Collisions with 18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks can cause catastrophic injuries and even death, leaving the injured person and their family overwhelmed with doctors’ appointments, medical bills, and insurance negotiations. With so much on the line, our Spartanburg injury attorney says, insurance companies often try to settle these claims quickly to limit how much they’ll have to pay out, but these quick settlements are often not fair to the injured person. Keep reading to learn what you need to know to protect your rights after a truck accident in Spartanburg.
How Our Legal Team Can Help You After a Collision with a Commercial Truck in Spartanburg
It isn’t always necessary to hire an attorney after a car wreck, but when it comes to collisions with large commercial trucks, it is always recommended to at least talk with an attorney before signing any paperwork. Insurance adjusters are notorious for attempting to settle injury claims quickly to limit the amount they must pay. A free consultation with an experienced South Carolina truck accident lawyer can help ensure you are treated fairly and that you don’t accept a settlement that doesn’t fully cover all your losses caused by the wreck.
- If you choose to work with our legal team, our attorneys can:
- Determine the true cause of the accident so that all responsible parties are held accountable.
- Identify evidence and witnesses to build a strong case. Ensure you are receiving proper medical care.
- Interview your friends and family to further learn your story and help the insurance company better understand the impact your injuries have had on your life.
- Negotiate with the insurance adjuster so you can focus on healing.
- File a lawsuit and even take your case to trial if the trucking company and its insurance provider refuse to enter a fair settlement.
The Cause of the Truck Accident Can Affect Your Recovery![Common Truck Accident Causes Which Can Affect Recovery After Accident]()
Although the cause of the wreck may not be immediately clear at the time of the crash, it’s important to determine exactly what happened so the responsible person or business may be held legally and financially accountable for the harm they caused.
Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driving under the influence
- Distracted driving
- Lack of training – increased demand for consumer goods means that the trucking industry is hiring more and more inexperienced drivers. And with 24-hour cdl training courses, many of these drivers are not equipped with the knowledge or skill to safely drive such a large, dangerous vehicle.
- Defective parts
- Drowsy driving
- Uneven/improper load
- Lack of maintenance
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Crash in Spartanburg?
South Carolina is an at-fault state, which means whoever caused the accident to occur is financially responsible for the losses caused by the wreck. When it comes to accidents with 18-wheelers, there may be multiple parties that are liable, including:
- The truck driver,
- The trucking company,
- The company that maintains the truck, and/or
- The company that loaded the cargo.
Our Spartanburg accident attorneys can fully investigate the collision to reveal who should be held responsible for the wreck.
Compensation After a Crash with a Semi Truck
In South Carolina, the truck accident settlements should account for both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are damages for monetary losses including:
- Medical expenses
- Hospital bills
- Rehabilitation
- Surgery
- Future medical treatment
- Property damage
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Noneconomic damages have less to do with actual monetary losses and more to do with how your life has been impacted, which may include:
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim for an Accident with a Semi
If your loved one passed in a collision with a semi in Spartanburg, we are sincerely sorry for your loss. We are here to advocate for you and your family, so you are not left with the financial burden in addition to the immense loss you have experienced.
Our team can help you appoint a personal representative for the estate and file a wrongful death claim. Damages in a wrongful death claim may include:
- Medical care,
- Funeral and burial services,
- Loss of household support, and
- Loss of consortium.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit in Spartanburg?
In South Carolina, you have 3 years to file suit after an accident with a commercial vehicle. If you don’t file a lawsuit by the 3-year deadline, you likely will not have another chance to seek recovery for the wreck.
What You Can Expect from Our Spartanburg Personal Injury Team
At the Law Office of Kenneth Berger, our team aims to be a force of good in the lives of all those we encounter. We take care of our clients and treat them as if they were our own family. We maintain regular communication throughout your case because we know the last thing you want to worry about is whether you can get in touch with your attorney. Simply put, we are here to advocate for you and ensure you are treated fairly.
We do not believe in charging clients a fee if they receive no benefit. For that reason, we handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay anything unless we recover money for you.
Our offices are conveniently located in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, and we have been proudly servicing clients throughout the surrounding areas. Contact us online today or call us at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC).
