Semi-trucks and other large trucks are essential for transporting goods and products in Fort Mill, South Carolina. However, sharing the road with these massive vehicles is dangerous. Accidents involving commercial trucks often result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths.
Truck accident claims are complicated personal injury cases that involve issues usually not found in other auto accident cases. Therefore, you need a legal team with extensive experience handling truck accident claims, specifically.
At Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, our lawyers have over 150 years of combined experience. Luther “Luke” Elrod founded the law firm in 1980 after his honorable discharge from the JAG Corps and eight years of general practice. Today, we have a team of seasoned litigators who are fierce trial lawyers and resourceful negotiators.
Our practice is focused entirely on assisting injured victims and their families to receive the compensation they deserve. We have recovered over $50 million in verdicts and settlements.
Contact our personal injury law firm at 803-324-7574 for a free consultation with an experienced Fort Mill truck accident lawyer. We are available 24/7 to speak with you about your case.
How Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys Can Help You After a Truck Accident in Fort Mill, South Carolina
If you have been injured in a commercial truck accident, you need an experienced Fort Mill personal injury lawyer. Our attorneys at Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys have appeared on numerous lists of top attorneys in South Carolina, including Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers.Â
Additionally, our top-rated South Carolina personal injury lawyers have been featured on news shows with major networks, including CNN, MSNBC, ABC, Fox News, and CBS. Our lawyers are highly rated by numerous organizations and hold an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest peer review rating.
Following a truck accident, victims are overwhelmed by physical injuries, financial losses, and legal questions. At Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, our Fort Mill truck accident attorneys handle all matters related to your accident claim for you. We want you to focus on your recovery and family while we focus all our resources and skills on recovering the maximum compensation available for your case.
When you hire our award-winning truck accident lawyers in Fort Mill, you can rest assured we will:
- Thoroughly investigate the truck accident to determine causation and fault
- Identify all parties who could be liable for your damages and losses
- Gather evidence to prove the legal elements required to win your case, including working with top-rated experts
- Document all your damages to accurately calculate how much your truck accident claim is worth
- Prepare and file all documents necessary to pursue insurance and personal injury claims
- Aggressively negotiate with the parties and insurance companies to obtain a fair settlement
- Take your case to court and argue your case before a jury if necessary
We are an established, trusted personal injury law firm in Fort Mill. Standing up for our clients is our top priority.
Call Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Fort Mill, SC.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in South Carolina?
Semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other large trucks are involved in thousands of accidents each year in the United States. In 2021, truck accidents resulted in 5,788 traffic deaths nationwide, an increase of 17 percent from 2020. That same year, there were 142 fatal truck accidents in South Carolina, an increase of 56% from 2020.
At Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, we handle all types of large truck accidents, including, but not limited to:
- Rollover accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Lost load accidents
- Overload cargo accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Underride accidents
- Tire blowouts
- Rear-end collisions
Unfortunately, the occupants of other vehicles sustain the majority of injuries and deaths in truck accidents. Over 70% of the deaths and injuries in large truck accidents in 2021 were people riding in other vehicles.
Commercial vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 (more with special permits). A passenger vehicle is no match for the weight and size of a commercial truck.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Fort Mill, SC
Negligence is often a common factor in why truck collisions happen. However, other factors can also contribute to the cause of a semi-truck accident in Fort Mill.
Factors that contribute to the cause of truck accidents include:
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Distracted driving
- Road and weather conditions
- Shifting and/or falling cargo
- Driving under the influence (impaired driving)
- Fatigued and drowsy driving, including driving over the maximum hours of service for truck drivers
- Defective or malfunctioning trucks, systems, or parts
- Tailgating and following too closely
- Aggressive driving and road rage
- Failing to follow traffic laws
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Improper lane changes, illegal turns, and dangerous turns
- Inadequate inspections, maintenance, and/or repairs
Violations of state and federal trucking regulations can also be factors in the reason for a truck crash. Our Fort Mill truck accident lawyers understand these regulations and can apply them to your case, if relevant.
Investigating a truck accident is expensive and time-consuming. The trucking company and its insurance provider do not make it easy to gather evidence. They want to avoid liability for your claim.
At Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, we aggressively investigate your case. We demand the trucking company turn over documentation and preserve evidence. If necessary, we go to court and obtain orders forcing the company to comply.
Proving Negligence and Liability for a Truck Accident in Fort Mill, SC
Numerous parties could be liable for damages in a truck accident case. Our personal injury lawyers carefully analyze all factors that led to the truck accident to identify the parties who might share liability in your case. Potentially liable parties in a truck accident case include:
- The truck driver
- Truck owners and/or operators
- The trucking company
- Loaders and shippers
- Maintenance and repair facilities
- Government entities
- Employers
- Manufacturers of defective trucks and truck parts
To recover compensation for damages, you must prove that the party who caused your injury owed you a duty of care and breached the duty of care. You must also prove that the party’s conduct caused the truck accident and you suffered damages as a result of the crash.
Our lawyers at Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys will work hard to gather evidence proving these legal elements. Evidence in a truck accident case could include, but is not limited to:
- Videos of the collision
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Eyewitness statements
- Data from the truck’s black box
- The truck’s maintenance, inspection, and repair logs
- Opinions from trucking experts, accident reconstructionists, and other expert witnesses
- The truck driver’s employment records, including hours of service logs
- Prior history of violations and accidents
- Physical evidence from the accident scene
Truck accidents are generally catastrophic accident scenes. Numerous law enforcement and government agencies, including federal agencies, may participate in the investigation. The trucking company and its insurance provider often have quick response teams to send to accident scenes to begin investigating the crash.
Our lawyers are equipped to investigate a truck accident. Call us now so we can begin preserving evidence to build a case for damages against the parties who caused your injuries.
Common Injuries and Damages in Truck Accident Cases in Fort Mill, SC
Large truck accidents result in numerous injuries, including permanent impairments and disabilities. Common truck accident injuries include:
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neck and back injuries
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Loss of limbs and amputations
- Broken bones and fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
Generally, victims require emergency medical services and immediate transport to the nearest hospital. Prompt medical treatment is crucial for recovery. It also documents injuries and preserves evidence for a personal injury claim.
Physical injuries are one type of damage sustained by truck accident victims. Damages in a truck accident case include non-economic damages for pain and suffering. They also include economic damages for financial losses.
Examples of damages in a truck accident case include:
- The cost of medical treatment, including rehabilitative therapies
- Long-term nursing and/or personal care
- The loss of income and benefits
- Out-of-pocket expenses, including household services
- Future medical bills, diminished earning capacity, and lost wages for permanent impairments and disabilities
- Pain and suffering from physical injuries, mental anguish, and emotional distress
- Disfigurement, scarring, disability, and impairment
- Loss of enjoyment of life and reduced quality of life
The value of your damages depends on the facts and circumstances of your case. Generally, the damages in a truck accident case are extensive because victims sustain traumatic injuries that often result in life-altering disabilities.
At Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, our legal team works with you, your physicians, medical specialists, financial professionals, and other experts to determine the extent and value of your damages. Our lawyers work to maximize the value of your case to recover as much money as possible for you and your family.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Claim in South Carolina?
South Carolina’s statute of limitations for most truck accident claims is three years from the accident date. A lawsuit filed after that date can be dismissed by the court.
However, there are exceptions to this rule, so we advise you to contact us as soon as possible to avoid missing a filing deadline.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Fort Mill Truck Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one was injured in a tractor-trailer or other truck accident, we can help. Contact Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys at 803-324-7574 to request a free case review with one of our experienced Fort Mill truck accident attorneys. We are ready to help you proceed with your claim to obtain the compensation you deserve after a tragic truck accident.