Columbia Cargo Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you love was injured in a cargo truck accident, South Carolina law entitles you to seek financial recovery. Our team will help you pursue the at-fault party whose negligence caused the collision. You may qualify to seek compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Our lawyers from Hammack Law Firm will help you identify the at-fault driver in your cargo truck accident, value your injuries and related expenses, negotiate a financial settlement, and take your case to court if necessary. When you are ready to seek compensation, our team is ready to stand by your side. We will guide you through the personal injury process in Columbia and build a compelling case for compensation.

Cargo Accidents in South Carolina Can Be Deadly

Commercial cargo trucks often pass through on the highways of Columbia, our state’s capital, carrying their load of goods to their final destinations. Their loads may contain motorized vehicles, machinery, or electronics, which are among the most commonly hauled products. Truckers could also carry natural materials, paper, metal, concrete, gas, sand, and other materials.

Whatever the cargo is, trucking companies must follow federal safety standards when loading and securing their freight. In general, the rules, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) outlines, require cargo to be firmly secured on or within the vehicle with the proper structures. When these rules are not followed, accidents happen, and motorists who share the roads with commercial trucks can get hurt – seriously or fatally hurt.

Injuries in Cargo Truck Accidents

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that people in smaller vehicles often suffer the severest injuries in crashes involving large trucks and other large vehicles. Trucks can weigh between 20 to 30 times as much as passenger cars. At any given time, a truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, the maximum weight under federal guidelines, per the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT).

This is dangerous, especially in situations where a truck can’t stop in time or if the driver loses sight of motorists who have disappeared into a large blind spot. Companies that do not follow these cargo rules are left open to liability in accidents that occur. The injuries that result from these accidents often include:

• Injuries to the head, face, and neck
• Internal bleeding, internal organ damage
• Broken bones, including broken ribs
• Spinal cord and/or back injuries
• Knee and leg injuries
• Soft tissue injuries (bruises, sprains, swelling)

You Can Pursue Injury-Related Damages

These injuries bring big medical bills and could mean an extended recovery that lasts a considerable time. Unfortunately, this means less income and the bills falling behind for many cargo accident victims. For this reason and others, we encourage them to seek recovery with legal action. A settlement or court award can help truck collision victims cover their accident expenses and perhaps gain peace of mind.

S.C. Ann § 15-32-210 entitles you to negligence-based compensation for the consequences of an accident when another driver is at fault. At Hammack Law Firm, our truck accident lawyers serving Columbia will help you evaluate your losses and accurately assess your recoverable damages.

We Will Tell You How Much Your Injury Case is Worth

Our personal injury team will take on your case and fight for the financial compensation due to you. We strongly believe in holding the parties liable in your case accountable for their actions and will seek the maximum recovery for you.

The injuries you sustained in the cargo truck accident have direct and indirect financial damages that must be assessed and properly valued. As we review your damages to come up with a dollar amount for your case, we must include the cost of treating your injuries and missing days at work. While the value of each personal injury case varies, your economic damages can include:

• Emergency and ongoing medical bills
• Immediate and future loss of income
• Property repair or the replacement value
• Required in-home domestic support
• Required in-home medical assistance

We will help you seek these damages by filing an injury lawsuit against the negligent party. We will also help you accurately identify the right person or entity to pursue and ensure your lawsuit is filed in accordance with South Carolina’s personal injury laws.

Additional Recoverable Damages

The non-economic damages that stem from the accident could also be recoverable in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. We may be able to seek compensation for your:

• Pain and suffering
• Physical impairment
• Physical disfigurement
• Mental and emotional distress

Filing a Wrongful Death Action

If a loved one suffered fatal injuries in the accident, we are sincerely sorry for your loss. We will help your family seek compensation for your loved one’s funeral and burial expenses.

In addition, you can request compensation for loss of companionship, society, and consortium. We will identify who can pursue a wrongful death action for your family under South Carolina law and ensure you meet the deadline for filing your action.

Put Our Truck Accident Team to Work for You

We combine the personal experience of a small firm with the legal background of a big one. Our team members are warm, friendly, and helpful. We will listen to your recollection of the accident, draw clues from your memories and our investigation, and treat you with compassion and understanding. When we work on your case, our team:

• Collects evidence to establish the at-fault party’s negligence
• Carefully tracks and calculates your expenses
• Ensures the lawsuit meets the filing deadline
• Negotiates with the at-fault party’s representative
• Pursue justice in court when negotiations fail

Our team makes sure you are regularly informed as the case progresses and understand the settlement process and your role in it. We also provide our legal service and support at no upfront cost, and if you do not win the case, we will not charge you any fees.

Proving Who’s Liable in Your Cargo Truck Accident

Proving liability in trucking cases is often a complex matter. One reason is that a trucking accident could involve multiple liable parties, and determining who’s liable and by how much is challenging. In addition to the driver who hit you, your lawsuit could name others who weren’t at the accident scene, such as:

• The employer of the truck driver
• The company responsible for loading the cargo onto the truck
• The maintenance shop that regularly repairs and maintains the truck
• The truck’s manufacturer
• The company that made the truck’s parts if it’s determined that those parts malfunctioned
• The municipality responsible for the maintenance of the road where the crash took place

Evidence That Could Support a Cargo Truck Collision Claim

We will investigate the incident and reach out to you to compile supporting evidence, which can include:

• Photos of your injuries
• Photos of the accident scene, including all the vehicles involved
• The responding police officer’s report
• Witness accounts of what happened
• Statements from a medical expert or an accident reconstructionist
• Video surveillance that may have recorded your accident

Our team will also seek to collect evidence in your case that you could find difficult to get, such as:

• The truck’s maintenance records
• Data from its onboard computer
• Dashcam video footage that may be available
• The truck driver’s work and training history

We have our work cut out for us in your cargo truck accident, but we’re ready to fight for your compensation in and out of court. While our team is prepared to negotiate with insurers from the opposed party’s side, we are also ready to take your case to trial. We always prepare for that possibility.

Our Firm Is Client-Focused, and We Always Put You First

At Hammack Law Firm, we understand the importance of physical and financial recovery for every client we serve. While we fight for their financial recovery, we ensure our clients feel cared for and appreciated. We do more than treat you like family – we also humanize an otherwise arduous process by:

• Giving significant time and attention to each client
• Building a personal relationship with each client
• Seeking compensation for your truck accident injuries

One of our goals is to make South Carolina and its roadways safer for everyone. We do that by holding negligent parties liable for their recklessness and seeking financial recovery for every injured client we represent. When you are ready to get the compensation negligence entitles you to, you do not have to do it on your own.

Our Client Testimonials Speak for Us

What happens when you trust our team with your potential lawsuit? We work hard to compile, organize, and present evidence on your behalf. We also treat you like family and fight hard for compensation. In our Google reviews, past clients say:

• “Paul Hammack and all his staff rocked it out and I HIGHLY recommended them for any personal injury services you may need! Thanks Hammack Law Firm!” – Summer
• “No glitzy stuff. Just honest people doing right by their clients. Lynn is a HOOT! and the most helpful and sweetest person on the Planet. Paul is straight up and looks out for his clients. I recommend them both highly.” – John Scull

Our client reviews and testimonials attest to the client experience we provide. From the initial evaluation to the resolution of your case, we aim to fight as hard for you as we have for these clients.

South Carolina’s Statute of Limitations Sets a Filing Deadline for Your Case

When you seek financial compensation after an accident, the state determines how long you have to pursue the at-fault driver. S.C. Ann § 15-3-530 defines the timeline for two types of personal injury lawsuits. You generally have three years to file a lawsuit if:

• You or a family member was injured in a truck accident.
• A member of your family suffered a truck accident fatality.

Failure to comply with the statute of limitations can be costly. It may mean the courts will not allow you to file your lawsuit at all. Even if you do manage to file your suit after the deadline expires, it is likely to be thrown out of court without being heard. You can avoid both of these negative consequences by contacting one of our team members well before this deadline.

Get Your Free Case Evaluation Today

When you are ready to seek financial compensation from the at-fault party, contact one of our cargo truck accident lawyers serving clients in Columbia by calling (864) 326-3333(864) 326-3333. Our case evaluation team at Hammack Law Firm is ready to help you get started.