Florence Jackknife Accident Lawyer

If a truck driver caused a jackknife crash and you suffered injuries in Florence County, our team is here for you. We will review your case for free. Our attorneys will answer your questions, detail your options, and discuss how we will hold the liable parties accountable on your behalf.

A Florence jackknife accident lawyer from Hammack Law Firm knows how to build a claim based on this type of crash, including proving carelessness and causation, identifying the liable parties, and putting a value on your losses. We represent victims of truck accident cases and seek justice for them based on contingency.

How will You Seek Compensation in My Jackknife Accident Case?

Most commercial vehicle accident claims settle. Our lawyers present strong support for the insurance claim and can negotiate a fair and just settlement for clients. We draw up the paperwork, and the insurer sends us the check. This is the most common way we hold the liable parties accountable in cases.

Alternatively, we sometimes need to sue to recover a court award. When we need to take a case in front of a judge and jury, we will not hesitate to do so. We present the evidence, including proof of harm the client suffered in the truck accident.

Whether through an insurance settlement or a trial, we seek compensation for clients that often includes:

• Medical care for accident injuries, current, and future
• Lost wages and other income
• Reduced earning capacity for lasting impairments
• Damage to your vehicle
• Pain and suffering damages

We also represent families of victims who passed away from their accident injuries. In addition, we will seek wrongful death damages on your behalf if a careless trucker caused your loved one’s death.

Our Truck Accident Lawyers Take a Stance Against Liable Trucking Companies

We want to make South Carolina a safer place for everyone by holding negligent parties accountable for their bad behavior on the state’s roads. We seek compensation for every client we represent. We believe in justice for accident victims, even if it means we have to sue to force more from the insurance companies.

Each case we handle gets a lot of time and attention, including resources and experience from our injury attorneys. We build a personal relationship with each client and provide compassionate, supportive, and helpful advice and representation.

This allows us to offer a small firm feel with a big firm experience. You can read more in our client reviews to see what previous clients said about our team and legal services. We focus on ensuring our clients’ rights are protected, and they have strong support for their claim. This includes:

• Managing all communications with the insurance carriers and attorneys
• Investigating the crash and what happened
• Proving negligence
• Identifying the liable parties
• Documenting damages and valuing the claim
• Preparing and filing the insurance claim
• Negotiating for a fair settlement
• Reaching a settlement and preparing the paperwork
• Suing and taking the case to trial, if needed

Our team never charges truck accident victims any upfront fees. We do not ask for a retainer or charge by the hour. We get paid from the compensation we recover for clients. Our attorneys will not ask your family for any lawyer fees unless we get money damages for you.

Understanding How Jackknife Accidents Occur and Who Is Responsible

A jackknife truck accident occurs when a semi-truck driver loses control of the tractor or the trailer. Either:

• The truck stops and the trailer does not, swinging around to create a v-shape; or
• The trailer stops and the tractor skids, swinging around until it is almost beside the trailer.

These situations create a pocket-knife shape with the truck and trailer, leading to the “jackknife” name. There are many causes of these crashes, but most lead back to trucker negligence which includes:

• Improper braking
• Driving improperly for conditions, such as rain
• Speeding
• Not slowing down enough to navigate a turn
• Driver fatigue
• Inexperience

These crashes could also occur because of

• Equipment failure
• Defective parts
• Poor truck maintenance

Because of the way the truck or trailer swings around uncontrolled in these crashes, they often involve a number of other vehicles. Other motorists in adjacent lanes or traveling toward the truck may not be able to stop in time and get caught in the crash. Our attorneys often represent victims of jackknife truck accidents and know how to determine fault and liability in this type of crash.

Liability in commercial truck cases often includes vicarious liability via the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This doctrine, affirmed in Sams v. Arthur (1926) in South Carolina, allows victims to hold the at-fault driver’s employer liable for an accident, as well.

This means that Hammack Law Firm generally takes on the trucking company or a large corporation to recover financial compensation for clients in these cases. Both the trucker and their employer are liable parties in most commercial truck accidents.

South Carolina Law Limits Your Time to Take Legal Action

In most truck collisions, we do not sue. We negotiate an appropriate settlement for our clients without needing to take this step. Even fewer cases actually go to trial. However, if we need to represent you in court to seek the justice you need, we will do so without hesitation.

Generally, we have three years to sue a trucking company in a Florence County court under S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530. However, other deadlines could apply, and we will determine how quickly we must act during your initial consultation.

Learn About Your Legal Options By Contacting a Truck Accident Attorney Today

You can talk to a Florence jackknife accident attorney from Hammack Law Firm for free. We provide free consultations for those who believe they may have a case against a trucking company or are curious about their rights after a crash. We will discuss your legal options with you today. Call (864) 326-3333(864) 326-3333 to get started with your complimentary case evaluation.