Orangeburg Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents are some of the deadliest crashes that occur on the roads in Orangeburg, SC. Accident victims suffer serious injuries, big hospital bills, property damage, and more in these collisions. In addition to navigating the devastating impact of a life-changing event, many victims soon find themselves involved in pursuing legal action to hold the party who caused their accident responsible for their actions.

For more than 20 years, accident victims have turned to Hammack Law Firm to secure compensation to put their lives back together. If you or a family member was hurt in a truck accident, an Orangeburg truck accident lawyer from our team will help you identify and pursue the at-fault party in your accident. We offer a free case review so you can determine what steps to take next.

Why Pursue Legal Action After a Truck Accident?

Thousands of motorists on South Carolina’s roads are at risk of having an accident at any time, and the data shows how real the risk is. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) reported the following state traffic collision statistics in the 2018 South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book:

• 84 truck tractors were involved in fatal collisions
• 94 were involved in serious injury collisions
• 25 other types of trucks were involved in fatal collisions
• 270 pickup trucks were also involved in fatal collisions

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has also reported data that in 2018, more than 4,500 fatal crashes involved a large truck or bus on roadways throughout the country. Truck accident victims have a lot to lose when they suffer severe injuries, property damage, and other damages after getting into an accident with a truck. Some people, unfortunately, succumb to their injuries.

We Can Help You File a Wrongful Death Action in Orangeburg

If you have lost a loved one to a truck accident in Orangeburg, please accept our condolences. We are sincerely sorry for your loss. We want to help you pursue a wrongful death action against the liable party. If you recover awards, you can pay for your loved one’s final funeral and burial expenses, final medical bills, and other damages your family is eligible for under state law.

Why Trucking Accidents Happen

Collisions involving trucks happen for many reasons, and most of them are preventable. According to the FMCSA, the following factors cause some driver-related truck accidents:

• Failed brakes
• Traffic flow problems (e.g., congested roadways)
• Substance use, including prescription and over-the-counter medication
• Speeding (driving above the posted speed limit)
• Driving too fast for present conditions
• Tiredness (which can lead to poor decision-making while driving and falling asleep behind the wheel)
• Not knowing the route that they were traveling

Truck accidents can also happen when truckers lose control of the vehicle due to a medical event or from poor judgment. They can also have an accident if they are following another vehicle too closely or driving carelessly in general.

Passengers in Smaller Cars at Greater Risk of Injury

It’s almost guaranteed that motorists in passenger cars and smaller vehicles will suffer greater injuries than the person driving the truck, no matter if it’s a delivery truck, dump truck, garbage truck, or tractor-trailer. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the majority of deaths in truck crashes happen among riders in passenger vehicles. This is because trucks weigh far more than smaller cars, as much as 20 to 30 times as much as passenger cars.

Truck accident victims can suffer:

• Head and neck injuries
• Internal bleeding, internal organ damage
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Soft tissue injuries (bruises, sprains, swelling)

Injuries Come with a High Price

Injuries from these accidents often cost victims expensive medical treatments and extended recovery time that could also hurt their income because they can’t return to work. Medical bills and everyday household expenses can pile up and fall behind. The damage or destruction of your vehicle means it will have to be repaired or replaced, which will also have a financial impact.

You may also have short- or long-term mental and physical pain that requires therapy and counseling after a traumatic accident. You may find you cannot do the things you once did without outside help or without feeling pain. Someone should pay for these damages, and it should not be you if someone else caused your collision. Suing the liable parties in your accident could lead to awards that can help you pay for the things mentioned above.

Recoverable Damages We Will Help You Pursue After a Truck Collision

Our team advocates for injured clients. We will fight hard for the financial compensation you need due to negligence. Per S.C. Ann § 15-32-210, the economic and non-economic damages you could recover include:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Property damage
• Physical disability
• Pain and suffering
• Mental trauma
• Emotional distress

You can also seek compensation for the loss of a family member. These losses may include their funeral and burial expenses and your loss of their companionship, guidance, and emotional and financial support. Our case assessment team makes sure these expenses are included where applicable.

We Will Prove the Value of Your Injuries and Related Expenses

When we request compensation on your behalf, the at-fault party will want proof of the value of your lawsuit. We look to provide proof in the form of:

• Your medical records and bills that prove costs to date
• Written prognosis to prove the costs of anticipated care
• Employment and salary records that prove income loss
• Vehicle repair estimates and current vehicle value

Many of these records also help us prove the value of your physical and emotional pain and suffering. We compile them into your file and use them to drive settlement negotiations.

We will leave no stone unturned when investigating your truck accident. We will also review:

• Photos of your injuries and/or the accident scene
• The official police report
• Witness accounts
• Expert witness accounts (such as those from a medical
• expert or an accident reconstructionist)
• Video surveillance that may have recorded your accident

Additional Evidence from the Trucking Company

We will also file a spoliation letter to preserve evidence that’s in possession of the trucking company that could help us prove your case. Examples of this evidence include:

• The maintenance records of the truck involved in the accident
• Onboard computer data from the truck
• Dashcam video footage
• The truck driver’s employment history

Exploring Your Options for Financial Compensation

On your own, it can be challenging to understand all the options you have for financial recovery. With guidance and direction from our personal injury team, we can help you accurately calculate your recoverable damages. We will:

• Define the compensation you are due
• Compile the evidence of your lawsuit’s value
• Prove the at-fault party’s negligence

If there were passengers or your own minor children in your car at the time of the accident, you could each have a different set of recoverable damages. Our team will help you determine the financial value of each injured party’s case and fight for a favorable settlement for each of you.

How Hammack Law Firm Will Help You

Our truck accident lawyers serving clients in Orangeburg will manage your entire case from beginning to end. From the time we take you on as a client, you become family, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help you.

You Have the Burden of Proving Who Caused Your Accident

After our legal team helps you accurately assign negligence and financial liability, we help you calculate the value of your case and guide you through the settlement negotiation process. We will prove the at-fault driver’s negligence or the negligence of their employer or the truck’s manufacturer.

This is no small matter, and it is critical to your case. Truck accidents are complex for various reasons, including that they often involve more than one liable party. While the truck’s driver may be the one who hit you, they may not be the only party that shares liability for the accident. Others we may be able to name in your legal action are:

• The truck driver’s employer
• The company that loaded cargo onto the truck
• The company that repairs and maintains the truck
• The company that manufactured the truck
• The company that manufactured truck parts that failed
• The municipality responsible for the upkeep of the road where the crash occurred

Identifying the At-Fault Party in an Orangeburg Truck Accident

Determining who is at fault for the collision is something we will help you with. We will:

• Fully review and collect all evidence we need to prove the case
• Investigate why and how the truck crash occurred
• Identify all liable parties
• Negotiate with insurance companies for the compensation appropriate in the case
• File a civil lawsuit with South Carolina’s statute of limitations
• Take the case to court, if necessary

We are ready to go up against trucking companies’ lawyers and insurers to fight for your recovery at trial. We prepare every case as if it were going to go to trial because we believe you can never be too prepared.

Our Legal Services Go Above and Beyond

Our team brings familiarity with state and local laws to your case. We also bring the power of connection by bringing kind, responsive team members to work on your potential lawsuit. We will:

• Handle all case-related communications on your behalf
• Represent you in all legal proceedings
• Obtain and submit insurance forms
• Read and review supporting evidence

Our small-firm feel and big-firm experience mean you and your case are our priority. When our team represents you, we charge no upfront fees, and you incur no out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, if you do not win the case, we will not charge you any fees. That means you do not have to wait to start building the case for compensation, and your fight for financial recovery can start right away.

We Support Your Recovery in More Ways Than One

The recovery process after a collision with a truck involves physical and financial recovery. Because a collision with a large truck can be traumatic, it can also involve emotional recovery. Our team helps you assess the value of all three types of recovery. We also help ensure your case receives scrutiny and an accurate value. To promote whole-client healing, we will:

• Treat each client like our own friend or family member
• Humanize your journey through the legal system
• Give you and your case focused attention

Our firm is committed to building personal relationships with you and with every client we serve. We want to make South Carolina safe for its citizens by holding negligent parties financially accountable and by fighting for the best possible outcome for our injured clients.

We Will Meet South Carolina’s Filing Deadline in Your Case

When you seek financial recovery from the at-fault party, you must meet certain guidelines and follow a specific timeline. In Orangeburg, the statute of limitations is found in S.C. Ann § 15-3-530. Generally speaking, it entitles you to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit within three years.

The circumstances of your accident may alter the timeline. Our Hammack Law Firm truck accident lawyers serving Orangeburg will help you identify the relevant statute of limitations. We will also help you investigate any factors that may extend the filing deadline in your favor.

We Are on Your Side, and Our Clients Agree

When we say we treat you like we treat our own friends and family, we mean it. While you focus on restoring your health, we handle the legal aspects of your case. Clients we represent say:

• “Attorney Hammack and his team of professionals are absolutely wonderful. They were informative every step of the way by explaining the personal injury process. They are a great law firm that I will recommend to anyone looking to be treated with dignity and respect.” – LaConda Moore
• “They were super nice and knew how to help me and were really friendly and helped my family when we needed it.” – Brittany Higgins
• “We highly recommend this law [firm]! They are friendly and have worked very hard to get what we needed from the insurance company from the accident we were in!” – Sherrie Clark

Our goal is to keep creating satisfied clients. We help build your evidence file and use it to fight for a fair monetary recovery you need.

Get Responsive Legal Support Today

At Hammack Law Firm, our truck accident lawyers represent victims in Orangeburg. If you are ready to review your legal options with us, consider reaching out for a free case review and consultation.

We will listen to the details of your accident and build a solid case for your financial recovery. Call one of our team members today at (864) 326-3333(864) 326-3333 to get started.