Greenville Flatbed Truck Accident Lawyer
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If you have been injured in an accident with a flatbed truck in the Greenville area, contact Hammack Law Firm for help right away. Our truck accident attorneys have more than two decades of experience handling truck accident cases, and we’re ready to put our skills to work for you.
Flatbed trucks are some of the most common types of commercial vehicles on the road today. Unfortunately, these heavy vehicles and their large loads of cargo present a very real threat to others on the road, particularly if the driver, trucking company, loading company, and others involved fail to take the proper safety precautions.
Thousands of people are killed or injured in commercial truck accidents each year. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, over 3,800 people died in crashes with commercial trucks in 2015 alone, a 22 percent increase since 2009.
A flatbed truck is a commercial vehicle that transports materials or equipment on a flat open bed. Like all commercial trucks, these vehicles can carry large loads of heavy cargo, but instead of a trailer that’s enclosed, flatbed trailers don’t have walls or sides. This design is ideal for transporting large items that can’t fit inside of an enclosed container, but it also makes flatbed trucks heavier, wider, and longer.
Because these vehicles are capable of carrying larger-sized cargo than enclosed trailers, accidents with flatbed trucks can result in significant damage to both your vehicle and passengers inside. Dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve suffered serious injuries that require extensive medical care. You need financial compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and other costs related to your accident.
Unfortunately, the insurance company for the driver or carrier will likely look for any reason possible to deny, delay, or underpay your injury claim. Our Greenville flatbed truck accident lawyers at Hammack Law Firm will do everything possible to deliver justice for truck accident victims by demanding full and fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today by calling 864-528-0166 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Us?
Choosing a personal injury law firm to handle your flatbed truck accident case is a critical decision. It is one that can have lasting consequences on you and your family’s financial future. You need a lawyer with specific knowledge and experience handling truck accident cases. You’ll also want a lawyer who is not afraid to file a lawsuit if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
At Hammack Law Firm, our attorneys are passionate about seeking justice for flatbed truck accident victims. We have decades of experience successfully negotiating with insurance companies and we have a wealth of knowledge about how trucking companies build their defenses for trucking accidents.
That knowledge comes from the 15 years that attorney Paul Hammack spent defending trucking companies. After seeing how these accidents affected everyday people, Paul knew that he had to refocus his practice and stand up for the rights of those who’ve been hurt in truck accidents. That was 19 years ago, and he has continued to champion the rights of truck accident victims ever since.
Pursuing an injury claim in the aftermath of a severe injury accident can be challenging. The other side will likely do everything in their power to avoid paying you the full amount of compensation you’re owed. Fortunately, with the right legal team on your side, you can level the playing field and seek the fair compensation and justice for what you’ve been put through. Don’t trust your case to just any injury lawyer. Turn to a law firm that has the right skill, experience, and resources to handle any trucking case. Turn to Hammack Law Firm for help.
Flatbed Truck Accident Cases We Handle
Flatbed trailers can be either permanently mounted to the truck frame or detached and towed behind the vehicle. Detachable trailers come in two different styles—standard and lowboy—and can be used to move a number or different materials and products.
Standard flatbeds are located above the wheels and typically carry logs, machinery, and building materials. Lowboys sit closer to the ground and are used to move construction vehicles and heavy machinery like track loaders and cranes.
Of the estimated half a million truck accidents in the United States every year, a significant number involve flatbed trucks in either a collision or from poorly secured cargo. No matter what cargo a flatbed is towing, it can add tens of thousands of pounds to the vehicle’s weight. That weight increase can add significant slowdown or stoppage time and result in more forceful impact in the event of a collision.
Depending on what the flatbed is carrying, the amount of cargo can also make the truck unstable due to the high center of gravity and increased risk of the items shifting forward or side to side. Because the cargo is exposed and isn’t protected behind walls, drivers and truck companies are expected to take extra care and precautions when loading and strapping down every item, as well as making frequent stops to ensure the items haven’t shifted or become loose.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates how materials should be loaded and transported on flatbed trucks, but many companies or drivers disregard these safety guidelines and willingly put innocent lives in jeopardy.
Additionally, flatbed truck drivers are required to go through extensive training before getting behind the wheel to ensure that they can safely operate these large vehicles on the open road. However, many truck companies fail to properly train drivers in an effort to save money and, in the process, knowingly put other people on the road at risk.
When items aren’t properly tied down, the risk of an accident increases significantly. Some of the most common causes of flatbed truck accidents are:
- Jackknife Accidents
- Rollovers
- Brake Failure
- Steering Failure
- Driver Negligence
When unsecured items become loose and fall off the truck, these once stable materials turn into projectiles that can be lethal to passengers in surrounding vehicles. Depending on the details of your case, the fault of the accident may lie with the driver, trucking company, or even the crew that loaded the trailer. The Greenville truck accident lawyers can work through every detail to put together the full picture so that you can seek damages.
Common Causes of Flatbed Truck Accidents
Like any other accident involving a commercial truck, the cause for a flatbed truck collision can vary depending on the circumstances and the truck driver’s or trucking company’s actions. The Greenville flatbed truck accident lawyers at Hammack Law Firm have experience with a variety of truck accident cases caused by the following:
- Trucking company failing to properly screen drivers before hiring
- Truck driver choosing to speed or disobey traffic laws
- Truck driver driving while distracted (including texting or talking on the phone)
- Truck driver driving under the influence of alcohol, prescription drugs, or a controlled substance
- Trucking company and/or truck driver not properly securing cargo
- Fatigue caused by driving too many consecutive hours without taking a legally mandated break
- Trucking company neglecting proper truck maintenance such as failing to properly inspect brakes or tires
When it comes to damage, flatbed truck accidents are almost always one-sided. In many cases, smaller vehicles can end up underneath flatbed trucks or crushed if a flatbed truck rolls over. If your accident was caused by any of the above, you can take legal action against the driver or trucking company and pursue financial compensation.
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Truck drivers, trucking carriers, third-party maintenance companies, and other entities involved in the trucking supply chain must obey state and federal safety regulations to protect the driver and others on the road at all times. Unfortunately, proper safety protocols are often missed or ignored, and severe or fatal accidents can happen.
If your or someone you know has been injured or killed in a collision with a flatbed truck, you need top-notch representation from a law firm with the right resources to handle your case. There is a reason why so many people have turned to Hammack Law Firm to represent them, so find out why by calling (864) 326-3333(864) 326-3333 to schedule your free consultation with one of our Greenville flatbed truck accident attorneys today.
Ask a Question, Describe Your Situation,
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Contact Us Today For a Free Case Consultation
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We respect your privacy. The information you provide will be used to answer your question or to schedule an appointment if requested.
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