Truck Accidents: How To Navigate The Legal Process And Secure Fair Compensation?

Truck accidents can have devastating consequences, so it’s vital to have a skilled and experienced South Carolina truck accident lawyer on your side to help you understand your legal rights and navigate the complex legal process.

It’s crucial to choose a truck accident lawyer with a genuine record of success in handling truck accident cases and who will prioritize your needs, be dedicated to your rights, and secure the compensation you deserve.

South Carolina Post Truck Accidents Things to Do:

Taking the necessary steps after truck accidents is essential to protect your legal rights and ensure you receive the support you need. You have to act quickly and seek out the necessary resources to help you navigate this difficult time.

Health Check-Ups

First, in truck accidents, it’s crucial to prioritize your health and well-being above all else. Seeking prompt medical attention can help you receive an accurate diagnosis, begin necessary treatment, and prevent any further complications from arising.

It’s important to attend all follow-up appointments and follow your doctor’s instructions closely to ensure the best possible outcome for your recovery. While your accident attorney can help you navigate the legal and insurance issues related to the accident, taking care of your health should be your top priority.

Insurances

Secondly, truck accident insurance adjusters are trained to protect the interests of their company, and they may use any information you provide them with to minimize or deny your claim. Therefore, it’s important to be cautious when speaking with insurance adjusters and to avoid providing any information that could be used against you.

Instead, It’s best to speak with an experienced truck accident attorney before speaking with the insurance adjuster. Your South Carolina truck accident lawyer can advise you on how to handle any communication with the insurance company and can work to ensure that your rights and interests are protected throughout the claims process.

Speak With The Experienced Person

Thirdly, it’s important to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable auto accident attorney who is an expert in handling 18-wheeler and other commercial vehicle accidents in South Carolina and can help you understand your legal rights and options. 

Many truck accident lawyers offer free consultations, which can be a valuable opportunity to discuss your case with an attorney and determine whether you have a viable claim. Therefore, it’s a good idea to seek a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer in South Carolina. 

After A Truck Accident, Does The Accident Report Matter?

Accident reports are not always trustworthy in determining who was to blame for a vehicle accident. The South Carolina Highway Patrol’s specialized MAIT (Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team) squad may be requested to the scene if there are any serious injuries or fatalities and implies abiding by commercial trucking regulations.

Their investigations can be very thorough and may involve the collection of physical evidence, witness statements, and other information that can help shed light on what happened. 

In truck accident investigations, the truck driver is often the first person to talk to the MAIT team or other investigating officers, and they may be motivated to downplay their role in the accident or shift the blame onto the other driver.

This is why it’s important to have an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side who can conduct an investigation into the accident and gather evidence to support your case. Your lawyer can work with accident reconstruction experts, witness statements, and other sources to build a strong case that accurately reflects what happened and who was at fault.

And while the accident report may not matter in a civil lawsuit, it can still impact how the insurance company responds to your claim, which is another reason why having a skilled lawyer advocating for you can make all the difference. 

Damages Claimable In A South Carolina Truck Accident Lawsuit

If you are injured in truck accidents in South Carolina, you may be able to pursue compensation for a wide range of damages. These damages can be divided into three main categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive.

Economic damages have a direct financial cost, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Examples of economic damages that may be claimable in a South Carolina truck accident lawsuit include the following:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages and earning capacity
• Property damage
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs
• Cost of household services
• Other out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident

Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are those that are not easily quantifiable and do not have a direct financial cost. Examples of non-economic damages that may be claimable in a South Carolina truck accident lawsuit include the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium or companionship
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

Punitive damages, also known as “exemplary damages,” are intended to punish the defendant for their reckless or intentional conduct and deter others from similar behavior to the causes of truck accidents. A skilled truck accident lawyer can help you determine which damages you may be eligible for and fight for your rights in court.

To be awarded the punitive damages, the plaintiff must show the defendant’s conduct was willful, wanton, or reckless. A qualified truck accident attorney can help you assess whether punitive damages may be available in your case and work to build a strong case to support your claim.

The specific damages that you may be able to claim will depend on the facts of your case, including the severity of your injuries, their impact on your life, and other factors. A skilled truck accident lawyer can help you identify and pursue all of the damages to which you may be entitled under South Carolina law. 

SC Truck Accident Lawyer Assistance After A Shattering

An experienced truck accident attorney can help you navigate the complex process of dealing with insurance companies and ensure that you are treated fairly. Insurance companies are businesses, and their primary goal is to minimize their financial liability in truck accident cases, which means they may offer you a settlement that is less than what you are entitled to.

For truck accidents, lawyers can help you gather evidence, handle paperwork, and meet all legal deadlines to ensure your case is as strong as possible.

The truck accident attorney works with accident reconstruction experts to prove the commercial driver was at fault and negligent in truck accident cases, even if the accident report initially assigns blame to someone else.

The lawyer can also negotiate with the insurance company and fight for your rights in court in determining fault in truck accident cases to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. 

Expert witnesses can provide valuable testimony and evidence to support your case. For example, accident reconstruction experts can examine the physical evidence at the scene of the accident and use it to recreate the events that led up to the collision.

They can also analyze factors such as vehicle speed, braking distance, and road conditions to help determine who was at fault in truck accident cases. Other types of experts, such as medical professionals, can provide testimony regarding your injuries and the medical treatment you’ve received.

Additionally, we may gather evidence such as eyewitness testimony, surveillance footage, and data from the truck’s onboard computer system to check the records of the drivers about their frequency and holiday period if the truck driver is fatigued and overworked or not. By compiling and analyzing this information, we can build a strong case to prove the commercial driver’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident and your injuries.

How An Expert Truck Accident Lawyer Is Investigating Your Case?

1. Investigating The Accident Scene: 

We visit the scene of the truck accidents as soon as possible to gather evidence, take photographs, and interview witnesses.

2. Analyzing The Data From The Truck: 

Commercial trucks must have a data recorder or “black box” that stores information such as the truck’s speed, braking, and steering time of the accident. We can analyze this data to determine if the truck driver was speeding, not following proper procedures, or driving recklessly.

3. Examining The Truck: 

We may hire an expert to examine the truck accidents to determine if it was properly maintained if there were any mechanical failures and if the driver was properly trained.

4. Reviewing Records: 

We review the driver’s logbook, maintenance records, and other documents to determine if the trucking company or driver violated any regulations or safety rules.

5. Interviewing Witnesses: 

We talk to anyone who witnessed the truck accidents, including other drivers, passengers, and bystanders, to gather their accounts of what happened.

6. Consulting With Experts: 

We may consult with experts in truck accidents, reconstruction, engineering, or other relevant fields to help us determine the cause of the accident and who was at fault.

We can build a strong case and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions by conducting a thorough investigation and gathering as much evidence as possible.

Summary 

In multiple truck accident cases, the trucking company may also be held liable for the accident if it played a role in causing it. For example, when the company failed to properly train or supervise the driver or may have neglected to maintain the truck in a safe condition.

Read Also:

• Steps To Take When Your Truck Accident Police Report Is Inaccurate: A Guide
• Drunk Driving Accident Cases – 5 Things You Need To Know
• Commercial Truck Accident Settlement Guide