Top Eight Facts about Truck Accidents in South Carolina

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, you may have some questions about your or their claim.  Consider these ten facts about truck accidents in South Carolina as some base-level knowledge about truck accidents, their causes, and claims that take place afterward.

1. There Are a Few Common Ways Accidents Happen

Truck accidents are largely caused by a few different things.  Running out of the travel lane, either into another lane or off the road, loss of vehicle control due to traveling too fast for conditions, cargo shifting in the rear, vehicle systems failure, poor road conditions, and colliding with the rear end of another vehicle are some of the most common forms of accidents. 

2. There are a Variety of Damage Awards

After a truck accident, there are several different types of damages that may be awarded to you or for which you may be eligible.  These include compensation for medical bills and property damage, awards for pain and suffering or loss of consortium, lost wages, and other forms of repayment.  An experienced truck accident attorney can help you learn more.

3. Punitive Damages Are Possible

Punitive damages are damages issued in cases in which the person at fault was particularly wanton or willful.  Punitive damages are not typically available in cases because they are a form of punishment, not of compensation.  However, punitive damages are possible in truck accident cases.

4. There Is a Deadline for Claims

Many states have deadlines before which you must bring your claim or else your right to bring it will have expired.  These deadlines are called statutes of limitation.  In South Carolina, the statute of limitations is three years.  Thus you must bring your claim within three years in order for it to be viable.

5. Factors to Determine Your Settlement Can Be Complex

When it’s time to determine to what compensation you may be entitled, there are several different considerations at play.  First is the amount of compensation you deserve, but the quality of your life before the accident will be taken into account.  The defendant’s ability to pay can also play into the determination of your settlement.

6. You May Be Partially at Fault

In South Carolina, there is a system of fault-balancing called comparative negligence.  In comparative negligence, you will not recover all of your damages if you were partly at fault for the accident.  In fact, your award will be reduced by the amount of fault assigned to you.

7. There Are Special Laws That Apply to Trucks

Various laws determine how trucks can drive, when, and where.  Rules prohibit driving for extended periods of time, determine how much weight can be situated in the truck, and determine how the truck must be maintained in order for it to be safe.

8. You Need an Attorney

If you or someone you know has been in a truck accident, it is essential to secure experienced representation.  Contact a Columbia truck accident attorney at The Stanley Law Group.  Call 803-799-4700 and set up a consultation.

Resource:

fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/research-and-analysis/large-truck-crash-causation-study-analysis-brief

https://www.thestanleylawgroup.com/common-causes-of-truck-accidents/