Tow Truck

South Carolina Tow Truck Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a tow truck accident in South Carolina, an attorney from our firm may be able to get you compensation from the liable party or parties. These collisions cause devastating damages – you could use this compensation to pay your medical bills, supplement your lost income, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be challenging, especially after a devastating accident. With a South Carolina truck accident lawyer from our firm on your side, you can stay home and focus on recuperating while we deal with the law and the insurance company. Our firm believes that holding negligent truck drivers and other parties accountable for the accidents they cause can help us make South Carolina roads safer. We are ready to help you and our community today; your initial consultation is free.

Getting Help After a South Carolina Tow Truck Accident

As one positive Google review put it, at Hammack Law Firm, we “go over and beyond to look out for” our clients. This means taking full responsibility for your case by performing the following services:

  • Providing compassionate advice: We will stand by your side from beginning to end. Clients are encouraged to call whenever they need answers or reassurance.
  • Investigating the accident: Our investigation could include speaking with witnesses, visiting the accident scene, and requesting essential documents, such as police reports.
  • Calculating damages: We can help you figure out how much your case is worth and stop the insurance company from lowballing you.
  • Communicating with other parties: The insurance company is looking for any opportunity to use your words against you. You do not have to give them that chance: we can speak and meet with them on your behalf.
  • Negotiating with the insurance company: Armed with evidence and the knowledge of your case’s true worth, we can fight aggressively to ensure the insurance company offers a fair settlement.
  • Going to trial: We prepare every case as if we were taking it to trial. If the offered settlement is inadequate and you want to keep fighting, we are more than willing to represent you in the courtroom.

Reasons to Begin Your Case Against a Truck Driver or Other Party Right Away

It is best to seek legal assistance as soon as possible after an accident. This way, you can:

  • Meet legal deadlines: You have three years to file a lawsuit against the party or parties who caused your accident. This timeline is the statute of limitations in South Carolina as defined in S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530.
  • Ensure legal evidence is preserved: Important evidence like surveillance footage or eyewitness testimony may not last forever.
  • Get your compensation sooner: The sooner we can start your case, the sooner you and your family can heal and we can start building your case.

Our team at Hammack Law Firm is available to take calls day and night. We want to ensure that clients get the help they need – including a free case review – whenever they need it. We never charge attorney’s fees unless and until we win money for our clients.

Navigating South Carolina Tow Truck Accident Claims

If you have ever had your car break down, you know how beneficial it is to be able to call a tow truck company for help. Tow truck drivers operate in all of our cities, from Greenville, where our office is located, to Spartanburg, Anderson, and other communities we serve.

While tow trucks generally help drivers whose cars need to be taken to the mechanic, their bulk and the cargo they tow can cause serious damage in a collision. These accidents often cause more harm to occupants of smaller vehicles than tow operators. For example, WYFF News 4 reported in November 2020 that a driver died after her vehicle rear-ended the wrecker in front of her on Highway 25.

When accidents involving wreckers happen, several parties could be liable, such as:

  • The tow truck driver for operating the vehicle negligently
  • The company employing the driver, either vicariously or due to poor operational policies or hiring practices
  • The owner of the tow truck for failing to keep the truck well-maintained
  • A mechanic for failing to perform proper repairs or maintenance on the truck

When our team investigates your case, we will look for evidence that points to the liable party or parties so that we can build a compelling claim or lawsuit against all who are responsible.

Recovering Damages After a Tow Truck Accident in South Carolina

“Damages” and “compensation” are different terms for the same thing: money awarded to accident victims to reimburse them for their injuries, cover living expenses, and so on.

For example, non-economic damages serve as compensation for the fact that you were injured and all of the inconvenience and pain these injuries caused. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • Scarring: Were your injuries so severe that they left behind permanent marks? Are those marks impossible to hide and/or physically painful?
  • Disability: Did your injuries result in a temporary disability, or will you never regain the full range of physical or intellectual abilities you had before?
  • Pain and suffering: Were your injuries physically painful? Have your injuries or memories of the accident caused emotional distress or even a mental illness?
  • Lost quality of life: Do you have to cut back on working hours permanently? Do you have to accept a lower-paying job because of your injuries?

Meanwhile, economic damages can cover the costs associated with the accident and make up for whatever money you lost due to your injuries. Examples include:

  • Medical expenses: Did you go to the emergency room after the accident? Will your injuries require additional treatments in the future?
  • Accident-related bills: Did you require assistance from a landscaper, a dog walker, or any other service you do not normally use?
  • Loss of income: Did you miss work because of the accident? Were you forced to take on lower-paying light duties while your injuries healed?
  • Loss of earning capacity: Do you have to permanently cut back on working hours? Do you have to accept a lower-paying job because of your injuries?

These are just a few examples of the damages you may be entitled to after a tow truck accident in South Carolina. A lawyer from Hammack Law Firm would be happy to help you construct a complete list of your injuries and even calculate the exact amount of money you may qualify to collect.

When a Tow Truck Collision Leads to Wrongful Death

If your spouse or parent was killed in a tow truck accident, you may qualify for wrongful death damages, per S.C. Ann. § 15-51-20. If the deceased had neither spouse nor children, their parents or other heirs could be eligible.

The Hammack Law Firm team may be able to help with your wrongful death case, pursuing all of the damages you qualify for, such as:

  • The damages already described: If your loved one never received compensation for their injury, you may be able to collect whatever they would have been eligible for, including medical expenses or disability.
  • Funeral expenses: Respecting an individual’s last wishes can be expensive. You can seek compensation for your loved one’s funeral, burial, and so on.
  • Loss of financial support: You and your loved one’s other dependents relied on their income to make ends meet. The sudden loss of that income has caused undue hardship.
  • Loss of society and companionship: Your loved one’s presence and affection made your life better and easier. Learning to live without it is a terrible challenge.

After wrongful death occurs, you can consult with a team member at Hammack Law Firm to protect your rights. We want to provide you and your family with professional yet compassionate advice that can make this difficult time a little easier.

Call Us for a Free Tow Truck Accident Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one was involved in a South Carolina tow truck accident, our legal team at Hammack Law Firm wants to help. We outline our commitment to you and everyone we represent in our Client’s Bill of Rights. When an accident lawyer from our team signs on to your case, they will invest the time necessary to build a solid, compelling case to take to trial.

Whether we negotiate a settlement or go to trial, our team does not shy away from a fight. We take road safety in our communities seriously. Call us at (864) 766-7108 and find out – at no charge or obligation – what a lawyer from our office can do to protect your rights.

Common Causes of Tow Truck Accidents in South Carolina

Tow truck accidents can happen for various reasons, many of which involve negligence on the part of the tow truck operator or company:

Driver Error and Negligence

  • Distracted driving while operating heavy machinery
  • Fatigued driving due to long shifts and emergency calls
  • Speeding to respond to emergency calls
  • Improper lane changes without adequate clearance
  • Following too closely to other vehicles
  • Failure to yield right-of-way to other traffic

Equipment and Maintenance Issues

  • Defective towing equipment leading to vehicle separation
  • Improper loading causing load shifts and instability
  • Mechanical failures due to inadequate maintenance
  • Brake failures from overloaded vehicles
  • Lighting failures reducing visibility of the tow truck

Roadside Safety Violations

  • Inadequate warning signals when stopped on roadways
  • Improper positioning blocking traffic lanes unnecessarily
  • Insufficient safety equipment like reflective triangles or flares
  • Violation of Move Over laws when other emergency vehicles are present

Company Negligence

  • Inadequate driver training on safety protocols
  • Poor hiring practices not screening for driving records
  • Pressure to rush leading to unsafe practices
  • Failure to maintain vehicles according to safety standards

Types of Tow Truck Accidents We Handle

Collision Accidents

  • Rear-end collisions when tow trucks fail to stop safely
  • Side-impact crashes during lane changes or turns
  • Head-on collisions from wrong-way driving or loss of control
  • Multi-vehicle accidents involving tow trucks and multiple cars

Roadside Accidents

  • Struck by tow truck while broken down on roadside
  • Loading/unloading accidents injuring bystanders
  • Equipment malfunction causing injury during towing operations
  • Pedestrian accidents around tow truck work zones

Secondary Accidents

  • Chain reaction crashes caused by improperly positioned tow trucks
  • Accidents from debris dropped by tow trucks
  • Visibility-related crashes from inadequate warning systems

Serious Injuries from Tow Truck Accidents

Due to their size and weight, tow truck accidents often result in severe injuries:

Catastrophic Injuries

  • Traumatic brain injuries requiring long-term care
  • Spinal cord injuries potentially causing paralysis
  • Multiple fractures and orthopedic trauma
  • Internal organ damage from blunt force impact
  • Severe burns from vehicle fires or chemical spills

Common Injuries

  • Whiplash and neck injuries
  • Back and shoulder injuries
  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Lacerations and soft tissue damage
  • Concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries

Long-term Consequences

Many tow truck accident victims face permanent disabilities, ongoing medical treatment, and inability to return to work. Our team understands the full scope of damages and fights for maximum compensation to cover current and future needs.

South Carolina Locations We Serve

Hammack Law Firm represents tow truck accident victims throughout South Carolina. No matter where your accident occurred, our experienced legal team is ready to help.

Greenville County

  • Greenville – Our headquarters location
  • Greer
  • Mauldin
  • Simpsonville
  • Travelers Rest

Greenville sees significant tow truck activity due to I-85 corridor traffic and the busy downtown area. Common accident locations include I-85, I-385, and major surface streets like Woodruff Road and Wade Hampton Boulevard.

Charleston Area

  • Charleston
  • Mount Pleasant
  • North Charleston
  • Summerville
  • Goose Creek

The Charleston metropolitan area’s port activity and tourism create heavy tow truck usage. Accidents frequently occur on I-26, I-526, and Highway 17, as well as in historic downtown Charleston where narrow streets create visibility challenges.

Columbia Area

  • Columbia
  • Irmo
  • Lexington
  • West Columbia
  • Forest Acres

As South Carolina’s capital, Columbia has extensive commercial vehicle traffic. Common tow truck accident locations include I-20, I-26, I-77 intersection areas, and busy commercial districts along Two Notch Road and Forest Drive.

Florence County

  • Florence
  • Darlington
  • Hartsville
  • Lake City

Florence serves as a major trucking hub due to its location at the I-95 and I-20 interchange. This creates significant tow truck activity, especially along the I-95 corridor and around the Florence Regional Airport area.

Myrtle Beach Area

  • Myrtle Beach
  • Conway
  • Surfside Beach
  • Garden City
  • Pawleys Island

Tourist traffic creates unique challenges in the Myrtle Beach area, with seasonal spikes in tow truck activity. Ocean Boulevard, Highway 17, and I-73 are common locations for accidents involving both tourists and commercial traffic.

Additional Service Areas

We also serve clients in Anderson, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, Aiken, Orangeburg, and throughout South Carolina. Our statewide presence ensures you receive experienced legal representation wherever your accident occurred.

South Carolina Laws Affecting Tow Truck Accidents

Move Over Law

South Carolina Code § 56-5-1538 requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching tow trucks with flashing lights. Violations of this law can contribute to accident liability.

Call or text (864) 766-7108 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

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