Truck Accident Lawyer in Greenville, SC

Guiding Injured Victims Toward the Maximum Compensation

The consequences of a traffic collision between a commercial truck, semi-truck, or 18-wheeler and a passenger car are often devastating, leaving victims with severe injuries or sometimes death. According to a South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book report, there were 38,267 total traffic collisions involving pickup trucks and 5,087 collisions involving semi-trucks statewide in 2019. Truck blind spots, improper loading, failure to inspect, speeding, and driver fatigue are among the most common causes of truck accidents — and they can happen to anyone anytime.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver, or if you think the wrongful conduct of a truck driver was responsible for a family member’s death, you have the right to pursue justice. Morris Law is committed to offering comprehensive guidance, support, and compassionate representation to truck accident victims and their families. As experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys, you can trust our legal team to fight vigorously to protect your rights and help you seek compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost income, and any additional pain and suffering.

Morris Law proudly serves clients in Greenville and throughout upstate South Carolina, including the communities of Anderson, Pickens, Laurens, and Spartanburg. If you want to discuss your legal options as a victim of a South Carolina truck accident, please call our law firm today for an initial consultation with an experienced attorney.

What Are the Truck Accident Laws in South Carolina?

All South Carolina drivers are expected to know and follow the traffic laws in this state. These laws are in place to protect other drivers on the road, so when someone breaks them and causes an accident, they can be cited by police and may owe the victims compensation. If you’re unsure if the driver who struck your passenger vehicle broke any laws during the incident, you should contact Greenville truck accident lawyers to discuss the details of the crash. They can investigate to find information that will help you get the maximum financial compensation.

Duty to Give Information and Render Aid

According to South Carolina Code of Laws section 56-5-1230, the driver of a vehicle involved in a traffic accident resulting in injury, death, or property damages shall immediately stop the vehicle at the accident scene, provide relevant information, and render reasonable assistance to any person injured in such accident. Otherwise, depending on the circumstances, the driver could face hit-and-run charges.

Statute of Limitations

Pursuant to the South Carolina Code of Laws section 15-3-530, any injury claims or civil lawsuits seeking a remedy for an injury, wrongful death, or specific recovery of personal property must be filed within three years from the date of the incident or the victim’s death. This is why you should speak with a truck accident lawyer as soon as you can if you plan to pursue compensation as an accident victim, since you don’t have unlimited time to take action.

Reporting Requirements

Under South Carolina Code of Law section 56-5-1270, any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in an injury, death, or property damage of more than $1,000, shall forward a written report of the accident to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 15 days after the accident.

Vicarious Liability of Trucking Company

Vicarious liability involves holding a trucking company responsible for an injury or property damage caused by its driver. A trucking company may be held vicariously liable if, at the time of the traffic accident:

The driver was acting within the confines of his or her employment
The driver was following company orders

Experienced Greenville truck accident lawyers can specify who to hold liable in your accident after they’ve completed a thorough investigation. If you want to know if you should pursue compensation from the truck driver who struck you, the commercial trucking company that employs them, or other liable parties, call our Greenville law firm so we can give you the answers you need.

Did You Suffer Injuries in a South Carolina Truck Accident?

With over six million traffic accidents across the U.S. every year, they can happen randomly to any unsuspecting motorist. Some may result in minor injuries, though the car may still be damaged in some way. The insurance company will still need to be informed of the accident so that proper compensation can be arranged.

Of course, other traffic accidents can be more severe and life-threatening. For instance, a truck accident isn’t like the simple fender benders or other minor collisions between vehicles. It can happen almost instantly and can be more complicated than many typical car accidents, as this type of crash often affects more than one person. It can also be serious enough to cause more severe injuries or worse, including permanent disability or death. In fact, some of the most common injuries suffered by truck accident victims include:

Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Burns
Broken bones
Soft tissue injuries
Internal bleeding
Organ damage
Lacerations
Limb amputation
Paralysis

If you or a loved one suffered these or other severe injuries in a Greenville truck accident, it’s crucial to seek medical assistance immediately, followed by legal advice so you can get help paying for your medical care. Catastrophic injuries can require months of medical treatment, with ongoing care often being necessary for years to come.

If this is the case for you, working with an experienced personal injury attorney is important to ensure you’re fairly compensated for all current and future medical expenses related to the truck crash. Call our Greenville, South Carolina law firm today to discuss your truck accident claim and learn what kind of compensation to expect.

Who May Be Liable for a Truck Accident in South Carolina?

Depending on the surrounding circumstances or events leading to the truck accident, a number of different parties may be held responsible for a traffic collision. They may include:

The Truck Driver

The truck driver may be held liable for an accident if the driver was found to be violating a traffic law, speeding, driving fatigued, driving impaired, or driving with inadequate training. Distracted driving is another common way that negligent truck drivers cause devastating truck crashes, since eating, drinking, texting, and paying attention to anything other than the road can lead to serious and even fatal accidents.

The Trucking Company

The trucking company that employed the driver may be held liable for a truck accident that occurred due to negligent procedures, such as allowing insufficient safety inspections, hiring untrained drivers, or failing to enforce rules regarding truck maintenance. Some commercial trucking companies also set unrealistic expectations for drivers, prompting them to keep driving beyond a safe amount without sufficient sleep so they can arrive at their destination sooner. When there is evidence of this, the trucking company and truck driver may both be held liable for any truck accidents that occur.

The Truck Manufacturer

You may be able to hold the parts manufacturer or truck manufacturer responsible if the truck accident occurred due to defective equipment or parts, such as truck defects, mechanical failure, or faulty brakes. An experienced truck accident lawyer can review the circumstances of the truck crash and may even hire truck accident reconstruction experts to determine if a defective vehicle part caused the wreck.

Cargo Loaders

Unfortunately, unsecured or loose cargo can often cause a truck accident. In such situations, the company or individuals who loaded the cargo may be held responsible for failing to properly secure, arrange, balance, or inspect the cargo.

Maintenance Personnel

Maintenance personnel have a duty to perform routine maintenance and safety checks to inspect things like the engine, brakes, and fluids. If an oversight occurred when performing their designated duties, and that oversight led to a truck accident, they may be held liable. Your Greenville truck accident lawyer will investigate this possibility before determining which parties to hold accountable in your truck accident claim, so call our law firm today to get started on your case.

What Compensation Are You Entitled to After a Truck Crash?

As you begin recovering from a truck accident, you might become concerned about how to pay for the bills associated with it. These can range from medical expenses to car repairs, and you’ll likely face lost wages at the same time. Instead of worrying about how you’ll afford these bills, you should contact a Greenville truck accident attorney about initiating a truck accident case against the at-fault party’s insurance company. Depending on the effect the truck crash has had on your life, you may be entitled to a range of damages, including the following.

Medical Bills

One of the most common damages in truck accident cases involves medical treatment costs, as these can add up fast whether you suffered broken bones, burns, or traumatic brain injuries. Regardless of the severity of your wounds, you might face thousands of dollars in medical expenses that you should not have to worry about paying if you didn’t cause the truck accident.

This is why your Greenville truck accident attorney will likely seek compensation on your behalf for your hospital stay, surgery, medications, medical devices, and any other medical costs. They can also request compensation for any future medical care you will need, such as follow-up doctor visits and physical therapy.

Property Damage

When a passenger vehicle is struck by a large commercial truck, it typically sustains extensive damage. In the best-case scenario, it will need to be repaired so it’s safe to drive again. Your truck accident case can allow you to collect the money you need for these repairs.

However, in many cases, passenger vehicles that have been hit by large trucks are beyond repair and will need to be replaced. If it turns out you need a new car after a truck accident, the property damage portion of your claim will cover this cost to get you safely back on the road. Your SC truck accident lawyer will review the details of your truck accident case to calculate the amount you should expect to receive, so call our law firm to find out more.

Lost Wages

Most truck accidents cause injuries that are so severe that the victims cannot work for anywhere from weeks to months at a time. In some cases, they might not be able to return to their industry at all, as they struggle with permanent disabilities that could include lost limbs, traumatic brain injuries, or paralysis. If this is the case for you and you’re worried about how you will pay your bills for the foreseeable future, you should reach out to an SC truck accident lawyer for help.

Depending on the details of your situation, your South Carolina truck accident case should result in money for your lost wages. If you’re unable to work at all anymore, you may be able to pursue compensation for lost earning capacity. Your Greenville truck accident attorney will help calculate the financial compensation you deserve based on how much income you’ve lost or will likely lose in the future due to the truck accident.

Non-Economic Damages

As you’ve likely noticed, truck accidents can change your life in numerous ways, and they’re not all financial. This can make it hard to calculate how much money to request from the truck driver, trucking company, or other at-fault parties and their insurance companies. However, experienced truck accident lawyers know how to add up these non-economic damages so you get sufficient compensation for the losses you’ve suffered.

Some examples of non-economic damages your truck accident case will likely collect for you include pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, and loss of consortium. Contact our Greenville, South Carolina law firm to find out what economic and non-economic damages you may be entitled to when you file a personal injury claim after a serious truck crash.

Wrongful Death

You may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim if you lost a close family member – such as a child, spouse, or parent – in a truck accident. This type of personal injury case ensures that you don’t go into debt paying for the consequences of a truck accident that took your loved one’s life.

Some of the damages you can get in a wrongful death claim include medical bills, funeral expenses, cremation or burial costs, and lost wages if you relied on your loved one’s income. You may also be able to seek compensation for loss of consortium, loss of guidance, loss of knowledge and expertise, and pain and suffering. Contact our Greenville, South Carolina, personal injury law firm to find out if you can initiate this kind of claim against the insurance company of the truck driver or other liable parties.

What Steps Should You Take After a Greenville Truck Accident?

The steps you take or do not take immediately following a truck accident could significantly impact the outcome of your injury claim. When involved in a commercial truck accident in South Carolina, you should take the following steps:

Remain calm and get to safety
Call 911 to request immediate help and ask for medical assistance if necessary
Report the truck accident to law enforcement
Exchange relevant information with the other drivers involved, including the truck driver’s name, vehicle registration number, address, phone number, license number, insurance information, and the trucking company’s name
Obtain a copy of the police report
Take photos of the accident scene and obtain any eyewitness statements
Document all of your medical bills, medical treatments, and doctor’s appointments
Keep a personal account of the event in the days and weeks following the accident that details how it has changed your day-to-day life
Inform your insurance company about the truck accident
Hire an experienced truck accident attorney to help file injury claims or negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance carrier

It can be very easy to forget crucial information in the hours and days following an accident. You may forget a number of relevant details, misplace reports, or forget to document important events. That’s why it’s always important to document everything you possibly can, from written notes to pictures and video recordings. This is also why it’s critical to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after any car accident. Call our Greenville, South Carolina, law firm today to get the fair compensation you deserve from the at-fault party’s insurance company after a truck wreck.

Why Should You Work With a Knowledgeable Personal Injury Attorney?

The period after a truck accident can be extremely difficult and emotional. Such an incident can affect you physically, financially, and emotionally. No matter how significant your pain or struggle may be, you shouldn’t have to face the challenges alone. Retaining a knowledgeable South Carolina personal injury attorney is the first step you can take to protect your rights and pursue the justice you deserve.

At Morris Law, we have devoted our careers to handling personal injury cases and protecting the rights of truck accident victims and their loved ones. As your legal counsel, we will:

Work diligently to hold negligent truck drivers and any other responsible parties accountable
Review every detail of your case and conduct a comprehensive investigation
Obtain necessary information, required evidence, and documentation
Work tirelessly to prove fault and establish liability
Determine the full magnitude of your injuries and estimate the case value
Help negotiate a fair settlement with any insurance companies involved
If necessary, take additional legal action to help you pursue the best possible outcome

At the end of the day, our top priority is to fight vigorously to protect your rights and represent your best interests at every turn. Morris Law can offer you the comprehensive legal guidance and compassionate representation you need to pursue fair financial compensation that can cover your medical expenses, lost wages, future medical treatment, and any additional pain and suffering. We strongly advise you to call Morris Law today to schedule a case consultation with our team.

Are You Ready to Call a Truck Accident Lawyer in Greenville, SC?

If you or a family member were involved in a serious truck accident, contact Morris Law today to schedule a one-on-one consultation. We will fight vigorously on your behalf to protect your rights and provide the strong representation you need to recover damages.

At Morris Law, we’re proud to serve clients in Greenville and throughout Upstate South Carolina, including the communities of Anderson, Pickens, Laurens, and Spartanburg. Regardless of which area of South Carolina you’re in, you deserve quality legal advice from a compassionate team. Call 864-865-0068 today to discuss your legal options with our caring lawyers.