Trucks are a prevalent sight on our roads, and when accidents involving these massive vehicles occur, they can be catastrophic, leading to severe injuries and extensive damage. The road to recovery may feel long and arduous, usually requiring extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and substantial financial resources.
You don’t have to cope with post-accident life alone. At Murphy Crantford Meehan, we understand how challenging the aftermath of a truck accident is and how upsetting it can be to endure the impact of a catastrophic injury. Let us take on your legal concerns so you can concentrate on your health. Call us today for your free consultation.
Understanding Truck Accidents in Summerville
Truck accidents present specific legal challenges and differ significantly from typical car accidents due to commercial trucks’ sheer size, mass, and weight. Critical differences between truck accidents and car accidents include:
- Severity of Injuries – Unlike car accidents, truck accidents are more likely to result in severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, and multiple fractures.
- Longer Injury Recovery – Generally speaking, the more severe the injury, the more time and money it takes to heal fully. Healing from truck accident injuries can be physically tiring, emotionally draining, and financially burdensome.
- Complex Liability – Truck accidents often involve multiple parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, and vehicle manufacturers, making it challenging to identify all potentially liable parties immediately.
- Regulations and Compliance – Truck drivers and trucking companies must adhere to stricter federal and state laws, and potential violations can be crucial in determining fault in truck accidents.
- Investigative Complexity – Truck accidents require more thorough investigations, often involving accident reconstruction experts and analysis of electronic logging devices and black boxes.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
South Carolina’s Department of Public Safety reports that vehicles on the road for transport purposes account for nearly all of the state’s fatal truck-tractor accidents in a recent year. Still, truck accidents in Summerville can occur for various reasons, often involving negligence by truck drivers, trucking companies, or other parties. Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Distracted Driving – Truck drivers distracted by their phones, GPS devices, or other distractions can cause serious accidents.
- Fatigued Driving – Truck drivers must drive long hours, which can lead to fatigue and decreased reaction times.
- Impaired Driving – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can significantly increase the risk of a truck accident.
- Speeding – Increased speed can intensify the impact of a potential accident, worsening injuries.
- Reckless Driving – Truck drivers who drive aggressively pose a serious threat to other motorists on the road.
- Poor Vehicle Maintenance – Trucking companies are responsible for maintaining safe vehicles, but failing to conduct regular maintenance checks can lead to mechanical failures and accidents.
- Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Trucks – Semi trucks and tractor trailers that are overloaded or improperly loaded can become unstable, leading to accidents.
Types of Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accidents often result in severe injuries, and these injuries can bring immediate physical pain and lead to long-term or permanent disabilities, significantly affecting the victim’s quality of life. Common truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) – These injuries can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage, often resulting in long-term cognitive and physical impairments. Victims may experience memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and severe headaches, significantly altering their daily lives and requiring ongoing medical care and therapy.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Injuries to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, drastically impacting the victim’s quality of life. Such injuries often necessitate extensive medical interventions, including surgeries and long-term rehabilitation, and can lead to permanent disabilities requiring lifelong care and assistance.
- Broken Bones – Fractures and broken bones are common in truck accidents and can range from simple breaks to complex, multiple fractures. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, including surgeries, casts or braces, and prolonged physical therapy, significantly affecting the victim’s mobility and ability to perform everyday tasks.
- Internal Injuries – Damage to internal organs can be life-threatening and may require immediate emergency surgery. Injuries such as punctured lungs, ruptured spleens, or internal bleeding can lead to severe complications and extended hospital stays, with long-term health implications that may affect the victim’s overall well-being.
- Lacerations and Burns – Severe cuts and burns sustained in truck accidents can lead to permanent scarring, disfigurement, and chronic pain. These injuries often require specialized medical treatments, including skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries, and can have lasting emotional and psychological impacts on the victim’s self-esteem and quality of life.
Steps to Take after a Truck Accident
Being involved in a truck accident is stressful, and you may feel disoriented immediately after feeling the impact of a crash. There are steps you can take to protect your health and legal rights, including:
- Seek Medical Attention – Your health is the top priority. Seek immediate medical attention for any injuries, even if they initially seem minor.
- Report the Accident – If the police aren’t already at the scene, contact them and file an accident report. This official documentation will be crucial for your case.
- Gather Evidence – If possible, collect evidence at the scene, including photos or videos of the accident, contact information of witnesses, and details of the truck driver and trucking company.
- Avoid Speaking to Insurance Adjusters – Do not provide statements to insurance adjusters without consulting your truck accident attorney. They may use your words against you to reduce your potential compensation.
- Contact a Truck Accident Attorney – Reach out to an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your injuries and begin the claims process.
Types of Compensation for Summerville Truck Crashes
You may suffer several losses after a truck accident, and you can pursue compensation to cover them in your claim. You can seek compensation to cover various losses, including:
- Medical Bills – These include all costs related to medical treatment for your injury, such as hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, physical or occupational therapy, and future medical expenses related to your accident injuries.
- Lost Wages – If the truck accident injuries prevent you from working, you can pursue compensation for your lost wages by calculating what you would have earned during your recovery period.
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity – If your injury prevents you from continuing your current job or field, you can pursue compensation to cover what you would have earned throughout your career.
- Pain and Suffering – This covers the physical pain and emotional distress you suffered because of the truck accident.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life – If the injuries from the truck accident have significantly impacted your ability to enjoy daily activities and hobbies, you can seek compensation in your claim to cover this loss.
What is the Statute of Limitations in South Carolina?
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including truck accidents, in South Carolina is three years from the accident date. If you file your claim after the deadline expires, you could miss out on your opportunity to pursue compensation for your losses. Filing as soon as possible ensures that your right to seek compensation remains intact.
The Role of Personal Injury Lawyers in Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident attorneys are vital in helping truck accident victims pursue justice and compensation. Your truck accident attorney can handle your entire claim from start to finish, allowing you to focus on your health and injury. Your lawyer can:
- Investigate the Accident – Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate the accident, meticulously examining the circumstances to determine liability. This process involves reconstructing the scene, analyzing the truck driver’s logs, and scrutinizing the truck’s maintenance records to uncover any negligence or regulatory violations.
- Collect Evidence – Your attorney will gather critical evidence to support your claim, including accident reports, witness statements, photographs of the scene, and data from the truck’s black box. This comprehensive evidence collection is crucial for building a solid case and proving fault and damages.
- File a Claim – Your lawyer will handle all the necessary paperwork to document the accident, injuries, and other losses, allowing you to focus on healing. Your attorney can argue for the maximum compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Deal with Insurance Companies – Your attorney knows that insurance companies often try to minimize payouts to accident victims, especially regarding truck accidents. They aren’t distracted by a deep-pocketed insurer’s nefarious tactics and can negotiate with them to argue for fair compensation.
- Represent You in Court—If settlement negotiations fail, your lawyer can take your claim to court and pursue compensation through a favorable verdict.
Contact a Summerville Truck Accident Attorney
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a devastating truck accident, we know the immense pain and uncertainty you’re facing. At Murphy Crantford Meehan, our experienced truck accident attorneys help injured South Carolinians daily and provide the legal and emotional support needed during this difficult time. We can handle your claim and fight for your rights by pursuing the compensation you need to recover. Take the first step toward rebuilding your life, and contact us online or call our law firm for your free consultation. We’ll be here every step of the way.
