Crashes involving heavy trucks produce some of the most tragic outcomes seen on South Carolina’s highways.
Dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident is often much more difficult than a crash that involved only passenger vehicles.
With so much on the line, it is critical that truck accident victims have an experienced and qualified personal injury attorney to stand up for their rights.
Some of the key differences between truck and car accident cases in South Carolina include:
- Truck accidents often cause more serious injuries. Trucks can inflict worse damage than cars because they weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, while passenger vehicles usually weigh just 2,000 to 4,000 pounds. Truck accidents are more likely to lead to death, paralysis, brain injuries and other permanent impairments. The greater injuries sustained in a truck accident often means more is at stake when it comes to compensation for accident victims.
- Multiple defendants may be responsible for a truck accident. In a car accident, victims usually pursue a claim against only the driver who caused the crash. In a truck accident claim, the driver may not be the only or the best defendant. You may be able to also take action against the trucking company, the shipper, the owner of the cargo and other responsible parties. This means there may be more sources of insurance to cover your losses. It also means that truck accidents are usually more complex than cases that involve only cars.
- Special rules apply to truckers. Truck drivers not only have to comply with general traffic safety laws, but they are also subject to special state and federal regulations. For example, truckers are limited in the time they can drive by hours-of-service rules. Commercial drivers are considered too impaired to drive with a BAC of just 0.04 percent instead of the normal legal limit of 0.08 percent. Truckers are required to follow specific guidelines when it comes to training and maintaining and loading their trucks. These are just some of the special rules applicable to truckers. Violations of these and other rules and regulations may provide evidence that a driver or trucking company was negligent and liable for your injuries.
- Truck drivers and trucking companies may have more insurance coverage. Truck drivers and trucking companies usually have higher minimum insurance coverage requirements than drivers of passenger cars. This means there may be more money available to compensate you for serious truck accident injuries or for the wrongful death of a close relative. It also means that insurance companies have more to lose and may fight harder to avoid paying out the full value of a claim.
At Joye Law Firm, our truck accident lawyers are here to help those who have been hurt or who have lost loved ones in South Carolina truck accidents.
Call Joye Law Firm now or contact us online for a free case review.
