Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys In Columbia
Sharing the road with tractor-trailers, commercial vehicles, and semi trucks creates an immediate imbalance for cars and smaller vehicles like motorcycles. The disparity in size can result in catastrophic accident injuries. If you have been injured in an accident with a semi or an 18-wheeler in Columbia, our truck accident attorneys can help. Koon Cook & Walters, was founded in 1974. With decades of experience, our personal injury attorneys have proven time and again that they can successfully negotiate settlements that are in the best interests of accident victims and also can fight passionately on their behalf if the case goes to trial.
Why Semi-Truck Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents
Semi-truck accidents can differ from car accidents in terms of their severity. That’s because semi trucks are larger, heavier, and have a different stopping distance than your standard sedan or SUV. These factors can all increase the risk of sustaining a serious injury from a truck accident. And, unlike car crashes, where you are typically only dealing with the insurance companies, truck accidents can involve dealing with trucking companies, auto part manufacturers, the insurance companies and the truck drivers themselves.
When you are dealing with severe injuries and multiple parties with varying interests and aggressive legal teams defending their every action, you want to work with semi-truck accident lawyers who have the right experience in handling these matters. Learn more about how we can help you navigate your truck accident case by reaching out today.
Common Types Of Truck Accident Injuries
Depending on the severity of the accident, the injuries people can sustain in a truck accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries: These can range from mild, like a concussion, to severe, like a diffuse axonal injury.
- Spinal cord injuries: Some truck accidents can lead to partial or complete paralysis.
- Neck injuries: These can include whiplash, cervical fractures and facet joint injuries.
- Burn injuries: People can develop these injuries in a truck crash if there is an oil tanker or other truck that carries hazardous chemicals.
- Crush injuries: If people get their limbs crushed in a truck crash, it could result in potential amputation if the damage is severe enough.
- Broken bones: These can be some of the most common injuries in truck crashes. They can often require extensive medical treatment and physical therapy.
Any of these injuries, whether they are short-term or long-term, can have significant implications for your future, your finances and your family. Get in touch with us today by calling 803-991-0685 so we can help you pursue compensation.
Common Causes Of Semi-Truck Accidents
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the trucking industry across the nation. It conducted a study that revealed several factors that can contribute to or cause 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer and semi-truck crashes, including:
- Poor truck driver decision-making: Truck drivers can make mistakes like misjudging the speed and distance of surrounding vehicles or driving too fast.
- Distracted driving: This can involve truck drivers using their phone while driving, staring too long at billboards, eating, drinking, or doing anything else that involves taking their eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel.
- Driver impairment: Truck drivers can cause accidents when they don’t receive the proper training.
- Driver fatigue: Similar to impairment, truck drivers who drive exhausted can make similar mistakes to those who are distracted or under the influence.
- Truck maintenance or vehicle issues: Inspections and semi-truck maintenance are required by law for commercial vehicles and cargo trucks; dangerous conditions can result if these requirements are not followed.
- Substance use by the driver
- Overloaded Cargo
These types of causes can lead to head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, rollover accidents and sideswipes. No matter how you get hurt in a semi truck or tractor-trailer accident, we are here to aggressively pursue the compensation you need to afford your recovery. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Who Can Be Held Liable In A Semi-Truck Accident?
South Carolina’s accident laws state that whoever is at fault in a motor vehicle accident or crash can be held liable and responsible for any damages that the accident caused. Contributory negligence allows for multiple parties to be responsible for an accident. In a truck accident, multiple parties could be liable. These parties can include:
- The trucking company: They may be liable for failing to properly maintain their commercial fleet.
- A parts manufacturer: They could be held liable for supplying trucking companies and drivers with parts that break easily or do not work properly.
- The truck drivers themselves: They can be held responsible for things like improperly loading their trailer, distracted driving, impaired driving and fatigued driving.
Finding an experienced truck accident law firm with the knowledge, experience and resources needed to get to the bottom of what happened to cause an accident is critical.
Roads And Highways That Are Notorious For Truck Accidents
Some of the biggest hotbeds for truck accidents in the Columbia metro include:
- Interstate 26
- Interstate 20
- Interstate 77
- Interstate 126
- Carolina Crossroads Project
- U.S. Highway 17
- Interstate 95
The Carolina Crossroads Project, in particular, has been known for hazardous conditions resulting from road widening and ramp changes. And while not directly in Columbia, the I-26 and Aviation Avenue intersection in Charleston has a reputation for having a high number of truck-related crashes. Working with injury lawyers who have a strong understanding of these state and interstate roadways is essential, as it helps identify dangerous areas. What can lead to accidents there can be crucial for building a compelling case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents
A truck accident can lead to serious injuries and losses. To learn more about how you may have a successful truck accident claim on your hands, it can help to reach out to an attorney. You can find answers to your questions, including the following:
What types of compensation can I seek after a truck accident in South Carolina?
You may be able to recover compensation for several financial losses after a South Carolina truck accident. Damages may be awarded for a successful truck accident case for the following:
- Medical expenses: Hospital stay, surgery, medicine, medical equipment or therapy costs
- Wage loss: Loss of income as a result of injuries or vehicle damages
- Funeral costs: Expenses for the cremation or burial of a loved one
- Vehicle damage: Repair costs or rental costs for a car
- Emotional turmoil: Pain and suffering, depression or loss of enjoyment from life
A lawyer can help you explore your legal options so that you can recover maximum compensation.
How do federal regulations impact truck accident cases?
Federal regulations enforce certain restrictions and standards that trucking companies must meet. If trucking companies neglect to follow rules and regulations, they may be liable for trucking accidents. Victims of trucking accidents may seek compensation from trucking companies for practices that fall below the standard safety regulations.
What evidence is important in building a truck accident case?
A strong truck accident case is built on strong evidence. Here are a few examples of what good evidence can look like and how you can use it in your truck accident case:
- Police reports: These reports can provide an official, unbiased record of the crash. These reports can offer information like information about the drivers, details about vehicle damage and an assessment of contributing factors to the accident.
- Photos of the accident scene: Photos can provide you with a physical representation of the scene where the accident took place. Photos can also help visually demonstrate the severity of the situation.
- Witness statements: Witness statements can serve as valuable evidence in truck accident cases because, much like a police report, they can provide you with a clear and objective account of events from someone who was not directly involved in them.
- Medical records: Medical records can be particularly important evidence if you suffered a serious injury as a result of the crash. Medical records can help you prove the existence and severity of a serious injury so that courts and juries can see a timeline of your health before the accident and how you have since suffered harm as a result of the accident.
We are here to help you collect and organize crucial evidence. We can help you gather what’s necessary based on the circumstances of your situation.
Why Choose Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys?
Seeking compensation after a truck accident can be more complicated than you’d think. Not only do you have to deal with the insurance companies, but you may also have to deal with trucking companies, parts makers or the drivers themselves. When you have to confront multiple of these parties, you want a legal team that can push back against companies, insurers, drivers and their high-powered lawyers. We have been handling these types of cases since we began our practice in 1974 and have used our decades of experience to build a strong track record as South Carolina injury advocates. A few of the things that make us stand out include our:
- Strong knowledge of the local court system.
- Understanding of the most common areas where truck accidents occur in and around Columbia.
- Long history of serving our community.
- Over 30 years of experience in handling South Carolina trucking accident cases.
- Willingness to take on the insurance companies, trucking companies, and the truck drivers themselves.
- Ability to take on trucking and insurance companies, big and small — we won’t let them off the hook if they unfairly deny your claim.
- Ability to jump into and navigate the trial quickly and efficiently.
- Proven track record for helping our clients aggressively pursue the damages they deserve.
Learn more about our experience, knowledge and commitment to helping you seek compensation. You can do so by calling us at 803-991-0685. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Get A Free Case Assessment From Our Columbia Truck Accident Attorney
At Koon Cook & Walters, we offer free, no-obligation initial consultations and case assessments. By understanding the specific circumstances of your truck accident, we can better evaluate your chance of recovering financial compensation for your accident injuries. Call us today at 803-991-0685 or reach out through our online form to schedule yours today.