Getting hurt in a truck accident in Chesterfield can be a devastating experience, both financially and emotionally. If someone else caused the truck collision that harmed you, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and related losses.
You don’t have to pursue a claim for compensation on your own. An experienced Chesterfield truck accident attorney from Jebaily Law Firm can handle the legal process for you from start to finish.
Call us today or contact us online for a free case review to learn how we can help.
Why Truck Accidents Are More Complex Than Car Accidents
Truck accidents are generally more legally complex than regular car accidents for several reasons. A fully loaded semi-truck weighs significantly more than a passenger vehicle. A truck’s great weight adds more force to the collision, making injuries more severe.
Additionally, trucking companies and their drivers are subject to strict federal and state regulations, including:
- Eligibility – Besides holding a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL), truck drivers must pass medical examinations and background checks.
- Vehicle inspections – Commercial vehicles are required to undergo routine safety inspections, including specific guidelines for their tires, brakes, and other equipment
- Driving time limits – Under Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, truckers cannot drive more than 11 hours after 10 off-duty hours. They must take a 30-minute break after eight driving hours.
- Driver logs – Truck drivers must use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track their hours and capture data about the vehicle’s movement, engine, and miles driven.
At Jebaily Law Firm, our Chesterfield truck accident lawyers know the complications of handling complicated truck accident lawsuits. We have served the community in Eastern South Carolina for more than 50 years, going back to when Ronald Jebaily founded the firm in 1969. To date, we have helped our clients recover millions of dollars in a wide array of personal injury cases.
With more than 100 combined years of legal experience, the team at Jebaily Law Firm has the experience and resources to pursue the compensation you deserve after a truck wreck in Chesterfield, South Carolina.
Causes and Types of Truck Wrecks in Chesterfield, SC
Truck accidents are a tragically common and often deadly occurrence in South Carolina. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 137 trucks were involved in fatal accidents in the state in one recent year, leading to 144 total fatalities. Many more truck accidents resulted in injuries, many of them severe.
Truck accidents in South Carolina are caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Driver fatigue – According to the FMCSA, driver fatigue is a significant cause of trucking accidents. Drowsiness can result from a truck driver having inadequate sleep or working extended hours beyond what hours of service (HOS) regulations allow.
- Mechanical failure – Truck accidents are often caused by mechanical failures, including faulty brakes, tire blowouts, inoperable lights, and worn-out parts,
- Improper maintenance – FMCSA has strict regulations requiring all trucking companies to regularly inspect and perform maintenance on all vehicles.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – The FMCSA has regulations for commercial truck drivers about driving under the influence. It is illegal for a commercial trucker to have a BAC greater than 0.04 percent.
- Unsecured loads – Cargo securement regulations are in place to make sure any load of commercial cargo is properly balanced and secured to prevent it from falling off the truck or causing an accident due to shifting.
- Speeding – Driving above the speed limit is one of the most common causes of truck accidents nationally and in South Carolina.
- Distracted driving – Truck drivers can be distracted by devices such as phones and GPS systems. When a trucker takes their hands, eyes, or focus off the task of driving, even for a second, serious crashes can result.
Common Types of Serious Injuries from Truck Accidents
Due to the significant forces involved in a collision with a large commercial truck, the risk of serious injury in an accident is high. Examples of catastrophic injuries from truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones
- Joint damage
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Facial and dental fractures
- Amputation
- Back and neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Whiplash
- Burns
Determining Liability for a Truck Crash in Chesterfield, SC
Determining liability for a truck accident can be more complicated than it seems at first. In addition to the truck driver, other parties can be held responsible. Potentially liable parties could include the trucking company, the truck’s manufacturer, maintenance providers, and cargo loaders, for example.
Our attorneys can conduct a thorough investigation into the mechanism of the accident to determine the identity of all potentially liable parties and sources of insurance coverage. It is possible that more than one party contributed to the accident, and you could file a claim against all who were at fault.
Potential Compensation in a Chesterfield Truck Accident Claim
If you got hurt in a truck accident someone else caused, you may be entitled to compensation for a wide variety of losses, including:
- Medical bills, both present and future
- Lost wages, present and future
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
How Our Law Firm Helps People Hurt in Chesterfield Truck Accidents
When you hire Jebaily Law Firm, we will take care of your personal injury claim, so all you have to do is focus on healing. We’ll investigate the truck crash to determine who caused it. We’ll file claims with the at-fault party’s insurance company to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. We’ll gather evidence to support your claim, including medical records, black box data from the truck, the driver’s ELD information, the trucker’s cell phone records, and witness statements, for example.
We’ll build a compelling case to prove that you deserve the compensation we’ll claim on your behalf. We’ll negotiate for the settlement you deserve, and if the insurer won’t settle, we’ll take your case to court.
If you have been in a trucking accident in Chesterfield, South Carolina, don’t hesitate to take action. Contact a Jebaily Law Firm truck accident lawyer in Chesterfield County today for a free consultation about your legal rights.
