Columbia Trucking Accidents Lawyer
Semi-trucks play a crucial role in South Carolina, moving goods to and from the state. While truck drivers are valuable, they are human and make mistakes.
Sadly, these mistakes can sometimes end in tragedy when semi-trucks collide with passenger vehicles. Crashes happen for a variety of reasons, including because of the driver’s fatigue or reckless driving.
For the families of truck accident victims, the aftermath can be devastating. Thousands of Americans die in car accidents each year, and many of these deaths involve an incident with a semi-truck. Because of the weight of the truck, the car is at a clear disadvantage, and the victims are often left with severe truck accident injuries if they survive at all.
If you are facing the catastrophic event of a semi-truck collision, you may be left feeling overwhelmed by lengthy hospitalization, broken bones, reconstruction surgeries, and the expenses that go with each of these.
The last thing you need to worry about is a legal battle with the trucking company to recover the damages you are owed after your accident. You first must seek medical attention; then, you need legal representation you can count on to conduct a thorough investigation of the crash and fight for maximum compensation for you and your family.
At Lee Injury Law, LLC, we will listen compassionately to your story and leave no stone uncovered as we search for the truth behind your truck accident. We have tools at our disposal that allow us to demonstrate that you were not to blame if that is the case.
A talented Columbia truck accident attorney is an excellent ally as you seek justice in your truck accident case. Please rely on our knowledge and expertise throughout this journey so you can rest and recover from the injuries you sustained during the truck accident. We offer a free consultation, so call us today at (803) 855-1012.
Why are Columbia Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
Commercial trucks are notoriously dangerous and are often deadly. There are several reasons why crashes with commercial trucks are so high-risk.
The following are some factors that create a greater risk during a collision with large commercial trucks:
- Weight of the commercial vehicle. The sheer bulk of a semi-truck is a principal factor in why these vehicles deal such damage when they collide with smaller cars. For example, the average semi-truck weighs over 60,000 pounds. Compare this with a passenger vehicle which weighs in at 5,000 pounds (and that is on the large side! Many cars weigh around 3,000 pounds). The impact when a truck crashes into smaller vehicles is enormous and is a reason people involved in such crashes suffer severe injuries or death.
- The truck’s slow response time. Commercial trucks are notoriously difficult to stop and accelerate due to their weight. Where a car can slam on its brakes and stop more quickly, a truck driver does not have this luxury. This is even more of a problem when trucking companies fail to maintain the vehicles properly, which is something a skilled lawyer can uncover and use to your advantage in your truck accident case.
- Truck driver’s fatigue. While nationwide regulations are intended to keep truck drivers from spending too long behind the wheel, these individuals spend hours and hours, day after day on the road. This never-ending road trip can create some serious physical side effects, including drowsiness and a lessened ability to make quick decisions that can lead to an accident.
If you are suffering because of a truck accident, regardless of who the traffic report says was at fault, you should reach out to truck accident lawyers you can trust. At Lee Injury Law, LLC, we know how difficult this time is for you and your family, and we will stand by your side as we help you in your search for justice.
What Are Some Common Truck Accident Causes?
With such a powerful piece of machinery as a semi-truck, there is a great potential for severe accidents that cause serious injuries.
Some of these are rollover accidents where the truck was not properly balanced and turns over, jackknife accidents where the truck forms a 90-degree angle after the driver brakes sharply, and head-on or rear-end crashes which can be the deadliest as the truck driver fails to stop in time and impacts the other vehicle directly.
The truth is that many of these collisions can be prevented by proper maintenance of the vehicle and better training of truck drivers.
Some common causes of large truck accidents are:
- Truck driver fatigue
- Inadequate driver training
- Trucking company failed failing to properly maintain their vehicles
- Commercial vehicles not properly loaded and balanced
- Truckers not following traffic laws, such as speeding
- Truck drivers driving while intoxicated
- Distracted driving
No matter what type of accident you were in or what caused the truck accident in Columbia, your first priority is getting checked by a medical professional to be sure your common truck accident injuries are treated. Sometimes the adrenaline from the crash can make someone think they are fine, but later examination can reveal injuries they didn’t know they had.
Once you have gotten the medical treatment you need, you should reach out to a Columbia truck accident lawyer like the one at Lee Injury Law, LLC for legal counsel and help get compensation for the damage done during the truck accident.
What Compensation Can I Recover Following a Columbia Semi Truck Accident?
For people involved in semi-truck accidents, it can be difficult to know who the responsible parties are and how much compensation to expect. Because commercial trucks are often owned by trucking companies, these companies and the truck manufacturer are usually at least partly responsible for damage done as a result of accidents involving the truck.
For help in finding who carries the blame in your case, please contact a Columbia truck accident attorney who can use accident reconstructionists and other specialists to reenact the accident and discover exactly what happened.
Once you have determined that the truck driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturer is at fault, you can then proceed to develop a case for how much compensation to seek in South Carolina.
A truck accident lawyer like Lee Injury Law, LLC, is a great place to start. We have helped countless clients recover damages from catastrophic injuries following a truck crash, and we can help you get fair compensation for your injuries as well.
Recoverable Damages after a South Carolina Truck Accident
- Medical Expenses: This includes the cost of emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and any future medical expenses related to the injury.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for the income you lost while recovering from your injuries. This also includes future lost earning potential if you are unable to return to work or must take a lower-paying job due to your injuries.
- Property Damage: Costs to repair or replace your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the truck accident in Columbia.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress resulting from the accident and your injuries.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries prevent you from enjoying daily activities, hobbies, and other pleasures of life, you may be compensated for this loss.
- Disability and Disfigurement: Compensation if the accident caused permanent disability or significant disfigurement.
- Loss of Consortium: Damages awarded to your spouse or family members for the loss of companionship and support resulting from your injuries.
- Punitive Damages: In cases where the truck driver’s actions were particularly reckless or egregious, you may be awarded punitive damages. These are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future.
- Mental Anguish: Compensation for psychological impact, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, caused by the accident and its aftermath.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Any additional costs incurred due to the accident, such as transportation to medical appointments, home modifications, or hiring help for daily activities.
Understanding the full scope of damages you can claim is essential for ensuring you receive full and fair compensation. Consulting with an experienced truck accident attorney in Columbia, SC can help you accurately assess your damages and build a strong case.
A knowledgeable Columbia truck accident attorney can help you determine what a fair settlement would be, and they will also be your ally if you need to take the case to court. Reach out to a skilled truck accident attorney right away if you were harmed in a crash with a commercial vehicle due to someone else’s negligence.
How Can Accident Lawyers Prove Fault in Truck Accident Cases?
Columbia truck accident lawyers have access to resources that can be very helpful in proving fault in truck accident cases. An experienced truck accident attorney like Tyler Lee and Lee Injury Law, LLC has a deep understanding of South Carolina law and will be able to determine whether the driver of the large truck, the trucking company owner, truck manufacturer, or others were at fault which led to the accident.
Your Columbia truck accident lawyer will also dedicate their time to an exhaustive investigation to find the truth about the accident. You should be spending your time resting and recovering during your truck accident claim.
Let us handle the legal details of your trucking accident case so you can use your energy on what’s important: recovering and getting back to enjoying your life.
Additionally, truck accident lawyers will know how to access important evidence such as black box data that could reveal mistakes that were made that led to the crash. For example, the black box can show whether the driver was speeding or did not adequately brake, causing the collision.
Your lawyer may also use resources such as private investigators or a collision reconstructionist to find important details that can prove you were not at fault during the wreck. Call our Columbia truck accident attorneys right away to see how we can help you following your Columbia, SC truck accident.
Should I Hire a Columbia Truck Accident Lawyer?
After a wreck with a large truck, you could feel shaken and overwhelmed. You may worry about your future because of mounting medical costs, extensive surgeries, reduced ability to work, and the emotional distress of being in such a scary collision.
Those responsible for the wreck should be held liable for your truck accident claims. This isn’t about seeking revenge, but rather about justice being served because of the severe injury someone else’s poor choices have caused you.
At such a difficult time, you deserve a Columbia truck accident attorney on your side who knows the law and has experience collecting damages in many previous semi-truck accidents. At Lee Injury Law, LLC, we understand your pain.
We promise to leverage all of our knowledge, experience, and honesty to get the results you are looking for in your case. We will not rest until you have collected the compensation you deserve. Don’t delay in reaching out to us for a free consultation about how our worker’s compensation lawyer in Columbia, SC attorney can help you. Call today at (803) 855-1012.
When consulting with a Columbia, SC truck accident attorney, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure they are qualified and a good fit for your case. Here are some questions to consider:
- What is your experience with truck accident cases?
- How many truck accident cases have you handled in Columbia, SC?
- What is your success rate with truck accident cases?
- Do you have experience dealing with large trucking companies and their insurers?
- Can you provide references from past clients who had truck accident cases?
- What are the typical outcomes for cases like mine?
- How do you approach investigating commercial truck accidents in columbia?
- What kind of evidence will you gather to support my case?
- How do you handle negotiations with insurance companies?
- Are you prepared to take my case to trial if necessary?
- What are the potential damages I can claim in my case?
- How do you determine the value of a truck accident case?
- What are your fees and how are they structured?
- Do you work on a contingency fee basis?
- Are there any upfront costs I need to be aware of?
- How long do you expect my case to take?
- What can I do to strengthen my case?
- How will you keep me informed about the progress of my case?
- Will I be working directly with you or with other members of your team?
- What challenges do you foresee in my case?
- Have you handled cases involving serious injuries or wrongful death from truck accidents?
- How familiar are you with federal and state trucking regulations?
- What should I expect during the legal process?
- How do you handle cases involving multiple liable parties?
- Can you help with medical referrals or treatment recommendations?
These questions will help you gauge the attorney’s expertise, approach, and suitability for your truck accident case.