Companies like DHL support our economy and make life more convenient by transporting and delivering goods efficiently. Still, companies and drivers must abide by the rules of the industry and the rules of the road as they carry out these services. Any failures can lead to an accident, and truck accidents often come with devastating consequences.
Victims injured by DHL trucks may have grounds to seek damages from the negligent party, and a Beaufort delivery truck accident lawyer from Shelly Leeke is ready to lead that effort and get results. Partnerships with a Beaufort DHL truck accident lawyer from our team come with a “No Win. No Fee Guarantee.” We offer free case reviews and collect no fees until we secure compensation for deserving victims.
What to Do After an Accident with a DHL Truck
There are steps you can take with a Beaufort truck accident lawyer to support your personal injury claim following an accident with a DHL truck. The safety of all involved is the most important consideration, of course, so if it is not safe for you to move, stay still until help arrives. If you can move without incurring further injury, check to see if others need help, and then start gathering important information.
Gather Critical Information
Get contact, license, and insurance information from the driver. Document the truck’s license plate and other identifying characteristics or numbers. Take photos of the accident scene itself, including as many details as possible.
Seek Medical Care Immediately
Though you may be fortunate enough to “walk away” from the accident, you must seek medical care quickly. Some injuries take time to show, and a delay could compromise your well-being and your case. The negligent party can use your choice to postpone care as evidence that you were not truly injured or blame your decision, not the accident, as the reason for your debilitation.
Connect with an Attorney
Once you have secured your medical safety, connect with a Beaufort personal injury lawyer. The team at Shelly Leeke will reviewe your case and, upon entering a partnership with you, immediately undertake a post-accident investigation. Investigations are often more productive when we have fast access to your case–we can more easily track down witnesses and get their testimony while it is fresh and can gather evidence before it is lost, whether by accident or on purpose.
How an Experienced Attorney Helps Your Case
DHL accident cases can be complicated. Some DHL trucks are fully owned and operated by DHL and DHL employees. Others are operated by independent contractors who are not actual employees of the company. DHL is a large company with powerful legal representation–to take them on successfully or to navigate the complexities of filing against the independent partner– you need a formidable DHL truck accident lawyer in Beaufort of your own.
FMCSA Trucking Regulations
Your Beaufort DHL truck accident attorney also understands the legal responsibilities of commercial drivers and companies. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has a host of regulations on the books governing, among many other areas, :
- Drivers’ licensing requirements.
- Consecutive driving hours and days and mandatory rest.
- Truck inspections.
- Drivers’ use of alcohol or other substances.
- Driver qualifications.
- Methods of loading cargo.
- Safety training and equipment.
Potential Liable Parties
Through the accident investigation, your attorney will expose evidence of non-compliance. Your attorney will also look for any other factors that may have contributed to your accident, such as defective traffic signals or poor road maintenance, and seek to hold negligent parties accountable. Liability may fall on:
- The DHL driver.
- The DHL company.
- Another negligent third-party driver.
- A government entity responsible for maintaining safe roads and traffic signals.
- A truck mechanic or inspector.
- A vehicle part manufacturer or installer.
Proving Liability
There are steps to proving liability in a truck accident case, and Shelly Leeke understands the breakdown of negligence laws in South Carolina and what kinds of evidence will serve your case best. First, you need to prove that the negligent party owed you a duty of care–a legal obligation to keep you safe. Drivers owe all others on the roads a duty to operate their vehicles safely, and trucking companies, mechanics, and part manufacturers must uphold their duty to comply with regulations and perform their jobs with due diligence.
Then, you must show the liable party somehow failed to uphold their duty of care, and this failure led to your accident. Finally, you need to show the consequences of the accident left you with calculable losses. You can count on your DHL truck accident attorney in Beaufort to present a convincing body of evidence to prove your claim.
Filing on Time
Regarding how long you have to file a lawsuit after a truck accident, South Carolina gives victims a three-year deadline, which is called a statute of limitations. That does not mean you should wait to contact an attorney–it is always best to secure representation promptly after an accident. A swift partnership gives your attorney time to investigate your case fully, identify the negligent party, and file well within that legal time limit.
Your Attorney Will Fight for Substantial Damages
Many personal injury cases settle through negotiations–victims do not have to go through a court battle. But when the other side refuses to negotiate in good faith, a trial may be necessary. Our team is prepared to do whatever it takes to get you the compensation you deserve, including:
- Related medical costs and future care needs.
- Loss of income during recovery time and future losses if you cannot return to employment.
- Repair or replacement of property damaged or destroyed in the accident.
- Other financial costs incurred by the accident.
- Your emotional suffering and physical pain.
- Your diminished enjoyment of life.
Your attorney will assess your losses carefully, calculating a settlement to cover your losses and provide justice. Our goal is to get you maximum compensation to help you recover and stabilize your financial outlook. Though no two cases or settlements are the same, you can expect your lawyer to pursue economic and non-economic damage awards covering or acknowledging the above.
Shelly Leeke Is on Your Side and Ready to Fight
Shelly Leeke is here to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Whether the party liable for your injuries is DHL itself, a negligent driver, a government entity, or someone else, we are prepared to hold them accountable for your losses. Put your case in our hands so you can put your energy into recovery. We are on your side.
