A Charleston Truck Accident Lawyer’s Guide for Navigating Truck Accident Claims

What You Need to Know After a Charleston Truck Accident

The Charleston area sees a steady stream of commercial truck traffic transporting goods to and from the bustling ports and businesses. These large trucks are vital for our local economy but pose serious risks on Charleston roads and highways. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Charleston, you know firsthand the devastating physical, emotional, and financial toll it can take. You deserve legal guidance on your rights and options as you determine the path forward. This guide from Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers serves as a resource for truck accident victims and their families in the Charleston area, providing essential information so that you can make informed decisions.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Identifying the causes of Charleston truck accidents is crucial for seeking justice through legal action. While every truck accident is unique, many crashes are caused by one or more of the following factors:

Speeding and reckless driving. Truckers are often under pressure to meet tight deadlines and may speed or drive recklessly in an effort to get to their destinations faster.

Distracted driving. Truck drivers spend a lot of time behind the wheel. They may try to multitask by texting or eating, or they may need to reset a GPS, which can cause them to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or attention away from driving safely.

Tired drivers. People who drive trucks for a living often can’t sleep in beds at regular hours, and they may drive for too many consecutive hours, which can be exhausting.

Lack of vehicle maintenance, vehicle defects, and mechanical failures. Failure to properly maintain and inspect truck components like brakes and tires can cause truckers to lose control of their vehicles.

Cargo loading mistakes. A truck’s stability may be impacted when it exceeds weight limits or has improperly secured or distributed loads.

Alcohol or drug use. Driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or even some prescription medications can slow truckers' reflexes and judgment.

Other forms of driver negligence. Truck drivers must follow all traffic laws and drive attentively to uphold their duty to others on the road.

Often, multiple negligent acts combine to cause a Charleston truck crash, making a thorough investigation critical to identify all responsible parties.

Types of Charleston Truck Accidents

The size and weight of tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks make collisions involving them different from typical passenger vehicle accidents. Truck crashes tend to cause more catastrophic damage and severe injuries. However, not all truck wrecks are alike. Here are some frequent truck accident types seen in Charleston:

Head-on Crashes

These high-impact collisions occur when the fronts of two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide head-on. Due to the truck's massive size and weight combined with the high speeds involved, head-on truck crashes frequently cause life-threatening injuries and fatalities.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end truck accidents happen when a truck slams into the back of a vehicle in front of it. Due to the stark size and weight differences, the force from the truck's momentum often results in devastating damage and catastrophic injuries to the occupants of the struck vehicle.

S.B., one of our clients who was rear-ended by a truck, had this to say about working with Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers, "DLF team is dependable, explains everything in an understandable way & return calls & emails almost immediately. You all are a great team!"

Side-Impact Collisions

Side-impact or T-bone crashes usually happen at intersections when the front of a truck broadsides the side of another vehicle. Passenger vehicles lack adequate side protection, leaving occupants vulnerable to catastrophic injuries and fatalities.

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife truck accident occurs when a truck's trailer swings out dramatically to one side, resembling a folding pocketknife. This sudden loss of control can trigger multi-vehicle pileups, rollovers, and extensive property damage.

Rollover Accidents

Large trucks have a higher center of gravity, making them top-heavy and prone to rolling over, especially during sharp turns or on uneven roads. When a truck rolls, other vehicles in its way can be involved in a severe accident.

Underride Accidents

Federal regulations require trailer trucks to have underride guards to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath during a collision. However, not all trucks have adequate underride protection, leading to underride accidents where vehicles become lodged under trailers, often causing severe crush injuries and deaths.

Truck Crash Injuries

Truck accidents frequently leave victims with catastrophic or life-altering injuries, such as:

Traumatic brain injuries. TBIs can profoundly affect cognitive abilities, motor function, behavior, and personality. Whether you suffer a concussion or permanent brain damage, you may need medical attention and have ongoing medical needs.
Spinal cord injuries. Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis and significantly impact your mobility and quality of life.
Broken bones. The violent forces in truck crashes often cause complex, compound, and crushed bone fractures requiring lengthy recovery.
Internal injuries. Damage to vital internal organs like the liver, kidneys, or lungs can rapidly become life-threatening without immediate treatment.
Soft tissue injuries. Whiplash, sprains, strains, and other soft tissue trauma cause severe pain and limit mobility.

The physical injuries represent only part of the trauma. Truck wreck survivors frequently suffer emotional issues like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other psychological impacts.

Potential Compensation After a Charleston Truck Accident Case

If you were injured because of someone else's negligence in a Charleston truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for various damages, including:

Medical Expenses

This covers all health care costs associated with treating truck accident injuries, such as emergency transport, surgery, hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, medical equipment, rehabilitation, therapy, home care assistance, and future projected medical needs.

Lost Income

When truck crash injuries prevent you from returning to work, you can seek compensation for lost wages, earnings, bonuses, benefits, self-employment income, and even diminished future earning capacity. If you can return to work for fewer hours a week or at a lower-paying job than you held before the accident, you may recover for the difference between what you used to make and what you can earn now.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering damages are non-economic damages that aim to compensate for the physical pain, emotional anguish, mental trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, disability, and other intangible harm suffered due to the truck accident.

Property Damage

This allows for compensation to repair or replace any vehicles or personal property damaged or destroyed in the truck collision.

What to Consider When Hiring a Charleston Truck Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a Charleston truck accident, it's important to consult an experienced truck accident attorney to understand your rights and options for financial recovery. Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers has over three decades of experience protecting the rights of truck accident victims in Charleston and throughout South Carolina.

We understand that you have choices when hiring a Charleston truck accident lawyer. As you consider your options, we encourage you to schedule a free consultation** to find an attorney you trust. Some things you may wish to consider include:

Experience. Look for a lawyer with a proven track record of handling truck accident cases. While past results do not guarantee future results, this information may be helpful to you as you make a decision.
Communication style. You have a lot at stake. Therefore, working with a lawyer who will explain your options to you, answer your questions, and keep you informed about your case is essential.
Fee arrangement. Look for a Charleston truck accident attorney who works on a contingency fee basis. In this compensation arrangement, you won’t pay hourly legal fees. Instead, the fee will be a percentage of your settlement or court recovery.

We are Proud To Serve Personal Injury Clients Throughout South Carolina

With nine office locations in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Murrells Inlet, Florence, Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston, Charleston, and Greenville and over 30 years of experience with personal injury cases, Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers has the knowledge, skill and experience to protect you and your family.

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