Serving South Carolina Truck Accident Injury Victims
Large trucks are only involved in a small percentage of South Carolina motor vehicle accidents, but those collisions are more likely to cause serious injury or death. According to the National Safety Council, large trucks make up about 4% of registered vehicles, but about 9% of vehicles involved in fatal collisions.
Commercial truck accidents are often more dangerous because of the size and weight of the vehicle. That’s partly for the obvious reason–getting hit with 70,000-80,000 pounds can do a lot of damage. But, that’s not the only reason commercial trucks present a greater risk on the road.
Find the Right Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Charleston
If you’ve been injured in a commercial trucking accident or have lost a loved one to a large truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation. But, truck accident cases are complicated. What you do immediately and shortly after the crash can have a big impact on your claim. That includes connecting with an experienced Charleston truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Your truck collision attorney can help you in many ways, from running interference with insurance carriers who don’t want to pay you to navigating the intersection of state law and federal regulations. Personal injury attorney Frank Hartman has the knowledge and experience you need for a commercial truck accident case–and he’s committed to achieving the best possible outcome for people who have been injured in and around Charleston.
You can schedule a free consultation with The Hartman Law Firm right now by calling 843-300-7600 or filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Why an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Makes a Difference
Commercial Trucks are Riskier on the Road
Commercial truck drivers require special licensing for a reason. Operating a semi-truck or a tanker isn’t just like driving a scaled-up version of your car. Large commercial vehicles are harder to turn, are at greater risk of tipping or sliding out of control when forced to make abrupt adjustments, and take longer to slow down and stop than smaller vehicles. So, it’s harder for them to avoid collisions and they often have greater momentum when they do crash. That means more serious injuries and a greater risk of death.
Truck Accident Cases are More Complicated
At first glance, it might seem that a commercial truck accident case would be just like any other car accident case. So, you might not understand the importance of working with an experienced Charleston truck wreck lawyer, rather than any local car accident attorney. But, commercial trucking cases are different for several reasons, and you want to work with an attorney who has in-depth knowledge of these issues:
- The driver may or may not be the negligent/responsible party in a commercial trucking case–an employer, vehicle owner, company that loaded the truck, company responsible for vehicle maintenance, or vehicle part manufacturer may be wholly or partly responsible.
- Issues that aren’t often involved in motor vehicle accident cases may be in play, such as negligent hiring, negligent training or supervision, pressure from the company to operate unsafely, and the company’s history of road safety or maintenance issues.
- Many commercial truck drivers travel all over the country, meaning that the driver may live and be based in a different state, and the driver’s employer may, as well. This may require special processes for serving process on responsible parties and obtaining evidence.
- Commercial truck drivers are subject not only to state traffic laws, but also to a wide range of federal safety regulations–these regulations may play an important role in the case, but not all car accident lawyers are familiar with them.
- Modern commercial vehicles have equipment that may offer valuable evidence in a truck accident case, including digital hours-in-service records and in-cab cameras.
- You may need an expert witness, such as an accident reconstructionist or an expert in the effects of toxic chemicals a vehicle was carrying, to help establish your claim.
Charleston truck wreck lawyer Frank Hartman has the knowledge and experience you need to navigate a commercial truck accident case, and the resources to identify and hire the experts you need to establish your claim and prove your damages.
Act Quickly to Connect with a Truck Accident Lawyer
In South Carolina, you have three years to file most truck accident claims and most personal injury claims. But, delay can seriously hurt your case and make it more difficult to recover fair compensation for your injuries, property damage, lost income, and other damages.
Some of the most significant risks associated with delay include:
- Lost Evidence: In addition to the truck-specific evidence described above, commercial motor vehicle accident cases often rely on footage from nearby street or security cameras, testimony from witnesses to the accident, inspection of the vehicles involved in the crash, photographs of the crash site, and other evidence that can be lost or altered with time. The sooner you hire a commercial truck accident lawyer, the better opportunity your lawyer will have to gather evidence and to speak with witnesses while their memories are fresh.
- Insurance Company Pitfalls: After a truck accident, you will almost certainly be contacted by the driver’s or trucking company’s insurance carrier. The insurance company will likely act like the conversation is routine, almost a technicality. They just need to gather some information to get your claim paid. But, it’s important to remember that the insurance company representative’s job is to help the company make a profit. And, one way insurance companies protect their bottom line is to avoid paying out fair compensation to injury victims. Talking to an experienced South Carolina truck accident lawyer right away can help you avoid innocent mistakes that could do serious damage to your claim.
- Other Missteps That Could Hurt Your Case: If you’ve been seriously injured and there’s a big payout on the line, insurance companies will typically pull out all the stops when it comes to trying to undermine your claim. That may mean monitoring your social media, questioning people in your life, and even sending a private investigator to try to catch you in a moment that will make it appear you’re less seriously injured than you are. Your truck collision attorney can explain these pitfalls to you and help you avoid costly missteps.
An experienced Charleston truck wreck lawyer is your best defense against these and other threats to your truck accident case.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
Trucking accidents typically fall into two main categories: driver error and vehicle maintenance failure. In a three-year analysis conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 87% of crashes were determined to be attributable to the driver. The FMCSA concluded that the three most common “critical events” leading to a large truck crash were:
- Running out of the travel lane (32%)
- Vehicle loss of control due to traveling too fast for conditions, cargo shift, vehicle systems failure, poor road conditions, or other reasons (29 percent)
- Colliding with the rear end of another vehicle in the truck’s travel lane (22 percent)
Of course, these events have a variety of possible causes, including:
- Brake problems
- Traffic flow interruption (congestion, previous crash)
- Prescription drug use
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Unfamiliarity with roadway
- Roadway problems
- Required to stop before crash (traffic control device, crosswalk)
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Inadequate surveillance
- Fatigue
Other common causes of and contributing factors to tractor-trailer accidents include:
- Overloaded trucks
- Oversized trucks
- Driving in conditions of poor visibility due to fog, snow, rain, or smoke
- Driving at high speeds beyond the road and weather conditions
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Aggressive driving behavior (speeding, tailgating, inappropriate lane changes, etc.)
- Lack of experience and/or inadequate training
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Survivors of collisions with commercial trucks often require long-term care. They may suffer severe injuries that include:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Lacerations and contusions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
What To Do After a Truck Accident
Hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer is just one of the ways you can protect your claim. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you will want to:
- Make a police report, even if you aren’t sure whether it’s legally required. Police who come to the scene and document your story and the truck driver’s shortly after the accident can provide valuable evidence.
- Exchange insurance information at the scene, if you are able.
- If you are well enough, take pictures at the scene before vehicles are moved.
- Take note of any traffic cameras or businesses with outdoor security cameras that may have footage of the accident–these tapes are often deleted quickly, so your attorney may need to act fast to secure the evidence.
- Get names and contact information from any witnesses at the scene.
- Let emergency medical responders check you out, and if you believe you may be injured, follow up with a visit to your doctor, a walk-in clinic, or the hospital emergency department.
- Make sure to attend any follow-up medical appointments and follow medical advice, for the sake of your health and your claim.
- Keep a record of your day-to-day pain, obstacles, assistance you need because of your accident, mental state, and other effects of your injury.
Consult an Experienced Charleston Truck Accident Lawyer Right Now
When you retain attorney Frank Hartman, you can count on his experience, knowledge, and determination to build the strongest possible case on your behalf. You can also hand off the stress and risk to your case that comes with interacting with the insurance company. In short, we’ll put our skills and experience to work for you while you relax and focus on your recovery.
The initial consultation is free and there’s no obligation. Call (843) 300-7600 right now, or fill out the contact form on this site to get started.