Truck Accident Attorney in Indian Land, SC

Commercial trucks can pose considerable risks to other drivers in South Carolina when they do not follow the rules. These large, heavy trucks cause serious damage when they collide with other road users, with devastating consequences for their victims. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Indian Land, and someone else was to blame, they — and possibly several other liable parties — could owe you compensation for the many ways the accident has affected your life. Let David Blackwell Law help you pursue it.

We are dedicated to helping people like you find their way through the aftermath of severe accidents, protecting their legal rights, and supporting them throughout the process. Our truck accident law firm can take care of all the legal work in your case, allowing you to focus on your medical treatment and putting your life back together. We know you’re struggling, and we will pursue every dollar of compensation you deserve.

Call David Blackwell Law today or complete our contact form for a free consultation with an Indian Land truck accident lawyer.

Why You Should Hire an Indian Land, SC, Attorney for Your Truck Accident Claim

You need compensation to start rebuilding your life, and you need it as soon as possible. Let David Blackwell Law pursue it on your behalf while you focus on your recovery.

We can handle all the legal work in your case, including investigating the accident, identifying the liable parties, filing and managing your truck accident claim, and negotiating for a fair insurance settlement. If settlement negotiations don’t lead to a satisfactory outcome, we can file a truck accident lawsuit and represent you in any court proceedings.

Above all, we strive to make this process as easy for you as possible, allowing you to focus on what’s important.

How Come Trucking Accidents Are More Complicated Than Other Motor Vehicle Collisions?

An 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or other big rig accident often involves unique circumstances that make the claim process more challenging than for accidents involving only passenger vehicles. Here are some key factors that contribute to this complexity:

• Severe Damage and Injuries – Trucks can cause more extensive damage and injuries than cars due to their size and weight, often resulting in more significant medical expenses and longer recovery times.
• Multiple Parties Involved – Truck accidents can involve several liable parties – including the truck driver, trucking company, vehicle manufacturer, and maintenance providers. Determining liability among these entities adds layers of complexity to a truck accident case.
• Federal and State Regulations – Trucking companies and drivers must follow extensive federal and state regulations, including hours-of-service, inspection, and certification rules. Proving how a truck driver, trucking company, or other entity violated these regulations can be challenging, as much of the evidence that could prove this must be recovered from the trucking company.
• Complex Insurance Policies – Trucking companies often have complex insurance policies with higher coverage limits. Navigating these policies to seek maximum coverage requires specific industry knowledge and experience.
• Black Box and Other Evidence – Most commercial trucks have electronic logging devices (ELDs) and event data recorders (EDRs) that record crucial data about the truck’s operation. Securing and interpreting this data can be challenging without help from a truck accident lawyer in Indian Land.
• Longer Investigation Time – The investigation into a truck accident can be detailed and time-consuming, and it requires specific knowledge of industry practices and regulations.

Who Could Be Liable for a Trucking Wreck in South Carolina?

Determining who’s liable for a truck accident involves carefully examining the roles of various individuals and entities, any of which could have contributed to the accident. Here are some of the parties that could potentially be liable:

• The Truck Driver – The driver may be liable for negligent behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence.
• The Trucking Company – The company could be liable for the crash if it failed to enforce safety regulations, properly maintain vehicles, or adequately train drivers.
• Cargo Loaders – Those responsible for loading the truck’s cargo might be liable if their improper performance of that task contributed to the accident.
• The Truck Manufacturer – If a defect in the truck or its parts led to the accident, the part’s manufacturer could be accountable for releasing an unsafe product onto the market.
• Maintenance Providers – Providers who fail to properly maintain and repair trucks can be liable for a crash if their negligence led to a malfunction in the truck.
• Other Motorists – Other drivers on the road can be liable for a truck crash if their actions contributed to the accident. For example, if another driver stops abruptly in front of a truck, the truck driver might slam on their brakes and lose control, leading to a collision.
• Government Entities – If poor road design or lack of proper maintenance contributed to the accident, local or state government entities might be responsible.

What Compensation Could You Recover in a South Carolina Truck Accident Claim?

One of the key roles of your truck accident lawyer is to accurately assess the full impact of the crash on your life. We can help you pursue truck accident compensation for your:

What Happens if You’re Partly to Blame for a Trucking Accident?

Truck accident victims in South Carolina can still recover compensation if they bear some responsibility for a crash, as long as their share of fault is 50 percent or less. Additionally, each percentage of fault assessed to the victim will reduce their compensation in kind. While this dynamic makes it possible for injury victims to recover compensation even when they are somewhat to blame, it also underscores the importance of working with an experienced attorney. Every percentage point matters, and reducing your share of blame is key to maximizing your compensation.

What Is Considered a Truck in South Carolina?

South Carolina defines a truck as any motor vehicle designed principally to transport property. In addition to that definition, the South Carolina DMV uses the same criteria to classify a vehicle as a commercial truck, which is any vehicle that:

• Has a combined weight of more than 26,000 pounds, including a trailer weighing 10,000 pounds or more
• Weighs more than 26,000 pounds without a trailer
• Is designed to carry 16 or more people, including the driver
• Transports hazardous materials (using the federal definition of hazardous materials)

Common Types of Commercial, Big Rig, and Semi-Truck Accidents in South Carolina

Truck accidents can take various forms in South Carolina, each type presenting unique dangers. Some of the most common types of Indian Land truck accidents include:

• Jackknife Accidents – This type of accident happens when the trailer of a semi-truck swings wide and moves toward the cab in an action that resembles a folding pocket knife.
• Rear-End Collisions – These occur when a truck crashes into the vehicle in front of it, often because the truck driver failed to slow down in time to account for the truck’s longer stopping distance.
• Underride Accidents – In this scenario, a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a truck and is dragged by the truck, potentially with severe or fatal consequences.
• Rollovers – High-speed turns, sudden stops, and other abrupt driving maneuvers can cause a truck to tip over on its side, potentially hitting other vehicles as it falls or creating hazards for anyone behind it.
• Blind Spot Accidents – These accidents happen when a truck driver changes lanes or turns without noticing a vehicle in the truck’s larger blind spots.
• Head-On Collisions – This type of accident involves a truck’s front end colliding directly with another vehicle’s front end. This can happen if a truck driver is impaired, distracted, or attempting to pass another car without enough room to do so safely.
• T-Bone Accidents – If a truck driver runs a red light or stop sign, they might crash into the side of another vehicle coming from a different direction. T-Bone truck accidents often occur because the truck driver is distracted, speeding, or impaired.
• Lost Load Accidents – This type of accident happens when cargo falls off a truck and creates hazards for other vehicles on the road.
• Tire Blowouts – Sudden tire failure can cause the truck driver to lose control, leading to accidents with other vehicles.
• Wide Turn Accidents – Trucks have a wide turning radius, which the driver must account for, particularly when turning right, as these turns have a sharper angle.

What Injuries Can Someone Sustain in a Truck Accident?

Commercial trucks’ size, weight, and ride height make them much more likely to cause catastrophic or permanent injuries to drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles. Some of the most common truck accident injury types include the following:

In the event of a fatal truck accident, surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault parties.

 Contact an Indian Land, SC, Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Waiting too long to speak to a truck accident attorney can jeopardize your claim or lead to a reduced settlement. Don’t risk that outcome. Instead, call David Blackwell Law today or reach out online for a free consultation with an Indian Land truck accident attorney.