Accidents involving tractor-trailers or other commercial vehicles are some of the most devastating accidents. Due to the sheer size and weight of these trucks (and their cargo), they are more likely to inflict catastrophic personal injury or death in a collision with a much smaller vehicle. More so than with any other type of motor vehicle accident, it is extremely important that you contact an experienced Lexington truck accident attorney as soon as possible to assist with your case.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,113 people were killed and approximately 114,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks nationwide in 2019. Here in South Carolina, where we constantly encounter tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles on our highways and interstates, crashes involving these trucks accounted for 111 of the 1,036 fatalities in 2018.
The trucking industry is regulated by state and federal governments. In fact, there is an entire federal agency, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), whose primary stated mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and other commercial vehicles. These state and federal trucking regulations address issues such as the number of consecutive hours a driver can be on the road, the training trucking companies are required to provide their drivers, and maintenance requirements for trucks. Any violation of these rules means the liable party can be held responsible for your injuries.
Unfortunately, trucking companies and their drivers often fail to adhere to safety regulations, which puts South Carolina drivers and their passengers at risk. Common examples of violations of trucking regulations that cause accidents include:
Statistics show that victims of trucking accidents are more likely to suffer devastating, life-threatening injuries including head and brain injuries, burn injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and other serious medical conditions. If you or your loved one has been injured in a truck accident, as with other personal injury claims, you may be entitled to receive damages for any physical, financial and emotional losses suffered including, but not limited to:
More so than with any other type of motor vehicle accident, it is extremely important that you contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident to assist you in investigating the cause of the accident and submitting a claim to the insurance company. Trucking companies and their insurance carriers often send a rapid response team to the scene of an accident shortly after it occurs, so it is important for you to likewise protect your legal interests. The experienced truck accident lawyers at Morgan, Slaughter & Haltiwanger, LLC will diligently investigate your accident and negotiate with the trucking company’s insurance adjuster to obtain the compensation and justice you deserve.
