A couple involved in a semi truck accident has filed suit in Tennessee federal court, demanding jury trial.

Plaintiffs Anthony and Mary Y. file the semi truck accident lawsuit as citizens and residents of Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. The semi truck accident lawsuit is filed against GLM Transport Inc. and the company’s driver Edward B.

According to the complaint, Edward was operating a large commercial tractor-trailer under the authority of GLM on July 21, 2017 early that morning. The tractor-trailer that was being operated was a 2014 Volvo tractor hauling a trailer, the semi truck accident lawsuit states.

However, as Edward was driving the semi truck going south on the I-75 in Chattanooga, Tenn., Anthony was also driving south on the I-75 in a 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe. As traffic stopped, the couple claims, Edward’s tractor-trailer failed to slow down and crashed into two vehicles crossing several lanes of traffic. The complaint says the tractor-trailer hit Anthony’s Chevrolet Tahoe in the right rear of the car and pushed the vehicle into the left shoulder, causing Anthony’s vehicle to catch fire.

As the vehicle lit up in flames, Anthony says he kicked out the window of his truck and “went head first through the window onto the road.” Jumping out allegedly led him to suffer from “cervical and shoulder injuries, aggravation of a pre-existing cervical condition, burns and abrasions to his head and body, injuries to his left arm, right leg, and debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder, which has adversely affected his daily activities and ability to work as an employee …”

According to the semi truck accident lawsuit, Edward was “not properly trained, qualified or supervised in the operation of commercial motor vehicles and likely was distracted by fatigue or otherwise impaired …” His operation of the vehicle created an “unreasonable risk of harm to members of the driving public,” the semi truck accident lawsuit states.

The semi truck accident lawsuit is filed on a count of negligence, negligence per se, and declaration of unconstitutionality.

Overview: Semi Truck Accident Lawsuit

Across the United States each year, there are almost 500,000 truck accidents, and roughly 5,000 of those accidents involve fatalities. Those fatalities are also known to affect the passengers and drivers of smaller automobiles more than they affect drivers of larger trucks.

Throughout the last 20 years, trucking accidents have increased by almost 20 percent. There are also many factors that can contribute to a truck accident. Some of these common factors include:

• Driver fatigue
• Alcohol or drug use
• Lack of maintenance
• High speeds
• Brake problems
• Road and weather conditions
• Weight, load or size imbalances
• Lack of driver training/lack of experience
• Cell phone usage/distracted driving
• Violation of federal trucking laws and regulations

Individuals who have suffered injuries from a truck accident may have the potential to recover a substantial amount of money that can help with:

• Loss of wages and loss of future earning potential
• Vehicle damage
• Total past and future medical expenses

The Semi Truck Accident Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-00147, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, at Chattanooga.