Articles Posted in Truck Accidents

I have recently been working on the revision and update of the Trucking Accident Litigation chapter for Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases: Treatise and Forms, published by Thomson Reuters. The assignment has involved reviewing and updating a substantial body of material concerning commercial motor vehicle litigation, including federal regulations, state law, statutes, and case authority.…

A trucking company’s driver safety policy is more than paperwork. A well-designed and properly enforced safety policy can help prevent crashes and protect drivers and the public. According to SambaSafety, an effective driver safety policy should address several critical areas, including: A driver safety policy should not simply sit in a file cabinet. It should…

A new report examining driver risk across the United States provides some troubling insight into the safety challenges facing motorists and commercial drivers. SambaSafety’s 2026 Driver Risk Report analyzes millions of motor-vehicle records, telematics events, regulatory records, and insurance claims to identify trends in driver behavior and roadway risk. For people involved in a serious…

When a family is facing the aftermath of a catastrophic truck accident, experience matters. Commercial trucking cases are unlike ordinary automobile accidents. They involve federal safety regulations, corporate defendants, electronic data, multiple insurance policies, accident reconstruction experts, and legal issues that many lawyers rarely encounter. For more than two decades, Patrick Cruise has dedicated his…

On August 4, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that a primary shipping entity can be held vicariously liable as a statutory employer for the driver negligence of a subcontractor motor carrier. In Crane v. Penske Transp. Management, LLC., (5th Cir. Aug. 4, 2026), the Court held: This appeal concerns…

One of the most important concepts taught to every commercial truck driver is space management. Commercial motor vehicles are larger, heavier, and require significantly more distance to stop than passenger vehicles. As a result, maintaining adequate space around the truck is essential to preventing serious crashes. The Tennessee Commercial Driver License Manual emphasizes that safe…

Over the years, Patrick Cruise and The Hamilton Firm have earned the respect of fellow attorneys throughout Tennessee for handling complex trucking cases, catastrophic injury cases, and other serious personal injury litigation. Lawyers often refer cases or associate us as co-counsel when a case required experience, knowledge, and the resources to handle challenging litigation. At…

At The Hamilton Firm, we believe that recognition is earned one client at a time. We are honored to announce that Patrick Cruise has been selected to the Super Lawyers Tennessee Top 100, a distinction awarded to only a small percentage of attorneys in the state. While awards are never the reason we practice law,…

The Hamilton Firm is proud to announce that attorney Patrick Cruise has been selected to Super Lawyers for the 13th time in his legal career. This honor reflects Patrick’s dedication to representing individuals and families who have suffered serious injuries as a result of trucking accidents, motor vehicle collisions, and other acts of negligence throughout…

Most personal injury cases settle before reaching a jury. However, the amount an insurance company is willing to pay often depends on one critical factor: whether the lawyer representing the injured person has the experience and willingness to take the case all the way to trial. Insurance companies and their lawyers evaluate risk every day.…