determinations. A Memphis truck accident lawyer will be able to assess the particulars of your case and provide you with a better idea of what it may be worth.
What Happens When I Get Hit by a Truck That Belongs to a Large Company in Memphis?
If the truck belonged to a large company or was controlled by them, they can be vicariously liable for the actions of their driver on Memphis roads. This means that the trucking company is responsible for the actions of its employees or agents. You can file a suit against the company on the basis that it negligently hired, trained, or supervised, or failed to maintain the vehicle properly. Large corporations tend to have larger insurance policies but with larger legal staff as well, so it is very important to have a competent Memphis truck wreck attorney who has worked with such cases before.
Do Memphis Truck Accidents Always Go to Trial?
The majority of truck accident cases in Memphis are settled outside of court, although there are always some cases that make it to trial, particularly when the trucking company is not willing to provide a reasonable settlement, there is a disagreement on who was to blame for the Memphis truck accident, or you have serious injuries and your case is worth more than they are willing to give a settlement offer for. An experienced Memphis truck accident lawyer can and should design your case on day one as though it would go to trial. Such preparedness usually results in more robust settlements or compensation.
Injuries People Deal With After a Memphis Truck Accident
The destruction that a large commercial truck causes when it runs over a smaller car on Memphis highways is usually brutal. It takes a long time to recover, and in some cases, people never actually recover. The kinds of injuries that an 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle can cause can be difficult to recover fully and some never recover from health problems from the incident.
Physical Injuries That You Cannot Just Walk Off
When you are struck by something that is 20 times heavier than your car on I‑55 or I‑40 in Memphis, your body absorbs a lot of impact. Some of the most devastating injuries our Memphis truck wreck attorneys see are partial or complete paralysis due to spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) which impair memory, speech and personality, amputations or crushed limbs that need long stays in Memphis hospitals and the use of prosthetics, and severe burns due to fuel fires that cause permanent physical scars. These are not wounds that you treat with ice packs and a bottle of painkillers. They usually need a lot of surgeries at facilities like Regional One Health, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, or Baptist Memorial Hospital‑Memphis, months in rehab centers, and life‑long changes. There are those who never walk again after a Memphis truck accident and others may not be able to do the most rudimentary things without assistance. (NSCISC Facts & Figures).
Psychological and Emotional Harm from Memphis Truck Accidents
This is one thing a lot of people do not speak about: the emotional aspect of these crashes. The victims of truck accidents in Memphis are usually traumatized and this may be manifested in various forms like phobia of driving on Memphis highways, or even being a passenger in a car, sleep disturbance in the form of flashbacks or dreams about the accident, panic attacks and anxiety in daily life, and depression which causes difficulty in functionality or life enjoyment. Some Memphis truck accident victims develop PTSD after a very violent crash or one in which people died. Others simply will tell you that they are not the same person anymore. Most times, physical wounds get addressed immediately at Memphis hospitals but mental health struggles tend to be overlooked or even dismissed. That is wrong—emotional suffering is real, and it should be taken care of and compensated as well. Memphis truck accident attorneys fight for full compensation including psychological damages.
Note on Trucking Insurance (MCS‑90): Federal rules impose minimum liability coverage for motor carriers—$750,000 for most non‑hazardous freight and up to $5,000,000 for certain hazardous loads under 49 C.F.R. Part 387 / § 387.9.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Memphis Truck Accident Claim?
Medical Expenses
This is usually the most obvious damage in Memphis truck accident cases. Hospital bills from Regional One Health, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, or Baptist Memorial Hospital‑Memphis, ambulances, surgeries, physiotherapy, medication, checkups—all of these accumulate quickly. And, since truck accident injuries are usually serious, it means that the bills may not stop after the first visit to the Memphis hospital. Even if you have insurance, your insurance may not be able to cover everything because you may need care for months or years (or even for the remaining days of your life). All these bills should be reflected in your claim by your Memphis truck accident attorney.
Lost Wages and Lost Earning Ability
If you lost wages as a result of the truck accident in Memphis, you may be paid the wages you have lost. However, it is possible that you are not even able to take your old job or you are forced to change to a lower‑paying job due to limitations in your physical ability. All potential losses are relevant and constitute a part of what you are entitled to from your Memphis truck wreck.
Pain and Suffering
Not everything has a price tag and that does not imply that they are not important. Pain and suffering are simply the legal terms to say that you should be paid for having to go through the physical injury hardships you have been put through. It encompasses the physical pain of your injuries, the emotional burden of trauma, stress of healing, frustration of the body not being able to do what it should and then there is the loss of the life you once enjoyed. All these may not be reflected in a hospital bill, but they are very real and the courts in Memphis recognize that. Memphis truck accident lawyers fight for these damages.
Damage to Personal Property
We should not forget about your car or whatever you were driving when the truck hit you on a Memphis road. If it is totaled or badly damaged, you can get compensated to fix it or get a replacement. This also includes any personal property damaged in the crash such as your phone, laptop, or any other valuables. We have gotten compensation for groceries in the car that were ruined and even takeout food that was thrown about the car.
How Southern Injury Attorneys' Memphis Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You Pursue These Damages
At Southern Injury Attorneys, our Memphis truck wreck attorneys are more than paper pushers; we fight to make sure you’re compensated for what your recovery is truly worth. After a truck wreck in Memphis, your life doesn’t stop while you recover. Instead, medical bills from Memphis hospitals keep stacking up. Your paycheck dries up. And everything you’re going through affects your family. This is where our truck accident lawyers in Memphis come in.
Our mission as Memphis truck accident attorneys is to chase every penny you deserve, not just the surface-level expenses such as ER visits at Regional One Health or car repairs. We compile all long-term medical treatment, continuous therapy, lost career prospects, and even the pain that keeps you awake at night, all in order to achieve a complete compensation for your Memphis truck accident.
If a truck wreck has taken a loved one from your family in Memphis, we’re ready to pursue a wrongful death suit that compensates not only for funeral and burial expenses, but also for the loss of companionship, support, and the emotional devastation that follows. We know that the insurance companies will try to nickel-and-dime you, but our Memphis truck wreck lawyers are here to fight for you, your future, and your complete recovery.
What to Collect and Preserve
Victims of truck accidents in Memphis need strong documentation. That includes police crash reports from Memphis Police Department Central Records or the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP); medical records and doctors’ notes (you have a federal HIPAA Right of Access) from Memphis hospitals like Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (Medical Records) and Baptist Memorial (Medical Records); photos or video of the scene and damage; eyewitness statements; the truck’s “black box” (event data recorder); and the carrier’s maintenance/inspection logs required by 49 C.F.R. § 396.3. Your Memphis truck accident lawyer can send preservation notices to secure time‑sensitive evidence like dashcam or company records. For driver logs, federal Hours‑of‑Service rules require carriers to keep RODS/ELD data for at least six months under 49 C.F.R. § 395.8(k)(1) and submit/retain supporting documents under 49 C.F.R. § 395.11.
Types of Truck Wreck Cases in Memphis
Knowing the crash type helps show how it happened and who’s legally responsible. The defenses and the liability determination are partially determined by the kind of incident and the underlying facts. Below are common Memphis truck wrecks and why they occur.
Jackknife Accidents on Memphis Highways
A jackknife occurs when the trailer swings out relative to the cab, forming an “L” or “V.” It often follows hard braking or a skid in wet or icy conditions on corridors like I‑55/Crump or Lamar Avenue (US‑78/SR‑4). The Tennessee CDL Manual explains how skids lead to jackknifing and how ABS helps maintain control. Regional freight volumes noted by the Memphis MPO 2024 Freight Report underscore why these corridors see heavy truck traffic.
Rear‑End Collisions in Memphis Traffic
Loaded tractor‑trailers take 20%–40% more distance to stop than cars, so distractions or sudden slow‑downs on I‑240 or Lamar Avenue can be disastrous. FMCSA emphasizes safe following distance (Driving Tips: Following Too Closely) and bans handheld phone use while driving CMVs (49 CFR 392.80–392.82 guidance). Memphis truck accident lawyers analyze brake maintenance, driver distraction, and traffic conditions to assign fault correctly.
Underride Accidents in Memphis
Underride happens when a passenger vehicle slides under the rear or side of a semi—often fatal on I‑55 or city arterials like Airways Boulevard. Federal rear‑guard standards were upgraded in 2022 (FMVSS 223/224), and NHTSA notes there is presently no federal requirement for side underride guards. IIHS research also highlights the role of braking and guard performance in reducing severe outcomes for underride crashes.
Rollover Accidents on Memphis Roads
High centers of gravity and improperly balanced cargo raise rollover risk—especially on ramps, tight turns, or steep grades. FMCSA’s training resources address how to prevent rollovers (Cargo Tank Truck Rollover Prevention), and heavy trucks are required to have electronic stability control systems under FMVSS No. 136 (ESC for heavy vehicles). Loading practices and speed selection are central issues Memphis attorneys investigate.
Head-On Collisions in Memphis
A head-on truck collision is likely to occur when a truck drives across the center line or into the opposite traffic on Memphis roads. It can also be called a wrong-way crash and it is usually caused by fatigue, distracted driving or mechanical failure. Due to the severity of the force involved, head-on collisions with trucks in Memphis are likely to result in serious injuries or death. Read more about our intersection accident representation for Memphis truck accidents.
Call a Memphis Truck Accident Attorney Now for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one got injured in a truck accident in Memphis, you do not need to face the aftermath alone, you need a team that knows what is at stake and how to fight back. At Southern Injury Attorneys, our truck accident lawyers have decades of experience helping victims and their families pursue justice after an accident in Memphis and beyond. We have a record of achieving success in all the Memphis truck accident cases that we handle and we do not handle truck accident cases in the same manner as other small personal injury claims such as dog bites.
When you visit us at Southern Injury Attorneys, Memphis truck accident attorneys, you will be able to speak directly to your attorney, and we will guide you through the whole case process, starting with initial investigations, right through to the settlement of the case. We have a track record of getting big trucking brands and insurers to pay up for Memphis truck accidents, not pay less.
We also understand that the last thing you want to bother about is legal costs when you are struggling with medical bills from Memphis hospitals. This is why we operate on a contingency-fee basis, you pay us nothing in advance and only pay us fees when we recover compensation on your behalf for your Memphis truck wreck. Whether you have a serious injury that altered your life, an emotional burden you are carrying, or a loved one that is a victim of a wrongful death crash in Memphis, we handle your story with respect, dignity, and urgency. We are not afraid of trying your case in Memphis courts should that be necessary.
Whether you have a growing mountain of medical costs from Regional One Health or Methodist, lost wages from missing work, or emotional distress following a trucking accident in Memphis, keep in mind: time is of the essence. The faster you contact our Memphis truck accident lawyers, the faster we will be able to start defending your rights. You can call us at 901-300-5001 or fill in our contact form online.
Contact Southern Injury Attorneys - Memphis Truck Accident Lawyers
When you need a truck wreck attorney in Memphis, Tennessee, choose the firm that understands the devastating impact these crashes have on victims and families. Our Memphis truck accident attorneys have the experience, resources, and determination to take on large trucking companies and their insurance carriers. We know Memphis roads, we know Tennessee law, and we know how to win truck accident cases.
Don’t let the trucking companies and their teams of lawyers intimidate you. You have rights, and you deserve full compensation for your injuries and losses from your Memphis truck wreck. Call Southern Injury Attorneys today at 901-300-5001 for your free consultation with experienced Memphis truck accident lawyers who will fight for you.
Remember, we work on contingency – no fee unless we win your truck accident case. Time is critical – evidence disappears quickly after truck accidents in Memphis. Call now and let us start protecting your rights today.
Get Answers To Your Most Asked Questions
The statute of limitations on personal injuries from truck accidents in Memphis is usually one year after the accident except in certain criminal cases. This implies that you would be required to make your Memphis truck accident claim within this period, otherwise you would lose your rights to claim compensation. There are however exceptions. The timeline can vary, especially if the case involves a government vehicle or a minor. This is why you should talk to a Memphis truck wreck attorney as soon as possible. Don’t let your case disappear because you took too long to reach out.
You can still recover damages in Memphis. Most states have a modified comparative fault rule so you can make a claim so long as you are not at fault in the crash. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. In other words, if you are determined to be 20 percent at fault for the Memphis truck wreck, you will receive 20 percent less in total damages. This is the same fault system that will apply if you have a trucking accident in Memphis. Tennessee follows the modified comparative fault rule. So, as long as you are less than 50% at fault, then our client can recover. A Memphis truck accident lawyer at Southern Injury Attorneys can help in shielding your claim against unreasonable blame shifting and make sure that the trucking case compensates you fairly.
Even when the driver is an independent contractor operating in Memphis, it is still possible to hold the trucking company liable. Most trucking companies try to use such classification in order to escape liability but the courts look beyond such terms. As long as the truck company controls the driver’s work, provides the truck, or schedules deliveries to Memphis, they can still be legally responsible. The trucking companies and insurance companies may state that the drivers are independent contractors, but really be only doing work for that trucking company. This is very common, and often the company is on the hook for the driver as an employee. Your Memphis truck wreck lawyer should be able to dig in and find all of the responsible parties. This a difficult road to navigate. You only get one chance to succeed with your case, that’s why Southern Injury Attorneys can help you get a higher compensation for an 18-wheeler accident.
Insurance companies are known to make low ball offers to Memphis truck accident victims that do not reflect the actual value of your claim. These initial settlements may not cover long-term medical expenses at Memphis hospitals, lost wages, or pain and suffering. And when you accept these offers, you might not be able to reopen the case even if new issues appear later. Never accept any settlement without the advice of a Memphis truck accident attorney. We will be honest if we don’t think we bring value to your case, we will tell you to take the settlement. That’s free advice. If we do bring value, we will let you know. We have seen cases that a trucking company has strung a Memphis client along regarding settlement and wants to try to run them out of time or give enough time that evidence has dissipated so that there is less of a case against them. We won’t let that happen to our clients.
At Southern Injury Attorneys, Memphis truck wreck attorneys operate on a contingency fee (see Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 8, RPC 1.5(c)). In other words, you pay nothing out of pocket and we do not get paid unless we win your Memphis truck accident case. You will see statements like “no recovery, no fee” and “only pay if you win“; such communications must be truthful and not misleading under RPC 7.1. This model is widely recognized by the American Bar Association as a way to obtain a lawyer without up‑front attorney’s fees in money‑damages cases. We also front the costs of litigation (filing fees, experts, etc.) as permitted by RPC 1.8(e), so clients aren’t paying out of pocket while the case is pending. Consultations are absolutely free and there is no obligation to proceed unless you wish to. This means you can access quality legal assistance irrespective of your financial status. This levels the playing field so that our Memphis clients can always have their day in court and not have their voices muffled by the insurance companies. For more on fee agreements and expenses, see the ABA’s guidance on fees and costs.
No. You should not discuss the case with the trucking insurance company after your Memphis truck accident. These adjusters are even more trained and ruthless than the typical insurance company. The adjusters make a living by reducing payouts for trucking companies and they will try every trick and coercive attempt to do so with Memphis victims. Let your Memphis truck accident attorney handle all communications.
Yes. When the truck driver is not the only party involved in causing the crash in Memphis, then you can file a third‑party claim. Other parties that may have contributed to the Memphis truck wreck include the trucking company, a maintenance contractor in the Memphis area, a shipping/loader entity (cargo securement duties) at Memphis warehouses, or a vehicle manufacturer (recalls/defects). This gives you an opportunity to claim compensation against every party that is at fault, not only the driver or his insurer. Memphis truck wreck lawyers pursue all responsible parties. The more pockets that your truck wreck attorney can go after, the better.