Large trucks and tractor-trailers are essential to accomplish many tasks throughout the state of South Carolina. These vehicles transport food, clothing, fuel, livestock, and other commodities all over the country. But when the truck driver or other users of the road don’t drive responsibly, you could sustain severe injuries.
Our South Carolina truck accident attorneys at Shelly Leeke Law Firm know how to handle truck accidents. Our South Carolina personal injury lawyers can stand up for your rights to compensation and negotiate with the insurance company, so you don’t lose your opportunity to recover compensation.
Most Common Injuries in a Truck Accident
A truck accident can result in many serious injuries depending on the truck’s size and speed when it hit you. Some of the most common injuries that you may be able to get compensation for include:
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injury
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injury
There are many other types of injuries that you may have sustained in the accident. To find out if they qualify you for compensation, you can talk to one of our South Carolina truck accident lawyers.
There are many steps to take after an accident, but the most important is to get medical treatment for your injuries. Going to the doctor can help you prevent serious injuries like internal bleeding from worsening.
Parties We Can Help You Hold Responsible in a South Carolina Truck Accident
Trucking is a heavily regulated industry, and many federal and state laws dictate driver training, health, and behavior. Drivers must complete regular safety certifications and physical examinations, and the number of hours they can drive per day are limited. Despite this, accidents frequently occur as a result of numerous parties’ negligence:
Truck Driver
The most common party that is negligent is the driver of the truck. Drivers are responsible for using their experience and judgment to protect the public and other motorists. Many truck accidents are caused by driver mistakes or negligence, including driving while fatigued or impaired, failing to perform appropriate inspections or safety checks, and improperly securing cargo.
Drivers who fail to exercise caution and take reasonable measures to ensure public safety should be held accountable when their negligence leads to an accident. And we can fight for the damages you qualify for.
Trucking Company
Trucking company negligence can also contribute to roadway disasters. Many companies delay or avoid routine maintenance and inspections to save money or reduce the time their vehicles are off the road. This can lead to avoidable equipment failures or malfunctions that can cause drivers to lose control.
Companies often set overly ambitious delivery deadlines, increasing the chances of drivers taking catastrophic risks like driving tired or impaired. When these companies put profits ahead of public safety, they need to be held responsible.
Truck Manufacturer
Some accidents involving tractor-trailers and other large trucks are caused by mechanical or structural failure. Brake failure is one of the most common mechanical issues that result in a truck accident. Other mechanical issues also frequently contribute to accidents, including power train failures, broken couplings, and tire separation or failure.
These failures may be a result of manufacturing or design flaws. In this case, an injured person may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the vehicle or one of its components.
These cases can be brutal fights against aggressive teams of corporate attorneys who don’t want to admit their vehicle or component is flawed and open the floodgates of liability. If your accident uncovers a defective product, you need a lawyer who will stand their ground against corporate interests. Our lawyers can have your back, no matter how big your case gets.
Our Team Can Tell You Exactly How Long You Have to File Your Claim
After a truck accident, you may be in shock and not know what to do next. Our team can be there to help. One of the first things you should do after you’ve been treated for your injuries is file a truck accident claim against the driver(s) that hit you and any other responsible parties.
In South Carolina, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim, according to South Carolina Code of Laws section 15-3-530. But every truck accident case is different, which means you may have more or less time to file a claim.
Instead of wondering when you should file your claim, a South Carolina truck accident lawyer from our team can tell you how long you have to file a claim. We can also help you with any paperwork that needs to be submitted.
It’s important to make sure that you file before the deadline because you risk losing your rights to compensation if you don’t. This can take away your settlement and leave you without a way to pay the medical bills and other accident-related costs you may have.
We Fight Tirelessly for Your Damages
To cover your costs after the truck accident, you can recover damages with the help of a lawyer. The common recoverable damages that you can collect after a truck accident include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of income
- Punitive damages
- Medical costs
- Loss of quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Property damage and repair
There may be more damages that you can recover in addition to the ones listed above. When you meet with one of our lawyers, we can tell you what damages you qualify for. When we pursue the negligent parties, we make sure that we find every loss that you’ve suffered so you can get the maximum compensation.
We’re Passionate about Protecting Your Settlement
When you find out that you may be able to receive compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained, it’s a joyous moment. But at the same time, the insurance company of the trucking company or truck driver is plotting to deny your claim.
But when you work with our team, you don’t have to worry about that because we strive to get results. We know what it takes to defend your settlement when the insurance claims adjuster tries to turn you away or short you on your settlement. The tactics they try to use to give you a settlement offer that doesn’t match your damages won’t work because we’re already one step ahead.
Contact Shelly Leeke Law Firm Today to Talk to Our Attorneys
If you were injured in a South Carolina truck accident, our team at Shelly Leeke Law Firm can help you navigate the legal process. We can tell you if you have a case and if you do, we can give you an estimate of your settlement.
To discover if you have a truck accident case, call us or fill out the contact form on our website. A South Carolina truck accident attorney from our firm can give you a free case evaluation.
