Delivery trucks are a common sight nowadays. From urban to rural areas, customers depend on these trucks to drop much-needed or wanted items on their doorsteps within a day or so, or perhaps even hours, of purchase. There is no doubt delivery trucks bring tremendous convenience, but that convenience comes with a price. More trucks on the roads increase the possibility of accidents. Add the pressure delivery-truck operators face to maximize customer satisfaction by making deliveries faster, and that accident potential rises even higher.
If you have sustained losses from a delivery truck accident, reach out to a Greenville truck accident lawyer from Shelly Leeke. Our firm is confident in our collective ability to win the cases we take–we do not require payment for the case review or for any legal fees until we secure the compensation you deserve. Trust an experienced Greenville delivery truck accident lawyer from our firm to represent your best interests and handle your case with skill and care.
A Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer in Greenville Will Manage Your Case
Putting your case in the care of an experienced Greenville personal injury lawyer increases your chances of seeing fair and substantial compensation. Your attorney will:
- Investigate thoroughly to determine the party at fault and compile evidence.
- File your truck accident claim within the three-year deadline established in South Carolina Code §15-2-530.
- Calculate a fair settlement demand, accounting for your financial, physical, emotional, and quality of life losses.
- Negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance representatives. Insurance companies offer accident victims quick, but lowball settlements, and your lawyer will protect you from making a hasty agreement.
- Represent you in court should you need to take your case to trial. Our team comprises strategic negotiators and fierce trial attorneys. We are ready to fight for your best interests both in and out of court.
Since South Carolina’s negligence laws impact your claim value, it is critical to have representation from a skilled, knowledgeable Greenville delivery truck accident attorney. You can only file a claim if you are less than 51% to blame for the accident, and if you meet this limit, you can still see your compensation reduced by whatever lower percentage of fault you bear. Your attorney will challenge accusations of fault from the other side to protect your compensation from an unfair decrease.
Common Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents
Delivery truck drivers have non-stop jobs. They have to travel to different locations delivering hundreds of packages per day. Fulfilling job demands requires getting from one stop to another as quickly as possible.
Drivers also depend on electronic navigation systems to get them to their delivery location. This combination–the pressure of getting deliveries done quickly and the need to check navigation systems–presents opportunities for accidents. Drivers may speed, make unsafe or sudden stops, fail to check their surroundings when heading out to a new stop, or simply be distracted from traffic conditions by checking directions.
Fatigue also affects drivers’ performance. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), fatigue negatively affects drivers’ reaction times, awareness of hazards, and ability to maintain attention.
Potential Delivery-Truck Accident Complications
A claim can only have a favorable resolution if victims can prove the at-fault party’s negligence caused the accident. If you make assumptions and file against the wrong party only to realize later the evidence points elsewhere, you risk losing your chance to collect compensation. A complication of accidents with delivery trucks is figuring out who is responsible for paying your damages.
In some cases, the truck driver may be at fault, and because they are an employee of the delivery company, you file against that company. However, some companies, such as Amazon, operate their fleet through Delivery Service Partner (DSP) –or similar– programs. Drivers in these programs are not covered under the umbrella of company insurance.
Some delivery trucks operate under government purview, and in other cases, accidents result from government failures. For example, you may have an accident with a USPS postal truck, or your accident with another delivery truck happens because of poor road maintenance or inoperative traffic signals. These accidents may warrant claims against the government that follow different legal procedures than those against private individuals or companies. Whatever your accident circumstances, a Greenville delivery truck accident attorney from Shelly Leeke can help.
Take Steps Following a Delivery-Truck Accident
Protect your health and the success of your case by taking proactive steps after your accident. If you can move without hurting yourself, take photos of the accident scene, capturing the entire environment. Be sure to get the truck’s identification information (license plate, company number), as well as the driver’s license, insurance, and contact information.
Get contact information from witnesses, and if they have photos or videos, ask them to share that content. If they are willing, have them text you a statement of what they witnessed while their memories are still fresh and call law enforcement so an official accident report is made. For the best-case outcome, adhere to these ways to protect the value of your South Carolina personal injury claim.
If you are able to leave the scene without emergency services, still go to a doctor promptly, as swift diagnosis and treatment protects your health and protects your injury claim. Delays in care allow opportunities for the at-fault party to deny responsibility for your injuries, claiming your choice to postpone care caused the debilitation or accusing you of manufacturing injuries. Once you have attended to your medical needs, reach out to a delivery truck accident attorney in Greenville.
Work with a Greenville Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Following an accident, victims often feel scared and confused. They fear a future changed by physical injuries and the subsequent financial fallout, and are overwhelmed by a complicated legal system they have no experience navigating. A Greenville delivery truck accident lawyer from Shelly Leeke can help ease that fear and confusion.
Our team will fight for your financial recovery–a recovery that provides continued support for your medical needs–and will take care of all the legal demands of your case. We are on your side and ready to get to work.
