Trucking Accident Attorney in Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina

Knowledge & Skill To Help

Because of the size of most commercial trucks, accidents involving them tend to cause catastrophic injuries. The lives of those injured as a result of a trucking accident can be dramatically affected by their injuries. In addition, the injuries sustained in a trucking accident can prevent you from supporting yourself, and your family, which creates a huge financial burden for accident victims. We have the legal knowledge and skill to help you pursue financial compensation from the person responsible for your injuries. You can obtain compensation for physical injuries, unnecessary pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of future income, medical expenses, and permanent disability. If you have been the victim of a trucking accident in South Carolina, our attorneys are ready to help you understand the scope of your legal options.

Types of Truck Accidents include the following:

Truck Driver Error
Drunk Driving Accidents
No-Zone Accidents/Driver fatigue
Hours of Service Violations
Trucking Company Negligence and Load Issues
Truck Malfunctions / Defects

Commercial Truck Accidents

Accidents involving commercial trucks are different than typical motor vehicle accidents, due to the following:

More serious injuries – Commercial trucks are much larger than passenger cars, so when a large commercial truck collides with a car, much more serious injuries often result.
Multiple parties – The commercial trucking industry involves many parties, each of whom may share liability for the accident. It is important to have the assistance of an experienced lawyer to help you identify all liable parties.
Federal and State regulations – Commercial trucking companies are required to follow complex federal and state rules and regulations. It is important to fully investigate each trucking accident in order to determine whether the trucker, or trucking company, violated these regulations.

Important Evidence in Trucking Cases

Important evidence necessary to prove fault in a trucking case includes the following:

Driving logs: Truck drivers are required to keep a logbook of hours driven. It is a criminal offense to falsify a logbook, and doing so could result in federal penalties, including possible jail time. A driver’s log can be a vital piece of evidence in truck accident cases, especially when driver fatigue is at issue.
Inspection reports: Commercial vehicles must be inspected to make sure that they are in safe operable condition. The trucking company could be considered negligent if the vehicle misses an inspection, or fails to remedy any defective piece of equipment identified by an inspection.
Maintenance logs: Commercial vehicles must undergo routine maintenance before making trips. If proper maintenance is not performed, or is done improperly, the trucking company could be liable for accidents that occur as a result.
Cargo logs: The weight of the cargo, and how it was loaded, could be vital evidence in a trucking case. Overweight trailers can cause serious problems with steering and braking, and could result in an accident. An overweight or improperly loaded commercial vehicle could result in liability for the trucking company, if an accident occurs.

Electronic monitoring data: Data from the truck’s “black box” could show that the driver was speeding, failing to brake, or driving over the number of legally permitted driving hours. This information is automatically recorded, and getting access to that information is invaluable in many cases.
Substance abuse test results: Trucking companies may have records of drug and alcohol tests administered to their drivers. If a driver was inebriated, or had a history of failed sobriety tests, that evidence could establish negligence on behalf of the trucking company and trucker.
Employee records: Employee records including background checks, hiring, training and discipline, and company policies can be crucial pieces of evidence.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

The trucking industry consists of many moving parts, and any of the following parties may be liable for a trucking accident, depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case:

Truck driver - The truck driver may be one of the first liable parties in a trucking accident. The driver’s negligence may be to blame if the accident was due to the driver speeding, driving while fatigued, driving while intoxicated, or engaging in careless or reckless driving behavior.
Trucking company - The trucking company may be liable for a truck accident that was caused by its own negligence, such as negligent hiring practices. The trucking company’s responsibility also extends to its employees, so if a driver’s negligence causes a truck accident, the company may ultimately be held liable for the driver’s actions.

Maintenance company - If a third party maintains the fleet, and a mechanical failure caused the accident, the maintenance company may be held liable for the trucking accident.
Cargo-loading company - An accident caused by an unbalanced or shifting load may be due to the cargo-loading company failing to properly load or secure it.
The truck manufacturer or parts manufacturer - If defective vehicle parts contributed to the accident, the truck or parts manufacturer may be responsible for the trucking accident.

How Long Do You Have to File a Trucking Accident Claim in South Carolina?

South Carolina Code of Laws 15-3-530 requires accident victims to file an injury claim within three (3) years of the date of the accident. Any claims filed after that time will be barred by the statute of limitations, unless a very narrow exception applies.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Because trucking accident claims require extensive investigation, the collection and preservation of evidence from many potential sources, and the evaluation of the actions and/or omissions of numerous parties who may be liable, it is crucial that you hire an experienced and knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible to begin working on your case.

At The Reed Law Office, we can conduct a thorough investigation, and negotiate with the insurance companies. If a fair and reasonable settlement is not offered by the responsible party, we can file a lawsuit within the required time limit on your behalf, to ensure that your rights are protected, and that you obtain maximum compensation for your injuries.

Trucking Accident Attorney in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina