SOUTH CAROLINA TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

HIRING AN EXPERIENCED SOUTH CAROLINA TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER IS CRITICAL

SEMI-TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Accidents involving tractor-trailers and other large commercial trucks can be devastating, especially when they collide with smaller passenger vehicles.

South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer Truck Accidents

South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyer

In one recent year, heavy truck accidents claimed the lives of more than 5,000 individuals, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Most of these deaths were people in other vehicles. Unfortunately, this dangerous trend seems to continue as the trucking industry continues to pressure its drivers to make deliveries faster without regard for the safety of others on the road.

If you were hurt in a semi-truck accident, you deserve compensation for your losses. A highly skilled truck accident lawyer can help determine the cause of the accident and the parties responsible for it. We can use this information to pursue fair compensation on your behalf. Contact our experienced truck accident lawyers by calling (888) 491-0444.

Your South Carolina 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer

Our trucking accident lawyers handle many types of personal injury cases; as such, we know that truck accident cases can differ from other auto accident cases for reasons like;

More severe injuries: Commercial trucks are much larger than passenger cars, so when a large commercial truck collides with a much smaller car, more severe injuries often result. Our commercial vehicle accident lawyers can connect you with medical specialists who can diagnose you and begin providing treatment for your truck accident injuries.

Multiple parties: The commercial trucking industry involves many parties, each of whom may share liability for the accident.

Federal regulations: Commercial trucking companies are required to follow complex rules. Our investigators can help uncover evidence if the truck driver or trucking company violated these laws and should be held accountable for the crash they caused.

Why Choose Our South Carolina Truck Wreck Lawyers?

Our commercial truck accident lawyers team has helped many clients receive fair compensation for their injuries. Our case results speak for themselves, with several multimillion-dollar victories achieved for truck accident victims and their families. We have the expertise and assets required to strengthen your claim and secure the highest possible settlement 

When you hire a truck accident lawyer from our law firm, you get the following:

• A team of lawyers with extensive experience advancing truck accident lawsuits on behalf of our clients.

• Support staff to help investigate, gather evidence, and prepare your truck accident claim.

• A commitment not to charge fees unless we recover compensation per our contingency fee basis for billing on your behalf.

• A clear legal strategy designed to help maximize your recovery while minimizing stress in your life.

• A strong community of support that allows you to focus on your recovery while we fight to protect your rights.

• An advocate who will communicate with insurance adjusters and fight for a fair settlement from the insurance company.

• We have dedicated legal representation at every stage of your case.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

If you were in an accident involving a tractor-trailer, you might need to find out what ultimately caused the accident. Our truck accident attorneys can look into your case and establish whether any of the following often-occurring factors played a part in the truck collision:

Drowsy Driving

Truck drivers work long hours and may have to sleep during the day, which can be difficult. This puts them at risk of falling asleep while behind the wheel. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates rest breaks and maximum hours truck drivers can work, some drivers and truck companies violate these rules to get their shipments across the country faster.

Distracted Driving

Truck drivers who engage in distracted driving should pay full attention to the roadway. Distracted driving may include:

• Talking on a cell phone

• Sending text messages

• Watching videos

• Using in-vehicle controls and GPS units

• Eating or drinking

• Grooming

• Drunk or Impaired Driving

Some truck drivers turn to drugs or alcohol. While drunk driving is dangerous enough when a driver is behind the wheel of a passenger vehicle, it is infinitely more difficult when the driver is behind the wheel of a large commercial truck.

Speeding

Any time a driver speeds, they increase the odds they will get into a wreck because they are more likely to lose control of their vehicle or do not have adequate time to stop their car before crashing. In addition, truckers are at an increased risk of crashes because commercial trucks are much more challenging to operate.

Unbalanced Loads

Federal regulations require cargo to be loaded and secured in a particular manner to prevent the loads from becoming unbalanced or falling off the truck during transit. Unbalanced loads can increase the likelihood of a truck accident.

Defective Vehicle Parts

Defective vehicle parts can cause mechanical failures that result in serious truck accidents. Details can also become worn and fail if they are not properly maintained.

If you were hurt in an 18-wheeler accident in South Carolina, contact Stewart Law Offices to speak with a passionate lawyer who will fight for you.

Why Are Tractor Trailer Accidents Different?

When people are hurt in accidents with a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicles, they often mistakenly believe that the process of getting compensation will be the same as any other car accident. This is usually different. Truck accident claims are often quite different from passenger vehicle accident claims. The following are some reasons why truck accident claims are various:

• Higher risk of severe injury

• Increased risk of death

• Significant property damage

• Different regulations

• Larger insurance policies

• Evidence in Truck Accident Claims

Proving fault after a truck accident can be challenging. Therefore, hiring an attorney who can collect the evidence necessary to build a persuasive case on your behalf is vital. Evidence that could help bolster your truck accident case includes:

Damage to your vehicle

The visible signs of damage to your vehicle are often some of the most compelling evidence in any truck accident case.

Driving logs

Truck drivers are required to keep a logbook of hours driven. Falsifying records is against the, which could result in federal penalties, including six months in jail. The driver’s log could prove to be vital evidence in some cases, especially when driver fatigue is in question.

Inspection reports

Commercial vehicles must be inspected to ensure they are in safe, operable condition. The trucking company could be considered negligent if the car misses an inspection.

Maintenance logs

Vehicles must undergo routine maintenance before making trips. If proper care is not performed, the truck could be unfit for the road, and the company could be liable for accidents.

Cargo logs

The weight of the cargo and how it was loaded could be vital evidence in your case. Overweight trailers can cause severe problems with steering and braking and could be the cause of your crash.

Electronic monitoring data

Data from the vehicle’s “black box” could show that the driver was speeding, failing to brake, or driving over the number of legally permitted driving hours. This information is automatically recorded, and access to that information is valuable in many cases.

Substance abuse test results

Trucking companies may have records of drug and alcohol tests administered to their drivers. If a driver was drunk or had a history of failed tests, that evidence could be a factor in your claim.

Other employer records

Records, including background checks, hiring, training and discipline, and company policies, could be crucial evidence for your injury claim.

Who Is Responsible for Truck Crashes?

The trucking industry consists of many moving parts. Therefore, any of the following parties may be to blame for the accident:

Truck driver– The truck driver may be one of the first liable parties you look to. The driver’s negligence may be to blame if the accident was due to the driver speeding, driving while fatigued, or otherwise engaging in careless driving behavior.

Trucking company: If a truck accident results from negligence, the trucking firm may be liable., such as negligent hiring practices. The trucking company’s responsibility also extends to its employees, so if a driver’s negligence causes a truck accident, the company may ultimately be held liable for the driver’s actions.

Maintenance company: If a third party maintains the fleet and a mechanical failure causes the accident, the maintenance company may be to blame for the trucking accident.

Cargo-loading company: An accident caused by an unbalanced load may be due to the cargo-loading company failing to load or secure it properly.

The truck manufacturer or parts manufacturer– If defective vehicle parts contributed to the accident, the truck or parts manufacturer may be responsible for the trucking accident.

If you got hurt in an 18-wheeler accident, contact our South Carolina truck accident lawyers for a free consultation.

How to Prove the Trucking Company Is Responsible

Truck accident lawyers can investigate the truck accident and determine how it happened by:

• Reviewing the accident scene and police report, including pictures and videos of the accident, damage to vehicles, and physical evidence like skid marks.

• Interview witnesses who saw the accident.

• Hiring accident reconstruction experts who can input data and theorize how the truck crash occurred.

• Reviewing records from the trucking company, including employment records, inspection records, driver logs, the truck driver’s driving record, vehicle maintenance records, and safety records.

• Demanding evidence from the truck company that can provide critical data points before the accident, such as black box data.

Possible Compensation for Truck Accident Victims

If you got injured in a truck accident in South Carolina, you could recover compensation for the harm you have suffered. In addition, we can pursue compensation for the economic damages you have suffered, which may include the following:

• Medical expenses

• Lost wages

• Property damage

For more information or to set up a meeting with a knowledgeable truck wreck lawyer in South Carolina after a crash involving an 18-wheeler, please contact us.  Our toll-free number is (888) 491-0444