Myrtle Beach Truck Accident Lawyer

Trucking Accident Attorney in Myrtle Beach, SC

Tractor trailer trucks are vital to our economy, but tractor trailer truck drivers and other commercial vehicle drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely, and the companies that they work for have a duty to ensure that their vehicles are safe and that their drivers are properly trained.

Eighteen wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and, as a result, have poor braking ability and a lack of maneuverability. This means that collisions involving large trucks and smaller vehicles can be catastrophic, often resulting in serious injury or death.

If you are injured in a tractor trailer truck accident, you need a team of attorneys on your side who are familiar with the laws and regulations governing commercial vehicles and the evidence that you will need to prove liability in a trucking accident case.

18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers in Myrtle Beach, SC

With over 100 years of combined experience, the trucking accident lawyers at Axelrod & Associates are here for you if you have been hurt by an eighteen-wheeler or other commercial vehicle.

Call the trucking accident lawyers at Axelrod & Associates now at 843-353-3449 or complete our contact form to set up a free consultation to find out if we can help – if you are hospitalized or cannot make it to one of our offices due to your injuries, we will come to you.

How A Myrtle Beach Trucking Accident Attorney Can Help You?

If you or your family member has been injured in a collision with a commercial truck, eighteen wheeler, or tractor trailer truck, your trucking accident attorneys on the Axelrod team will:

• Investigate the crash, retaining accident reconstructionists and other experts when appropriate,
• Gather the evidence that we will need to prove liability and damages, including the truck’s maintenance logs, inspections reports, cargo logs, weigh station receipts, hours of service logbooks, and event data recorder (“black box”),
• Locate and interview all witnesses to the crash and to the trucking company’s practices that may have contributed to the crash,
• Identify all possible sources of recovery including insurance policies and corporations that may be held liable for the trucking crash,
• Help you to get all medical treatment that you need,
• Demand full and fair compensation from the trucking company and their insurer,
• File a trucking accident lawsuit and prepare your case for trial, and
• Try your case to a jury if the trucking company and their insurer do not agree to pay full compensation for your injuries.

How to Avoid Truck Accidents in South Carolina

Though your ability to avoid truck accidents is not entirely under your own control, it is important to note that you can minimize your risk while on the highway. The first thing to remember is that tractor-trailers provide us with many necessary supplies and essentials, so it is crucial to share the road with them.

To minimize your risk of a collision, engage in these practices when around semi-trucks:

• Give the vehicle plenty of space on all sides.
• Remember that semi-trucks have large blind spots, so do not remain on the sides of a truck for long periods of time.
• Do not make any sudden lane changes or maneuvers around semi-trucks, as they need significantly more time to react than other vehicles.
• Drive normally. Though you may be nervous around semi-trucks, it is important to drive as you normally would with a little bit of extra care.

Though you cannot always prevent a truck accident, these tips may help you avoid a catastrophe while on the road.

FAQs About South Carolina Truck Accident Laws

If you have been involved in a trucking accident with an eighteen-wheeler, tractor trailer truck, or other commercial vehicle, you may have questions.

Below, we provide some general information, but you should contact a Myrtle Beach trucking accident attorney immediately to discuss the specifics of your case and to find out what your options are.

Who Is Liable After a Truck or Commercial Vehicle Accident in SC?

The potential defendants, insurance policies, and other sources of recovery after a trucking accident may include:

• The truck driver (who may or may not be an independent contractor),
• The truck’s owner (which may or may not be the driver),
• The company that leases the truck,
• The company that maintains the truck,
• The trucking company that employs the driver,
• The manufacturer or seller of faulty equipment that caused the crash,
• The company or individual who was responsible for loading the truck’s cargo,
• Municipalities or businesses who are responsible for poor road conditions, and
• Other third parties or companies whose negligence contributed to the crash.
• Are Trucking Accidents Different than Auto Accidents?
• Trucking accidents 1) are more complex than most auto accident claims, and 2) can cause considerably more damage to accident victims due to the size of commercial vehicles and the heavy loads that they may carry.

Trucking accidents often result in greater damages than most auto accidents, but there also may be multiple defendants and insurance policies available to ensure that you receive full compensation in your trucking accident case.

Your trucking accident attorneys should have experience litigating trucking accident cases and must understand the causes of commercial vehicle crashes, the federal laws and regulations that govern truck drivers and trucking companies, and the types of evidence that will be needed to establish liability.

How Do I Prove That an Eighteen-Wheeler is At-Fault in South Carolina?

To establish liability on the part of the truck driver and their company, you will need to prove:

• The truck driver and the company that employs them owed a duty of care to you (for example, a duty to keep other drivers safe by following the applicable laws and regulations, by always maintaining a proper lookout, and by not violating traffic laws,
• That the truck driver and the company that employs them breached that duty of care (they were negligent or grossly negligent), and
• That you suffered damages (injuries and property damage) that were proximately caused by the truck driver’s and their company’s negligence.

What Kind of Evidence is Needed to Prove Negligence in a Truck Accident Case?

Trucking accident cases may require different types of evidence than would be necessary in an “ordinary” car wreck case, including:

• Accident reconstructionists who can give an expert opinion on what caused the crash,
• Photos or video of the crash scene and the vehicles,
• Witness testimony from people who saw the crash,
• Witness testimony from people or employees who are familiar with the driver’s and the company’s practices,
• Maintenance logs,
• Inspection reports,
• Cargo logs,
• Weigh station receipts,
• Event data recorders (the “black box”), and
• Hours of service

What Causes Eighteen-Wheeler Crashes in SC?

The most common causes of trucking accidents in SC include:

• Driver training and experience,
• Driver fatigue,
• Alcohol or other drug use,
• Speeding,
• Failure to secure cargos properly,
• Failure to maintain lane or running off the road,
• Rear-end collisions,
• Failure to inspect and maintain equipment,
• Vehicle design and manufacture,
• Highway conditions,
• Failure to signal turns,
• Tire blowouts, and
• Violations of federal laws and regulations.

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Truck Accident in SC?

Although a truck accident attorney is not legally required following a car or truck accident, it is always in your best interest to hire one. Commercial truck accidents often result in serious damage, and you could be left responsible for your own medical bills and car repairs if you do not seek compensation. To get the settlement that you rightfully deserve, you need a Myrtle Beach truck accident attorney to represent you and your family.

How Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Help Your Case?

Truck accident claims can be complicated. Even when the tractor-trailer driver is at fault, their insurance company will try to avoid responsibility. Because these drivers are highly trained, their testimonies can appear credible, and many of them win their cases. An accident or injury lawyer helps you by refuting the driver’s claims and showing how they caused the accident. Once your attorney can prove that the driver was at fault, the law requires that you get proper compensation as the truck accident victim.

What Do Myrtle Beach, SC Truck Accident Lawyers Do?

Our job is to present your side of the story in court. Truck accident cases always involve several perspectives, and without someone to properly lay out your story, the court will side with the driver. We can assemble the proper evidence and argue that the other driver’s actions caused the collision and truck accident injuries that you have sustained. We can refute the arguments that the trucking company puts forward to maintain your innocence and preserve your settlement.

Who Is Responsible for a Truck Accident in SC?

All trucking accidents are different, so it is difficult to say who is responsible. In some situations, truck drivers are not properly trained, have not slept, do not check their mirrors and blind spots, or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In other situations, car drivers speed, quickly change lanes, or engage in other dangerous driving practices when around tractor-trailers to avoid them. These actions can also be the cause of a truck crash.

GOT AXELROD?

If you have been injured in a trucking accident with an eighteen-wheeler, tractor truck trailer, or other commercial vehicle, the Myrtle Beach trucking accident attorneys at Axelrod & Associates may be able to help you to get maximum compensation for your injuries.

Call 843-353-3449 or complete our contact form for a free initial consultation.