South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents make the news because the damage they cause, unfortunately, is often devastating due to the sheer size and nature of large commercial trucks. While this threat may be significantly mitigated by trucking companies that uphold safety standards and drivers who are well-trained, there are still operators who pose a threat by driving under stressful or dangerous conditions. Serious lapses in judgment contribute to truck accidents with some regularity. Sadly, the injuries often sustained in these accidents are severe and can leave victims and their families without any real means of covering the financial burden associated with the recovery process.

At Evans Moore, LLC, our truck accident attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of accident victims and their families as they struggle to cope with the consequences of that accident.

Truck Accident Claims in Charleston

In the wake of a truck accident, you need experienced, dedicated legal representation on your side to help you through this difficult time. By contacting Evans Moore, LLC, your case will be handled by both James B. Moore III and Scott C. Evans personally, fighting to help you pursue compensation for the unnecessary pain and suffering you have been forced to endure.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be legally entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, physical and emotional trauma, as well as pain and suffering. However, navigating the legal system on your own can be daunting, and you are less likely to receive the full compensation you are entitled to with the help of an experienced attorney by your side.

Why Trucking Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents

There are several reasons why a trucking accident is different from an accident involving passenger cars. Shipping and delivery vehicles operate with different laws and regulations governing their driving and liability than the laws and rules for cars. By their very nature and size, they are far more dangerous both to operate and be around on the road. They are also paid to cover as many miles as possible in the shortest time, and as such, will sometimes cut corners or make exceptions regarding driving laws to get their cargo delivered. Some of the ways truck accidents differ from car accidents include:

• Larger vehicle, larger insurance: Over-the-road trucks pull 53-foot trailers and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. To protect their liability, the owner of the truck, owner of the cargo, seller of the cargo, and sometimes even the cargo broker will need to carry an insurance policy. This means that when these trucks get into an accident, an insurance company will have a much larger investment to protect and will work much harder to do just that. They will employ expert adjusters, investigators, and even attorneys to protect their own liability. This is why having an experienced attorney at your side is so important if you’ve been in a trucking accident.
• Larger vehicle, more damage: The larger the vehicle, the more costly the repairs and the more damage they can cause. Over-the-road trucks are among the largest vehicles allowed on public roads, and an accident with one can cause far more damage than an accident with another passenger car.
• Increased risk of injury: Again, the size of an 18-wheel truck means that when it does get into an accident, there is far more risk of serious injury to occupants of the other vehicle.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Our legal team possesses both the experience and the resources to help you pursue truck accident claims involving any of the following:

• Drunk Driving– Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08% and over are legally considered to be impaired, and should not be allowed to operate a vehicle.
• Mechanical Defect or Malfunction– Manufactures are responsible for making sure their products are safe and if they discover an unsafe product has made its way to market, then it is to be recalled. Mechanical defect for trucks is often attributed to faulty tires and bad brakes.
• Employer Negligence or Liability– Trucking companies must uphold high standards to ensure safety for truck drivers and other drivers on the road. Employers should take appropriate measures to properly train their employees, as well as perform comprehensive truck inspections. Trucking companies can be held liable for negligence that led to a trucking accident.
• Truck Driver Error– Driver errors can happen to any driver; however, when truck drivers make errors, the consequences can be grave and even life-threatening. A distracted driver in a negligent driver and truck drivers must remain vigilant when behind the wheel to avoid any unnecessary driving errors.
• No-Zone Accidents– Areas surrounding a truck are known as ‘no-zones.’ Truck drivers are required to take extra precaution when driving to ensure that their driving does not harm cars in their ‘no-zone.’ No-Zone accidents can occur when a driver slams on his breaks or switches lanes suddenly.

What to Do If You’ve Been in an Accident with a Commercial Truck

If you’ve been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, there are some steps you should take immediately to protect yourself and your potential claim.

1. Get to safety: Move your vehicle and any occupants out of traffic and to a safe place to assess any injuries or damage.
2. Contact 911: Getting first responders on site is important. Once the police arrive, they will create an accident report.
3. Get medical attention: Even if you don’t think you’ve been injured, it’s very important to contact emergency medical services immediately. Let them know your condition, the condition of any other vehicle occupants, the condition of the truck driver, and your location. An ambulance can transport any seriously injured people to a medical facility.
4. Get insurance information: Insurance for an over-the-road truck can be complex, so make sure and get all the info from the driver. There may be separate insurance for the driver, truck owner, freight broker, shipping company, or the owner of the cargo.
5. Document everything: If possible, begin the documentation process immediately. Start a written record of exactly what transpired, from the moment of the accident to the present. If you’re able, take photos of the truck, your vehicle, your injuries, the place of the accident, and anything you think might be pertinent to an investigation. This will help build a strong case for damage claims later on, if necessary.
6. Don’t talk about it: Do not speak about who was at fault for the accident. Even apologizing for the accident can be taken as claiming responsibility, so be sure to watch what you say to the truck driver or any authorities.
7. Gather paperwork: If a medical team treats you for injuries on-site or later on, ask for a report. If a police officer arrives to assist and starts investigating what happened, ask them for a copy of their findings. Again, this information can help you later on if you file an insurance claim for damages.

Types of Trucking Accidents We Cover

• Sideswipes: Because a semi-truck has no rearview mirror, the driver relies completely on side-view mirrors to see what’s behind or beside them. They’re trained to look in these mirrors often regardless of whether they’re changing lanes or not, so if you’ve been sideswiped by a large truck, there’s a good chance the driver wasn’t doing what they should have been.
• Rear-ending: Trucks are tall vehicles. They can be up to 14 feet tall, and in many cases, the view of the road ahead is obstructed by the hood of the truck, leaving a large blind spot directly in front of the cab. If you’ve been rear-ended by a tractor-trailer, it’s likely the driver was following too closely for safety.
• City street accidents: Once a truck leaves the highway, the chances of an accident can be compounded by the lack of space to maneuver or make turns on city streets, alleys, and byways. Though truck drivers are required to have training in maneuvering their vehicles safely in tight quarters, the lack of visibility from the driver’s seat means an accident may be just around the corner.

Recoverable Damages From Trucking Accidents

If you’ve been in an accident with a truck, you want a resolution fast. You want compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills, and damage to your vehicle. A knowledgeable attorney from Evans Moore, LLC can help you get the compensation you deserve. A claim for damages might include the following:

• Medical bills: If you’ve been seriously injured, medical costs can pile up fast. A claim for damages will usually include compensation for emergency medical services, diagnostic testing, treatment, hospital stays, surgery fees, and rehabilitation or medication.
• Lost wages: Being injured in an accident can have serious repercussions, not just regarding your health and safety, but for your job and those who depend on you. An experienced attorney can help you file a claim for compensation for the loss of your ability to work and to cover lost wages.
• Pain and suffering: Aside from the injuries to your person or damage to your property, the experience of an accident with a large truck can be devastating to your overall state of mind and well-being. A claim for pain and suffering is designed to compensate you for both mental and physical injuries you endured as a result of the traumatic experience of being in a trucking accident.

U.S. Truck Accident Statistics

Studies from both the in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) report devastating statistics regarding track accidents in the United States. Key findings from both reports including:

• According to the IIHS, 3,852 people died in truck crashes in 2015 with 16% of deaths being truck drivers and 69% of fatalities were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles.
• According to NHTSA, an estimated 111,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks in 2014, a 17 percent increase from 2013.
• 79% of the fatal crashes involving large trucks occurred on weekdays with 71 percent occurring between 6 a.m. and 6.p.m.
• About one out of every four fatal large-truck crashes occurred on an interstate.

The dangers associated with truck accidents are

Consult with a Truck Accident Attorney in Georgetown

If you have been injured in a truck accident anywhere in the state, you should speak with one of the truck accident lawyers at Evans Moore, LLC, to begin developing an aggressive legal strategy against the responsible party. To discuss the particulars of your situation with one of our accident lawyers, please call our offices at (843) 995-5000 today.