Mount Pleasant Truck Accident Lawyer
A collision with a tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, or other large truck can cause severe injuries and mental trauma. It may take months or years to recover from the physical injuries and emotional pain caused by a crash with a semi-truck.
Truck accidents are often caused by driver error, which can be the basis of a personal injury claim to recover compensation for your losses. Other causes of truck accidents may also be actionable, such as hazardous road conditions or defective truck parts. A Mount Pleasant truck accident lawyer could help determine who may be at fault for your accident and hold them accountable for any damages you may have suffered.
Establishing Liability for a Truck Accident in South Carolina
Though there can be many causes for a truck accident, they are often caused by driver negligence, such as driving while fatigued, intoxicated, or distracted. Truck accidents may also be caused by a problem with the vehicle, such as defective parts or cargo overloads.
Since various people involved in loading, maintaining, driving, and owning any given truck, it can be challenging to identify who is liable for the accident. In most truck accidents, there can be several people and entities responsible. For example, all the following people and entities could share fault for the accident:
- Truck driver
- Truck owner
- Trucking company that employs the driver
- Manufacturer of defective truck part
- Designer of tractor-trailer
- Freight owner
- Loading or shipping company
- Designer and maintainer of defective road
A truck accident attorney in Mount Pleasant could work to identify the individuals or entities responsible for the accident and pursue damages on the injured person’s behalf. South Carolina employs the common law doctrine of joint and several liability so that each at-fault party would be liable for the full compensation due to the injured party if any of the parties are unable to pay their share.
Types of Compensation Recoverable in South Carolina
Since many tractor-trailers are so large, a truck accident can inflict serious injuries. It is not unusual for those involved to sustain head and neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and burns. These injuries can be devastating and cause tremendous financial and emotional hardship, as well as physical suffering.
When an injured party establishes another’s responsibility for the accident, they can recover financial compensation for the economic and non-economic harm they have suffered. These recoverable compensatory damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost or diminished earning capacity
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Pain and suffering
Additional compensation may be available for the claimant’s mental anguish, disability, scarring or disfigurement, and lost enjoyment of life.
Speak with a Mount Pleasant Truck Accident Attorney
A traumatic truck accident can lead to a daunting convergence of medical expenses, mental distress, and physical pain. Seemingly endless time on the phone with insurance companies can exacerbate the situation and leave you wondering if your situation will ever be fairly resolved. This is where an experienced attorney could offer meaningful assistance.
A Mount Pleasant truck accident lawyer could help you work through the elements of your case and help you recover whatever compensation you may be due. Call today to discuss what legal options might be available.
