Imagine this: you’re driving along I-26 or crossing the Ravenel Bridge when a tractor-trailer suddenly swerves into your lane. In an instant, your car is wrecked, and you’re left with injuries that make working impossible. The hospital bills start piling up, and the missed paychecks make everything harder. So, can you recover compensation for your lost wages after a truck accident in Charleston or anywhere in South Carolina?
Yes, you can. But it takes the right steps, the right proof, and often, the right legal help.
Lost wages include any income you would have earned if not for your injuries. That goes beyond your regular paycheck. It can also include:
If your injuries are long-term or life-altering, you may also have a claim for lost earning capacity—the future income you’ll miss because you can’t return to your old line of work.
Insurance companies rarely take your word for it. To be compensated, you’ll need clear documentation showing what you earned and how your injuries kept you from working. That might include:
The stronger your documentation, the harder it is for an insurer to deny your claim.
Truck accident cases are more complex than typical car wrecks. Multiple parties may share liability—the truck driver, the trucking company, or even the vehicle manufacturer—and their insurance carriers are quick to protect their interests. A Charleston truck accident lawyer can help by:
South Carolina follows a comparative negligence rule. This means that if you’re found partially responsible for the crash, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault, you can still recover 80% of your total damages.
You also have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Missing that deadline can permanently bar you from recovering compensation.
A serious truck accident can turn your life upside down, but you don’t have to face the financial fallout alone. At Lesemann & Associates, our Charleston truck accident lawyers help injured drivers and families recover lost wages and rebuild stability after devastating crashes.
We’ll investigate the accident, handle the insurance company, and fight to make sure your recovery includes every dollar you’re owed.
Contact Lesemann & Associates today for a free consultation. Let our team help you secure the compensation you deserve so you can focus on what matters most—your recovery.
