Beaufort – Truck Accidents

Beaufort Truck Accident Lawyer

Guiding You Through the Personal Injury Legal Process

When you or a loved one is involved in a truck wreck, the resulting damages and injuries may be devastating. If the negligence of others caused the crash that led to your injuries, a Beaufort truck accident lawyer may be able to negotiate on your behalf with the insurance companies for any at-fault parties or file a lawsuit in court against those parties.

Tractor-trailer or semi-truck wreck claims can be complicated and may involve multiple potentially responsible parties as well as various federal laws and regulations. A qualified Beaufort personal injury attorney who is accustomed to handling claims may be your most effective means of holding negligent parties responsible for their actions and getting much-needed compensation for your losses.

Our Beaufort truck accident attorneys can also pursue wrongful death claims when fatal crashes occur. Whether negotiating with an insurance company or preparing for trial, we provide thorough legal support on a contingency fee basis—you don’t pay unless we win.

Most personal injury cases can be an uphill battle without the help of an experienced attorney. Slightly different from a car accident, a truck accident claim can be exponentially more difficult due to all the liable parties that may be involved. 

Our Beaufort truck accident attorneys help truck accident victims recover fair compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit on their behalf. Contact us today to review the legal options available to you.

What Is The Importance of Legal Counsel Following a Truck Accident in Beaufort?

Collisions with large trucks can wreak havoc on much smaller, lighter passenger vehicles and their occupants, who often suffer catastrophic injuries in these accidents. 

Large tractor-trailer accidents are rarely simple, as truck operators, vehicle owners, and trucking companies are likely to deny wrongdoing and cover their tracks immediately. They may even attempt to place blame on the injury victims to try to avoid financial responsibility for their actions.

In many truck accident cases, there are multiple parties responsible, and each may be governed by strict regulations under South Carolina and federal law. These cases can involve a web of evidence, including driver logs, maintenance records, truck crash reports, medical records, and safety compliance documentation. 

In some situations, factors such as distracted driving, driver fatigue, or improper loading may have contributed to the collision. Determining the liable parties and building a strong case requires experience and attention to detail.

A Beaufort truck accident lawyer can help preserve as much evidence as possible before it’s lost and guide you through the complex insurance claim process. 

Whether you’re suffering from serious injuries, lost wages, or the emotional aftermath of a wrongful death claim, you may be entitled to full compensation for your damages.

At our law firm, we understand how devastating these auto accidents can be. That’s why our Beaufort truck accident attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss your situation. 

If you’ve been hurt in a car or truck accident, let our experienced team help you pursue legal action and hold the negligent truck driver or at-fault party accountable. You only pay attorney fees if we win, thanks to our contingency fee basis arrangement.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Beaufort

Many situations could lead to a tractor-trailer wreck. Some accidents are caused by poor weather conditions, worn tires or brakes, or overweight cargo. Other common causes related to driver negligence may include:

  • Speeding
  • Aggressive or reckless driving
  • Abruptly changing lanes without signaling
  • Driving while fatigued
  • Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol
  • Driving while distracted

Regardless of the cause of the crash, most tractor-trailer wrecks involving a standard passenger vehicle are fatal for the person driving the smaller car. A truck accident lawyer in the area could analyze the cause of the crash to determine possible liable parties.

Common Forms of Distracted Driving in Beaufort

There are many ways that a trucker could become distracted behind the wheel and cause a traffic wreck. Tractor-trailers are particularly difficult to handle and less forgiving of driver error than passenger vehicles, so commercial truck operators have a heightened duty to remain completely attentive on the road at all times.

There are laws and safety rules prohibiting certain distractions. For example, every state—as well as the FMCSA—prohibits commercial drivers from using cell phones or texting while driving. Some trucking companies also ban their workers from driving with passengers to prevent inattentive driving. Other common behaviors that could lead to a distracted driver truck collision include:

  • Checking the GPS
  • Tuning the radio
  • Adjusting mirrors or other equipment
  • Searching for a personal item in the cab
  • Reading, writing, or watching a video
  • Eating or drinking

Most drivers are unlikely to admit to being distracted behind the wheel, but law enforcement and crash reconstruction experts are adept at pinpointing driver error, which often indicates inattentive driving. 

A Beaufort personal injury attorney in the area could subpoena phone records, driver logs, and black boxes to determine whether driver distraction was a likely cause of a particular truck crash.

Recoverable Damages in a Tractor-Trailer Wreck Claim

The extent of the possible damages in a tractor-trailer accident claim varies according to the circumstances surrounding the collision. The most common types of personal injury compensation include:

  • Medical expenses, including hospital, ambulance, doctor, surgical, and rehabilitation fees, as well as medical assistive devices, medications, and in-home care services
  • Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity due to an inability to work
  • Property damage related to the loss of a vehicle and other personal property
  • Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and loss of companionship or consortium of a spouse

Additionally, individuals injured in these accidents may be able to seek punitive damages in some cases. 

These damages may be available if the defendant acted egregiously or willfully in causing the crash. A lawyer who focuses on semi-truck accident cases could assess a personal injury claim and determine whether punitive damages are a possibility.

Potential Liable Parties in a Fatal Tractor-Trailer Wreck

Many tractor-trailer wrecks resulting in death are caused by the negligence of the truck operator. In some cases, however, the trucking company employing the driver may also be liable. For example, if the operator’s employer failed to review their work history or driving record, the company could be responsible for the employee’s negligent actions.

If a faulty auto part caused the accident, the manufacturer of that part or the mechanic who serviced the truck could be held responsible. A local attorney who focuses on fatal tractor-trailer wrecks could help the family of the deceased seek compensation from the liable parties after establishing their fault.

Compensation in a Wrongful Death Claim

Surviving family members of the deceased person may have a valid wrongful death action against the parties responsible for the crash. The most common type of compensation available in these claims is economic damages. Financial losses such as final medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and lost current and future income may be covered under economic damages.

Other damages are non-economic, meaning they do not have a definite monetary value. These damages can include compensation for emotional pain and suffering for surviving family members of the deceased.

Surviving spouses also may be eligible for compensation for loss of companionship and the marital relationship. A skilled attorney could calculate the filing party’s losses to determine the amount of damages that may be available.

The Deadline to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit

Accidents caused by commercial trucks often leave passenger cars totaled and occupants suffering severe injuries that require extensive medical care. When these crashes involve other vehicles, determining liability becomes more complex, especially under South Carolina’s comparative negligence laws. A fair settlement can help you recover both financially and emotionally, but it requires strong legal advocacy to pursue.

Those who have been injured in a motor vehicle collision in Beaufort must comply with the statute of limitations. This statute operates as a deadline for the plaintiff to file their claim with the courts. 

In Beaufort, injured claimants have three years from the date of the accident to bring a lawsuit. If the injured claimant fails to file their lawsuit within the statute of limitations, they may be unable to recover compensation for damages.

Call a Beaufort Truck Accident Lawyer Today

When you sustain catastrophic injuries in a collision with a semi-truck or 18-wheeler, you are likely to become quickly overwhelmed by the stress of recovering from your physical injuries, fighting with insurance companies over medical bills, and losing income as a result of your inability to work. If you are in this situation, a Beaufort truck accident lawyer from Schiller & Hamilton may be able to help.

Navigating the aftermath of a trucking accident can be complicated and confusing, particularly as you are struggling to recuperate from significant injuries. Having legal counsel throughout the legal claims process can relieve some of the burdens from your shoulders and allow you to focus on your health. Call an injury lawyer today to get started on your case