We share the Greenville, South Carolina roads with semi-trucks every day and most of us don’t give them a second thought. That is until you or a loved one is involved in an accident with one of the giants of the road.
Being involved in an accident with a semi-truck can be devastating, and the injuries that result from such an accident can be catastrophic, if not deadly. Many times 18 wheeler accidents are difficult to avoid, especially if the truck driver is being careless or reckless.
If you or a loved one has had a tractor-trailer accident with an 18-wheeler, and it was someone else’s fault, Greenville, South Carolina trucking accident lawyer, Dan Pruitt is here to help you or your loved one receive all the compensation they deserve.
Types of Truck Accident Cases
With so many semi-trucks on our roads, there’s a risk of a truck accident, happening at any time and for any reason. Our law firm investigates the root causes of all types of truck collisions. Below are some examples of the different truck accidents and how they happen:
- Jackknife: A jackknife accident occurs when the truck’s trailer bends to the side of the cab, creating a V or L shape. This accident often occurs if the truck has to stop suddenly and the trailer’s momentum carries itself.
- Underrides: A serious type of truck accident is when a smaller vehicle becomes wedged underneath a truck. An underride accident can occur if the vehicle rear-ends the truck or the truck stops suddenly.
- Rollovers: When the truck ends up on its side, it’s called a rollover. A rollover can occur if the weather is bad or the truck driver tries to turn too quickly.
- Lost load: Trucks must have their cargo securely attached to the trailer, but this isn’t always done correctly. If improperly loaded, the cargo can fall off as the truck is driving, hitting other vehicles on the road or forcing them to swerve.
- Rear-end and head-on: Trucks can also cause common vehicle accidents such as rear-end and head-on accidents. These accidents can occur if the driver isn’t paying attention or is driving too quickly around a turn.
- Wide right-turn accident: Right-turn accidents can happen when a truck is swinging to the left to make a right turn. During this maneuver, trucks can sometimes clip a vehicle that is moving past them to their left, or trap a vehicle driving alongside them in what’s called a right-turn squeeze.
- Blind spot: A prevalent kind of truck accident is when a smaller vehicle drives into a tractor-trailer’s blind spot. This can result in a lane change accident where one or both vehicles veer off the road.
Common Causes of Greenville, SC Trucking Accidents
The cause of a Greenville 18 wheeler accident can vary greatly. However, it’s important for your claim that you determine the cause of the accident and who was at fault. If you’re not exactly sure what happened, Greenville, South Carolina trucking accident attorney, Dan Pruitt and his team will investigate the accident, find the cause, and determine who was at fault for your injuries.
Some of the most common causes of Greenville tractor trailer accidents include, but aren’t limited to:
1. Driver fatigue: Recent studies have shown that driving while tired may be as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A tired driver may fail to use turn signals, not check blind spots when turning, and/or failing to stop at lights or stop signs.
2. Poorly maintained the truck: Not all trucks are maintained properly, and a poorly maintained truck could suffer brake failure or other mechanical problems that inhibit the driver from operating the vehicle safely.
3. Not enough truck driver training: Because the demand for truck drivers is high, sometimes the drivers that are hired are not properly trained or don’t have enough training to know how to operate their vehicle safely.
4. Driving under the influence: We all know that driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is dangerous, that danger is compounded if that driver is behind the wheel of a semi-truck.
5. Hazardous roads: In some cases, road hazards such as potholes may cause a Greenville 18 wheeler accident. The South Carolina road authority has a duty to ensure driver’s safety when they or a local road authority fails to maintain the roads, and you’re injured, you may be able to seek compensation.
6. Defective truck parts: If a manufacturer doesn’t ensure their products are safe, it can be dangerous. If a part malfunctioned and/or broke that caused a truck accident in Greenville, South Carolina, you may be able to hold the manufacturer of those parts accountable and seek compensation for your injuries.
Truck Cases We Handle
At Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm, our team is dedicated to helping victims get the compensation they deserve. Here are examples of the types of trucks we handle accident cases for:
- Tractor trailers
- Dump trucks
- Cement trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Flatbeds
- Tow trucks
- Oversize loads
If you are the victim of a truck accident in Greenville, you need to hire a truck accident attorney with experience. Our attorney understands the federal, state and local laws that apply to the transportation of certain materials.
Fault in Greenville, SC Trucking Accidents
If you or a loved one has been involved in a Greenville tractor trailer accident, you’re going to want to know who was at fault for the accident when preparing your claim to file with the insurance company.
It’s not as simple as simply saying the truck driver was at fault, because while the driver of the semi-truck may be at fault in your Greenville truck accident, they may not be the only party that can be held responsible for your injuries.
In many cases, the truck driver works for an employer. That employer may also have to bear some of the responsibility for what happened to you or your loved one. However, if the Greenville truck driver was involved in illegal or reckless behavior, such as driving while under the influence, it may not be as easy to get any financial compensation from their employer.
Your Greenville, South Carolina trucking accident lawyer will assist you in determining who is responsible for your injuries and what action may be taken.
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How Complex Are Truck Accident Cases?
Truck accident cases are not always as straightforward as you may think. In these instances, there may be multiple liable parties, from the truck driver to the trucking company to the people in charge of loading the cargo. Having multiple responsible parties can also mean you will be working with different insurance coverages, making it harder to arrive at a resolution alone.
Greenville, SC Trucking Accident Insurance
In South Carolina, typically, the person who is at fault in an accident is the one who is held responsible for the costs associated with your injuries. When you are asking for financial compensation, normally you will be dealing with the insurance companies who will generally offer you a settlement amount.
After being involved in a Greenville, South Carolina truck accident, you will contact the insurance company and report the accident. Do not mention anything regarding who was at fault or provide a recorded statement. Anything you say can and will be used against you when the insurance company offers to settle your claim.
Once the Greenville truck accident has been reported, the insurance company may assign an adjuster to your case. They will want to know the cause of the accident, the injuries you or a loved one suffered, and the total costs of your accident. Once they have that information, they should offer you a settlement amount.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen that way. The insurance company may attempt to use certain tactics to avoid paying you the amount of money you deserve. Insurance companies are not on your side, they are trying to protect their profits. If you’re not sure you’re being offered a fair settlement for your Greenville 18 wheeler accident, you should contact a Greenville, South Carolina trucking accident lawyer such as Dan Pruitt to represent you. He will work hard to ensure you’re getting the settlement amount you deserve or file a lawsuit on your behalf in court.
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Compensation Following a Greenville, SC Trucking Accident
In a Greenville, South Carolina truck accident lawsuit, economic damages are always meant to compensate the victim for out-of-pocket expenses as a result of their injury.
These damages may include:
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity and/or future employment
- Present and future medical expenses that are a result of the injury in the accident
- Loss of Property
- Costs for repairs to any property damaged in the accident.
- Physical pain
- Mental suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for the spouse
Call a Greenville, SC Trucking Accident Today
A semi-truck accident can be more dangerous and traumatic than being involved in an accident with another car. When a truck driver causes the collision, you should contact Greenville, South Carolina trucking accident lawyer, Dan Pruitt Law Firm. Dan and his legal team will work hard to ensure you receive all the compensation you’re entitled to.