While commercial trucks are an essential part of transporting and exchanging goods, they can also be dangerous on the road when something goes wrong. Whether a driver is negligent or simply impacted by a faulty part, a truck driver can quickly lose control of their vehicle and cause a devastating accident.
Unfortunately, you may be the one suffering because of that accident. The good news is our attorneys at the Shelly Leeke Law Firm are here to help. When you need an Orangeburg personal injury lawyer, contact our personal injury team to seek the maximum compensation you are due for your injuries.
Common Types of Truck Accidents in Orangeburg
Truck accidents can happen in many ways for many reasons. Typically, accidents happen because some party was negligent. When this happens, the truck driver may lose control of the vehicle, leading to devastating and sometimes deadly accidents.
These accidents can occur in many ways, and the details of these accidents can provide information and insight into how they happened. Below are just a few types of truck accidents you may have experienced in Orangeburg, South Carolina:
- Roll over accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Head on collisions
- Rear end collisions
- T-bone collisions
How Truck Wrecks Occur
You may be injured in an accident when something goes wrong on the road. 18-wheelers are especially dangerous because of their size and weight. When you are involved in a truck accident, your injuries may be more severe because of the force behind the collision, and in some cases, your car accident may be worsened because the cargo carried by the truck driver was hazardous.
Orangeburg truck wrecks occur when one or more parties are careless. For example, the at-fault driver may have been paying attention to their phone, not the road. In other cases, the accident may have occurred because of road hazards, such as potholes.
When a truck accident happens, and the truck driver loses control of the vehicle, the truck safety mechanisms may try to prevent the accident. They may have emergency brakes or other mechanisms to slow the truck and prevent collisions. However, safety measures cannot prevent every accident.
If you are having trouble determining how your accident happened and what you can do in the wake of the accident, contact an Orangeburg truck accident attorney for more information.
Liability for Your Truck Accident in Orangeburg
When you were hurt in a truck accident, you must determine who was responsible for your accident as soon as possible. By determining who caused your accident, you can identify the person financially liable for your injuries and take them to court.
Liability for a truck accident can be a little complicated because the truck driver is not always the person financially liable for your accident. Often this liability falls on the trucking company that hired them. Trucking companies are responsible for responsible hiring practices and ensuring that all drivers they hire follow state and federal regulations and are adequately trained.
However, in some cases, it may not have been the driver’s fault. For example, if their or your brakes failed, the fault may lie on the manufacturer that improperly prepared these parts. If you have any questions or doubts about who is responsible for your injuries, contact a truck accident attorney in Orangeburg, SC, who can help you recover from your accident.
How to Handle Shared Fault Accusations
Sometimes, the at-fault party may try to avoid accepting the full fault of the accident. However, a truck accident can be costly, so accepting blame of any kind can leave you paying out of pocket beyond what you can pay.
That is why avoiding shared fault accusations is so essential. South Carolina residents are affected by the state’s shared fault laws. These laws state that you will be held responsible for a percentage of your compensation if you are partly at fault for your accident. Without an Orangeburg truck accident attorney, you may be stuck paying out of pocket for expenses you should not have to cover.
Compensating Victims of Orangeburg Truck Accidents
When you are involved in an Orangeburg truck accident, you need compensation that covers all the losses and suffering you have experienced because of the accident. However, when you are injured and inexperienced in this field, it can be challenging to determine what your claim is worth and how to seek out coverage for your damages or the cost of the suffering you have experienced.
Your compensation should include both economic and non-economic damages. Your economic damages should cover all financial losses, while your non-economic damages should cover any intangible suffering you have experienced. When you are ready to seek out a truck accident lawyer for help, talk to them about calculating any of the following damages or others not listed you believe you have suffered:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
File Your Truck Accident Claim in Orangeburg Before Time Runs Out
When you are involved in a truck accident, the time limit for filing your claim begins immediately. You only have a limited time to file an Orangeburg truck accident lawsuit before this time runs out. If it does, you may be barred from compensation, which leaves you paying out of pocket for your injuries.
In South Carolina, you only have three years from your injury to get compensated. If you are running out of time, your truck accident attorney can help you take action now and protect your claim. Your lawyer has the tools you need to file quickly and get compensated as soon as possible.
Meet with a Truck Accident Lawyer in Orangeburg, SC
When you are hurt and suffering following a devastating truck accident, it can be challenging to determine what to do next to protect yourself and your future. Truck accidents can be devastating, and you may not have the tools to take action alone.
The attorneys at the Shelly Leeke Law Firm understand how complex these claims can be, and we are ready to help. Get started with a free consultation with an Orangeburg truck accident lawyer, where we will guide you through the steps you need to know about your claim before you ever sign anything. Simply give us a call or fill out our online contact form today.
