Rock Hill Truck Accident Lawyer

We Help Clients Pick Up the Pieces After Disastrous Commercial Truck Accidents

Our Rock Hill truck accident lawyers advocate on behalf of our clients and our communities. Truck accidents create severe injuries and more significant damages than other types of collisions, making it especially crucial to prevent them when possible. Hammack Law Firm supports local leaders taking steps to minimize these incidents while holding negligent truckers and other liable parties responsible when they do occur.

After a serious truck accident, the road to recovery can feel long and uncertain. You may be dealing with painful injuries, overwhelming medical expenses, and stress about how to support your family or return to work. It’s a lot to carry on your own, and you shouldn’t have to. That’s why having an advocate who truly understands what you’re going through can make all the difference.

Hammack Law Firm approaches every truck accident case with both determination and compassion, working to ease your burden while pursuing the accountability and compensation you deserve.

Our legal team has recovered millions of dollars in damages from settlements and judgments, and we are ready to help you right now.

You can learn more about truck accident claims and how personal injury attorneys can help you seek compensation below. If you have immediate questions or you feel like you are running out of time to file a claim, call 864-766-7108 to schedule a free initial consultation with our truck accident lawyers.

What Do Past Hammack Law Firm Clients Have to Say About Us?

You might think that getting money for your medical bills and other accident expenses is as easy as filing an insurance claim. As someone who has worked in the insurance industry, our firm’s founder, Attorney Paul Hammack, knows that getting monetary damages for your injuries is not simple, and insurance companies don’t make things easy.

That is why many people trust Hammack and the rest of our team to help them when they suffered injuries because of a truck driver’s negligence. Here are a few comments from our past clients’ Google reviews:

• “Excellent legal service. Got me a very fair settlement from a vehicle accident, kept me fully informed during the process.” John Davis, 5 Stars
• “Definitely one of the best accident attorneys around…previous insurance company litigation makes Mr. Hammack a very well-informed litigator when going against the insurance companies trying to minimize their loss.” Maio Russell, 5 Stars

We are not afraid to take on the insurance company to get you compensation for a truck accident that was not your fault. We have the unique experience of working on both sides of the table when it comes to dealing with insurance companies. Our team takes the time to prepare each client’s case thoroughly, knowing that it might be necessary to take it to trial.

What Can Our Lawyers Do for You After Your Rock Hill Truck Accident?

When you have an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer truck collide with a 4,000-pound passenger car at highway speeds, there will most likely be injuries and fatalities are possible. Someone needs to pay for the medical care, lost pay, and other expenses from a truck accident, and it should not be you, as the victim or surviving family member.

Hammack Law Firm has the resources to investigate the cause of the accident and prove your right to financial recovery. First, we gather evidence of liability or wrongdoing. Then, our team can:

• Identify all liable parties
• Determine a value for your losses
• File a detailed claim
• Take on correspondence with the insurance companies and trucking companies
• Negotiate for maximum compensation
• Take your case to trial if negotiations fail

Trucking companies and their insurers will also send investigators to the accident scene. They know those kinds of accidents usually mean significant injuries and large medical bills. Therefore, it is their goal to build your case strong enough to go to trial. When we take your case, we fight to protect your rights, make sure you understand your options and stand with you every step of the way.

What Happens if We Can’t Reach a Suitable Settlement?

Defendants in a truck accident usually like to settle their case privately. They know that a public trial means attention to their business practices or previous crashes. They want to put this behind them quickly and cheaply. It is not uncommon for the insurance company or trucking company to offer an insultingly low settlement. Our team knows what these companies want to avoid, and we will use that to our advantage.

Still, if the other party does not negotiate in good faith, we will take your case to court. Under S.C. Ann § 15-3-530, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within three years from the date you were injured. While there are some exceptions to this law, such as in the case of minors or incapacitated people, missing the deadline can mean forfeiting the right to file a claim.

We Make Legal Representation Affordable to All

Our attorneys work to recover damages from truck accidents on a contingency basis. This practice means that our fees are contingent upon getting you money for your medical bills and other expenses. No recovery, no fee; it is as simple as that. We believe injury victims need excellent legal advocacy without hefty upfront fees or retainers.

That means that from the moment of your free consultation to getting a fair settlement, you won’t have to worry about your ability to pay for quality legal services.

What Factors Can Reduce Your Compensation?

There are a few things that can result in you receiving a reduced settlement. Some of these things may be outside of your control, while others are directly affected by your actions.

Modified Comparative Negligence

Even if you are partially responsible for your accident, you may still be able to seek financial compensation. South Carolina law follows something called “modified comparative negligence.” This law establishes that as long as your contribution to the cause of the accident is less than 51%, you can still claim compensation.

One caveat is that you will receive less compensation depending on how liable you are for the accident. If you were speeding at the time of the accident, the judge may determine that you are 10% liable for the accident and should receive 10% less on your settlement.

This is why it is important to never claim liability for the accident at any point, even if you think you are partially liable. Never agree to give your insurance company or the trucking company’s insurance company a recorded statement without first speaking to your truck accident lawyer.

Delayed Medical Treatment

You should seek medical attention immediately after your serious truck accident, not only for your health but also for your claim. Many serious injuries, like soft tissue injuries or traumatic brain injuries, won’t immediately show symptoms.

Seeking medical attention also starts your medical records paper trail, proving you believed you were injured and your injuries were a result of your truck accident. Gaps in medical treatment or not following your doctor’s treatment plan can also be damaging to your case.

Lack of Evidence

Truck accident claims hinge on solid evidence to prove your narrative and show the truck driver was liable for your truck accident and your injuries.

An experienced truck accident lawyer will be able to help you investigate your semi truck accident, your damages, and the strength of your evidence to find a suitable compensation amount. Accidents involving large trucks are particularly devastating, and your claim should reflect the amount of serious injuries you will have to deal with in the future. Never accept a settlement offer from the trucking company or their insurance company without speaking to an experienced team of truck accident lawyers.

What Damages Are Typically Recovered in a Truck Accident Case?

There are generally two types of damages recovered from a truck accident: special and general. They are also known as economic and non-economic damages. In rare instances, there are also punitive damages that the court can assess.

Economic Damages

These are specific, tangible costs associated with your accident. Economic damages are typically verified through documentation like medical bills, repair estimates, and pay stubs. They may include the following:

• Medical care and treatment
• Lost pay
• Diminished earning ability
• Disability
• Car repairs
• Rental car
• Prescription medicine
• Follow-up care, rehabilitation, and treatment

Non-Economic Damages

These are physical and emotional losses associated with your accident. These damages are often called “intangible losses” and are harder to prove without insight from expert witnesses and medical professionals. They may include:

• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of consortium or companionship

If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, please accept our condolences. We know this is a time of hardship and grief, and our lawyers will do all we can to recover compensation and justice for your loved one’s wrongful death. Wrongful death claims are usually filed by the accident victim’s personal representative (executor or estate administrator) on behalf of the surviving family members.

If you are managing the estate of someone who was killed in a commercial truck accident and you need help filing a wrongful death claim, please call our law office to learn about your options at 864-766-7108.

What Leads to Potentially Fatal Truck Accidents?

Rock Hill sees more than its share of truck collisions, regularly putting residents at risk of serious harm. Some of York County’s most dangerous roads run through this city, including Highway 5. Locals have even dubbed this road “Bloody Five” because of the many fatal accidents that occur there. The section of Interstate 77 that runs through this area is another spot that the state has targeted for improvements due to the frequency of accidents.

While part of the dangers on these roads may be due to maintenance needs, driver errors are often cited as the main reasons truck accidents occur on highways and other roads. For example, some causes of these collisions include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Reckless driving
• Driver fatigue

We explore one of the most common of these below.

Fatigued Drivers Cause a Significant Portion of Truck Accidents

Drowsy truck drivers are a danger to themselves and others. A truck driver does not have to fall asleep at the wheel to cause an accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sleepy drivers lack the necessary reflexes and abilities as well-rested drivers. They may even begin losing consciousness without even knowing. When you are exhausted and drive, you have reduced ability to:

• Stay alert and attentive
• React quickly
• Make safe decisions

Unfortunately, these drivers often push themselves or receive instruction from their employers to exceed the legal guidelines for time spent behind the wheel. These hours of service are in place for a reason, and they recently underwent updates to further ensure that drivers do not perform long shifts without enough rest.

When you hire us, our team will get to the bottom of why your or your loved one’s truck collision happened. Whether it involved intoxication, hours of service violations, or another cause, we will identify who to hold responsible and help you seek damages from them.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Rock Hill

For more than 20 years, Hammack Law Firm has accepted many types of truck accident cases. This list includes but is not limited to:

• 18-wheeler (tractor-trailer) trucks
• Large trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Delivery vans
• Utility trucks
• Dump trucks
• Tow trucks

Whether you are injured as a motorist, pedestrian, cyclist, or truck driver, our lawyers are here to help you seek and receive compensation for your injuries.

How Can You Schedule a Free Consultation?

When you are in need of compassionate legal support after a truck accident, call Hammack Law Firm for a free consultation. Our team strives to humanize the experience of seeking damages, as our clients’ safety and financial recovery are our biggest concerns. Our lawyer serving Rock Hill can hold the liable parties accountable and fight for compensation and justice on your behalf.

To learn more about the types of compensation you could receive for your truck accident, get in touch with our team now. We take calls from prospective clients 24/7 at 864-766-7108.

We put the personal back in “personal injury.”