One moment, you may be driving on I-95, I-26, or another South Carolina highway. Next, you are dealing with serious injuries, a damaged vehicle, missed work, and calls from insurance companies that may already be trying to limit what they pay.
If you were hit by a tractor-trailer, delivery truck, dump truck, or other commercial vehicle, you may be wondering who is responsible. Was it the driver? The trucking company? A maintenance contractor? The company that loaded the cargo?
In many South Carolina truck accident cases, more than one party may be responsible. A Charleston truck accident lawyer can investigate the crash, preserve evidence, identify who may be liable, and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
The truck driver may be responsible if speeding, distraction, fatigue, impairment, or unsafe driving caused the crash. However, the trucking company may also be liable if it failed to hire safe drivers, provide proper training, maintain its vehicles, follow safety rules, or prevent drivers from staying on the road too long.
Other parties may also be involved, including cargo loaders, vehicle maintenance companies, parts manufacturers, brokers, or other drivers. Truck accident cases often require a closer look at the full chain of responsibility.
I-95 and I-26 carry heavy commercial traffic through South Carolina. These routes connect ports, warehouses, distribution centers, tourist areas, and major cities throughout the region. When large trucks move through busy traffic at highway speeds, a mistake can cause devastating harm. Common causes of truck accidents include:
Because commercial trucks are so much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, the injuries can be life-changing. Victims may suffer broken bones, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, burns, amputations, or long-term pain.
Trucking companies and their insurers may begin investigating quickly after a crash. That makes early legal action important. Some of the most important evidence may be controlled by the trucking company itself.
This evidence may include driver logs, electronic control module data, inspection reports, maintenance records, dash camera footage, hiring records, training records, dispatch records, and communications between the driver and company.
A Charleston truck accident lawyer can take steps to preserve this evidence before it disappears, is overwritten, or becomes harder to obtain.
If someone else caused your truck accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for medical bills, future medical care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses.
The value of your claim depends on the facts of the crash, the severity of your injuries, the available insurance coverage, and how the accident has affected your daily life.
Get medical care right away, even if you think your injuries may improve. Report the crash, take photos if you can, get witness information, and avoid giving recorded statements to the trucking company’s insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
You should also keep records of medical visits, missed work, prescriptions, vehicle repairs, and any ways your injuries affect your routine.
If you were injured in a truck accident on I-95, I-26, or another South Carolina road, Lesemann & Associates can help you understand your rights and next steps. Our Charleston truck accident lawyers can investigate what happened, deal with the insurance companies, and work to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Contact Lesemann & Associates today to discuss your South Carolina truck accident claim.
