As the victim of a commercial truck accident in Blythewood, South Carolina, it’s important to know you have rights. It’s also important to know that you’re not alone. Call the experienced Blythewood truck accident lawyers at Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers to find out how we can help you maximize your recovery and get through this stressful time in your life.
Since 1999, Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers has been a trusted advocate for crash victims and devastated families in Blythewood, SC. As leaders in truck accident litigation with decades of combined experience, we’ve helped clients stand up to powerful forces and win millions in life-changing financial awards.
Don’t settle for less than your truck accident case is worth. Force a fair fight by enlisting the help of our award-winning legal team. We offer a free case evaluation with our Blythewood truck accident attorneys. Contact our law office in Blythewood, SC, at 803-592-6553 to arrange a time for yours today.
How Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Tractor-Trailer Accident in Blythewood, SC
The trucking service won’t have your best interests at heart. Neither will its insurance company. The truck driver who caused your accident won’t admit fault and might even try to blame you for the wreck. This can be incredibly stressful, especially when you’re trying to focus on recovering from your debilitating truck accident injuries.
That’s where our Blythewood personal injury lawyers can help.
At Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, we don’t stand for bullying. You deserve justice after your devastating accident, and our law firm is committed to helping you take on a tough adversary and make things right.
Focus on recovering from your truck accident injuries, and let us handle the rest:
- Review results of investigations conducted by the trucking company and/or government agency
- Launch a prompt, independent investigation of our own into your motor vehicle accident
- Evaluate dash cam footage, black box data, cell phone records, driver logs, inspection and maintenance reports, photographs, property damage, witness statements, and other evidence we obtain during discovery
- Bring in experts in the trucking industry, medicine, forensics, and other specialties to help us build your case and calculate your damages
- Negotiate with the trucking company and its insurer on your behalf
- Provide support and advice as you make important decisions about your personal injury case, including whether or not to accept a settlement offer
- Reject lowball offers and try your truck accident lawsuit in front of a Richland County jury, if necessary
There’s a reason we have more than 1,000 positive Google reviews and have been recognized as a top law firm by the Free Times of Columbia – we’re passionate about what we do and regularly recover top results. Find out more about how we can help you make the most of your truck accident lawsuit by contacting our Blythewood, SC, law office today. We work on contingency and offer a free consultation, so there’s never a cost to hire our Blythewood truck accident attorneys unless we win your truck accident case.
South Carolina Truck Accident Statistics
Every year, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, big rigs, and other large commercial vehicles are involved in traffic accidents across the state of South Carolina. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 3,148 truck accidents were reported on South Carolina roads and highways.
About 59 percent of these collisions caused at least one injury or death. In total, 1,770 injuries and 105 deaths were reported after these South Carolina truck accidents.
When you break the data down, it means there are roughly 8 to 9 tractor-trailer accidents in South Carolina every day.
Who’s Liable for a Big Rig Accident?
Under South Carolina law, liability extends to anyone who contributes to an accident with a tractor-trailer.
This might include the following:
Truck Driver
A truck driver can be liable for a big rig accident if their negligence or wrongful actions cause a wreck. Common driver errors include speeding, driving in excess of hours of service regulations, failing to conduct pre-and-post trip inspections, and ignoring other FMCSA safety rules.
Trucking Company
Trucking companies can be on the hook for an accident involving one of its rigs in one of two ways. First, a company can be responsible for its own negligence, like negligent hiring or failing to perform regular safety inspections on its fleet of trucks. Second, a trucking company can be vicariously liable for a driver’s negligence. This means you can hold the trucking service responsible for mistakes made by the truck driver.
Third-Party Motorist
Truck drivers aren’t the only ones who cause or contribute to truck accidents. Other drivers on the road – including drivers of passenger vehicles, bus drivers, and motorcyclists – can also cause wrecks. If a third party causes a collision with a big rig, they can be liable for resulting damages.
Truck Manufacturer
Suppose a truck or a component of a vehicle is defective. In that case, the company responsible for designing, manufacturing, or selling the truck can be strictly liable for crash-related injuries or deaths.
Government Agency
We rely on city, state, and federal government agencies to keep our roads in a safe condition. When a road is inherently unsafe because of a defect, and there’s evidence the government did nothing to fix it, the agency may be liable for a resulting truck accident.
What Causes Most Commercial Truck Accidents?
Despite the fact that trucking operations are heavily regulated by South Carolina state law and the FMCSA, accidents involving big rigs and other large commercial trucks are still a common occurrence. Unfortunately, safety regulations only matter when they’re followed.
All too often, these are top contributors to truck accidents in and around Blythewood:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued driving
- Braking errors
- Unsecured cargo
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Wide turns
- Illegal passing
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Tailgating
- Road rage
- Negligent vehicle maintenance
- Inexperienced or unqualified truck drivers
Count on our Blythewood truck accident attorneys to dive into the details of your crash to understand how and why it happened. Once we have proof of the cause(s), we can begin to craft a compelling claim that helps you secure the compensation you need and deserve.
Helping You Seek Compensation for Your Truck Accident Injuries
Several factors can influence the types of injuries you’re most likely to suffer in a Blythewood trucking accident. Where in the vehicle were you sitting? How fast was the vehicle moving at the time of impact? What type of truck was involved in the crash? What type of truck accident was it? Did you have any pre-existing medical conditions?
No matter what types of injuries you’ve suffered, Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers is prepared to help you get justice.
Call us if you’ve suffered any of the following injuries in a recent big rig crash:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Soft tissue injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Paralysis injury
- Whiplash injury
- Concussion injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Nerve damage
- Eye injury
- Hand, wrist, and finger injuries
- Crushing injury
- Chest injury
- Burn injury
- Leg injury
- Amputation injury
- Degloving injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a family member
Always report your accident by calling 911. Then, seek immediate medical attention if you’re not brought to the hospital by an ambulance. Getting help will be critical for your health and the future success of a truck accident claim.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After a Blythewood Truck Accident?
Filing a truck accident lawsuit or insurance claim will give you the opportunity to recover compensatory damages.
Compensatory awards include economic and non-economic damages for:
- Surgery, hospitalization, medication, and other current medical bills
- Rehabilitation, follow-up care, medical devices, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Nursing assistance
- Funeral expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic physical pain
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
- Embarrassment
- Inconvenience
Our Blythewood personal injury attorneys will work closely with experts as we build your case. We’ll lean on their insight and knowledge to ensure those at fault are held accountable.
What Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
The value of your truck accident case will likely depend on the following:
- The severity of your injuries
- Available insurance policies
- Time missed from work
- Property damage
- Medical treatment required
- The impact of the injury on your quality of life
Our personal injury lawyers will work to help you get a settlement that really reflects what your truck accident case is worth.
Can Shared Fault Affect My South Carolina Truck Accident Settlement?
Yes, sharing responsibility for a truck accident in South Carolina will affect your ability to recover compensation. The state operates under a system of modified comparative negligence. You cannot recover damages from a third party if you are 50 percent or more at fault for a truck accident.
You can recover a limited financial award if you’re 49 percent or less at fault for a collision.
Your settlement or jury award will be reduced proportionately to fault. Sharing 10 percent of the blame means a 10 percent reduction in damages.
Expect the trucking company to try to blame you for getting hurt. Our South Carolina truck accident attorneys in Blythewood will be ready for these tactics and prepared to fight back. The less liability you share, the more money you can potentially get for your losses.
How Long Will I Have to File a South Carolina Truck Accident Lawsuit?
If a truck accident has caused a personal injury or wrongful death of a family member, you’ll have three years to pursue compensation from a liable party.
Once South Carolina’s three-year statute of limitations runs out, you’ll give up the right to demand justice for your devastating accident.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Blythewood Truck Accident Lawyer
Call Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers if you’ve recently been involved in a truck accident in Blythewood, South Carolina. You have rights, and our Blythewood truck accident lawyers want to help you fight for justice.
Contact our law office serving Blythewood, SC, today to set up a time for your free case evaluation to get started.
