Columbia Fuel Tanker Accident Lawyer

A Columbia fuel tanker accident lawyer from Hammack Law Firm will assess your rights and legal options during a free consultation. We provide these case assessments so that truck accident victims in Richland County and other nearby areas will understand how we can help them get justice in their case.

If a fuel truck driver caused your Columbia, South Carolina, crash, you should not have to pay your medical bills and other expenses and losses. We will build a case against the driver and their employer and pursue compensation for the harm you incurred due to their negligence.

How Much Is My Columbia, S.C., Fuel Truck Collision Claim Worth?

How much your claim may be worth depends on many factors, including the type and severity of your injuries, your financial losses, and more. Your damages and the circumstances of the accident both play a vital role in the outcome of your case.

Our recent case results vary, but they include a $1,600,000 settlement for a couple injured in a head-on crash with a large commercial truck. This husband and wife are just two of the clients we have secured justice for in an accident that a careless truck driver caused.

We will determine your case’s value after we do the following in your case:

• Investigate what happened
• Identify the liable parties
• Gather evidence proving negligence and liability
• Prove your recoverable financial and non-financial damages
• Negotiate with the insurer for a settlement agreement

Some people who suffer catastrophic, debilitating injuries such as burns, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or spinal cord injuries could have a claim worth more.

What Are Some Common Recoverable Damages in a Fuel Tanker Accident Case?

Our team knows what types of recoverable damages usually occur in these cases. We will identify and document the financial, physical, and emotional harm you suffered. The value of these losses dictates the fair settlement value of your case.

In many cases, they include:

• Medical bills and related expenses
• Future medical needs and care costs
• Lost income if you missed time at work
• Reduced earning ability for permanent disabilities
• Vehicle repairs or replacement
• Miscellaneous costs
• Pain and suffering damages

We also represent families who lost a loved one in a Columbia commercial vehicle accident, seeking wrongful death damages for their families.

Hammack Law Firm will Hold Those Responsible Accountable for Their Actions

The compassionate team from Hammack Law Firm understands how challenging it can be to suffer injuries in a crash and not know what to do or who can help. You need a friend or family member on your side who knows how to navigate these claims and seek justice for you, and that is why we are here. We offer our clients a small firm feel with big firm experience, and our reviews show that previous clients appreciate how our team goes the extra mile.

We seek financial compensation for every client we represent because we understand you need relief and that this is the only way to ensure the driver and other liable parties are held accountable. We believe in holding negligent parties responsible for their bad behavior, especially those who do not follow safety protocols in the trucking industry.

Hammack Law Firm has the Resources to Manage Your Fuel Tanker Accident Case

At Hammack Law Firm, our attorneys know how to navigate the claims process and pursue justice for accident victims. Most cases settle through insurance negotiations, but we investigate and prepare each case like we are going to trial. If necessary, we will sue and sue to force more from the insurance companies.

Fuel truck drivers have a special responsibility to drive hazardous, flammable, and combustible liquids across our state. When they make a mistake behind the wheel, they are not the only ones at risk. Burn injuries are prevalent for accident victims if there is a leak or explosion after these crashes.

Who is Liable for My Columbia Fuel Truck Accident?

Under case law such as James v. Kelly Trucking Company (2008), South Carolina follows the doctrine of respondeat superior. This legal doctrine makes the driver’s employer vicariously responsible for their negligence in most crashes.

This allows our team to build a claim or lawsuit against not only the driver but the trucking company or other corporation, as well. For example, imagine a major gasoline chain owned the truck and employed the driver who hit you.

We could:

• File an insurance claim based on that company’s corporate liability insurance.
• Sue that company in civil court.

Hammack Law Firm Cares About Trucking Safety

Our team cares about our clients. We have seen too many people suffer serious injuries or lose their lives because of careless or reckless truck drivers and poor public safety policies. Changes are necessary, and we represent our clients whose lives would be better if we held trucking companies, drivers, and insurers to a higher standard.

We are proponents of changing trucking and insurance company public safety policies in our state and across the country. We believe this will save many others the pain and stress our clients endure and make South Carolina a safer place for everyone.

For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted temporary exceptions to some hours-of-service rules in South Carolina and more than a dozen other states for fuel tanker truck drivers in May 2021. While there is no way to know whether this contributed to any injuries at this time, the Hammack Law Firm team is paying close attention to this and other developments that could affect the safety of residents in South Carolina.

Timeline for a Lawsuit Based on My Columbia, S.C., Truck Collision

South Carolina law gives us only three years to begin a lawsuit against the trucker or their employer in a fuel tanker crash case. This deadline, set by S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530, applies in most traffic accident cases.

There are exceptions, but generally, if we miss this deadline, we could lose the right to recover fair compensation for you. We must know about your case well in advance of this date.

Hammack Law Firm Provides Complimentary Crash Consultations

If you were hurt in a Columbia fuel truck crash, Hammack Law Firm will assess your legal options with you today for free. Our South Carolina-based attorneys know how to develop a case and secure compensation for victims after a fuel tanker accident.

Call (864) 326-3333(864) 326-3333 to learn more now during a complimentary consultation.