You’re probably used to sharing the road with commercial trucks, especially if you drive on the freeways regularly. Unfortunately, you may not be able to avoid a collision with these large vehicles, even if you’re a careful, experienced driver. Additionally, a semi-truck or 18-wheeler can weigh up to 25 times more than a typical car, making truck accident crashes especially serious.
Truck accident law is completely different than other areas of law, so it is extremely important to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer following a truck accident in Columbia, SC. Our truck accident lawyers at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC have over 60 years of combined experience representing people across South Carolina who have been injured or have lost loved ones as a result of truck accidents involving tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers. We’ve seen first-hand how serious and scary these crashes can be. We are here to help you through it, step by step.
Call us whenever you’re ready at (803) 888-2200 and explain your situation to see how we can help.
According to reports from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, the number of truck tractor units involved in traffic collisions has increased every year since 2013.
Across the US, truck drivers are required to complete special training and follow specific federal and state regulations while operating a tractor-trailer. The size of an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer alone can make accidents much more dangerous for everyone involved. In 2018, 11 percent of all motor vehicle accidents resulting in death involved large trucks. Overwhelmingly, 96 percent of those deaths were occupants of passenger vehicles.
There are many causes of truck accidents, but some common ones include:
There are three main types of damages recoverable in truck accident cases in South Carolina: special, general, and punitive. Special damages are sometimes referred to as actual damages, including compensation for medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, and more. General damages focus on your pain and suffering, permanent injuries, and emotional distress. These damages are typically harder to determine and are more subjective than special damages. Lastly, punitive damages are used to discipline the defendant and discourage bad conduct by sending a strong warning for their reckless, illegal, or willful behavior.
Recovering adequate compensation for damages without the help of a truck accident lawyer with an extensive understanding of SC truck accident laws and regulations can be difficult. Consider speaking with a South Carolina truck accident lawyer now for a free consultation by calling (803) 888-2200 or scheduling one online.
Common injuries experienced as a result of a truck accident generally fall into one or more of the following categories:
It is important to note that not all damages from an accident may be apparent immediately. For instance, it may take a few days for pain from injuries to begin.
Following a truck accident in South Carolina, you may be eligible for compensation for damages including:
It’s important to talk to a truck accident lawyer immediately following a truck accident in Columbia, South Carolina so they can help to preserve evidence, guide you through the process, and make sure you get the compensation you need to cover current and future expenses.
While no attorney can guarantee specific results and cases vary widely based on their individual facts, we can help you evaluate your case and determine the best strategy to maximize your recovery. We know the compensation you deserve for the physical, emotional, and financial damages caused by an accident involving a truck in South Carolina. We won’t settle for less.
There are many rules that tractor-trailer companies and their drivers must follow on the road in addition to the regular laws that everyday drivers have to follow. Our team of truck accident lawyers has an extensive understanding of trucking rules and regulations in South Carolina, and we use this information to make sure our clients get the complete compensation they deserve.
Additionally, unlike most typical motor vehicle collisions, multiple parties may be held liable in a truck accident. These parties include the trucking company, truck driver, truck manufacturer, vendors, cargo owners, road construction companies, government entities, and more. Our truck accident attorneys will help determine liability by interviewing witnesses, reviewing the truck driver’s background, looking at the company’s insurance information, inspecting the vehicles involved, preserving key evidence, reviewing medical records, and more.
It is very important to act quickly in the aftermath of a tractor-trailer wreck to ensure that the responsible parties keep evidence such as driver logs, dispatch information, safety records, and electronic data from the truck itself. An experienced truck accident attorney can help you identify key parties and preserve this information for use in proving your case. You can discuss your case with one of our experienced South Carolina truck accident attorneys by calling us at (803) 888-2200 or scheduling a free consultation.
Our team of truck accident lawyers at Cavanaugh & Thickens has a deep understanding of the legal aspects of truck accident cases in South Carolina. Our truck accident lawyers have experience working in the defense practice where they represented trucking companies and their drivers. This unique experience has allowed our team to obtain in-depth knowledge about the specific trucking rules and regulations in place in South Carolina. Now representing injured individuals, our attorneys use this information to aggressively fight for our clients across the state to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve after a truck accident.
At Cavanaugh & Thickens we are working to protect South Carolinians all over the state. If you or someone you love has been in a truck accident and live in one of the areas below, give us a call for your free consultation.