Truck Accident Lawyer in Columbia, SC

Have you or a loved one been injured in a truck accident in Columbia, SC? If the truck’s driver or employer was responsible for the crash, they could owe you compensation for the losses you suffered as a result – losses like your medical bills, damaged property, and lost income, as well as the pain and suffering you were made to endure. Truck companies often have high-powered legal teams and complicated insurance policies, which means that getting the compensation you’re owed could be difficult without the help of an experienced truck accident lawyer like the one at the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis.

Our firm is committed to helping people who’ve been hurt in truck accidents get the accountability and justice they deserve in a timely manner. Our zealous advocacy, track record of success, and excellent customer service are borne out by our many 5-star reviews on Google and the fact that attorney Chris Davis has been named to the National Trial Lawyers Association’s “Top 40 Under 40” list many times in a row.

Don’t wait to pursue the financial compensation you need from the parties who hurt you. Contact the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis today for a free consultation with an experienced Columbia truck accident lawyer today.

Common Types and Causes of Truck Accidents

Our firm handles all kinds of truck accident cases. Common types of truck collisions include:

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Columbia, SC, include:

How Is Fault Determined for a Truck Accident?

A thorough investigation of a truck accident often requires reviewing many different kinds of evidence. Trucking industry regulations require truck drivers and trucking companies to keep detailed records which can then be used to determine both causation and fault in the event of an accident. Critically important evidence related to the truck and truck driver involved in the crash may include:

• Logs from the truck’s “black box,” which may record details about the truck’s operation such as engine hours, GPS position, speed, and driver inputs
• The truck driver’s hours-of-service logs
• Results from any drug or alcohol screens performed on the truck driver after the accident
• The truck driver’s driving records and employment history
• The truck’s cargo or load manifest
• Dispatch records from the trucking or cargo company
• Vehicle inspection reports
• Truck and trailer maintenance records

Additional evidence that may help prove causation and fault for a truck accident includes:

• Police accident reports
• Arrest/citation records
• Accident scene photos and videos
• Surveillance/traffic camera footage or dashcam footage
• Post-accident vehicle inspections
• Eyewitness statements

Do You Have Cause to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?

You might have cause to file a legal claim for compensation if you were injured due to a truck accident that was caused by another’s actions or inactions. For example, you may have cause to sue an at-fault party if the truck driver or their employer caused (or contributed to the causes of) the wreck as a result of negligent, reckless, or intentionally dangerous conduct.

Examples of trucking company negligence include instructing drivers to engage in illegal or dangerous behaviors, failing to conduct background checks to ensure they are hiring safe drivers, and not properly maintaining their vehicles. A successful truck accident claim requires you to show that you have incurred losses for which you can be financially compensated.

What Compensation May Be Recovered After a Truck Wreck?

The compensation you could recover in a successful truck accident claim is meant to offset the losses you suffered because of the accident. Depending on the circumstances, a compensation award could include money for:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses
• Costs of long-term personal and medical care
• Past, ongoing, and future losses of income or employment benefits
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Why Truck Accidents Are Especially Complicated

Victims of truck accidents often find it harder to secure compensation for their injuries relative to those who’ve been hurt in other kinds of auto accidents. This is due to a range of complicating factors, including:

• Truck accidents often cause serious injuries – The force of a collision with a massive commercial vehicle can cause serious injuries. Accident victims who suffer serious injuries may face complications in resolving their claims. Serious injuries likely mean the claimant is entitled to a greater sum in compensation, which any insurance company or opposing party is consequently motivated to dispute. Serious injuries also make it more likely that accident victims have future treatment needs and will need to include estimated expenses in their compensation demand. Calculating these expenses is not a straightforward endeavor.
• Truck accidents may have multiple liable parties – The more parties that bear liability for a truck accident, the more complicated it can be to resolve the claim, as the various liable parties fight over their respective shares of liability.
• Truck accidents can injure multiple victims – A truck crash on a busy road or highway may involve multiple vehicles and victims, which may result in a situation where the liable parties’ insurance coverage and financial resources are exhausted before each injured victim is fully compensated.
• Truck accident cases involve more evidence – Determining fault and liability for a truck accident often requires an in-depth investigation because of the extensive record-keeping requirements placed on trucking companies.
• Trucking companies may have complex insurance coverage or corporate structures – Accident victims may have difficulty determining which companies can be held liable and how much insurance coverage is available. Trucking companies may use complex corporate structures that conceal the true liable business entity or layered insurance policies that make it difficult to determine whether a settlement offer includes the full extent of coverage.

It is partially because resolving truck accident cases is such a complex undertaking that it is advantageous to work with an attorney who has extensive experience handling cases involving large truck crashes specifically.