Being so close to the Charlotte area, Fort Mill receives significant commercial truck traffic traveling along Interstate 77 and South Carolina Highway 160. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large trucks were involved in over 45,000 injury-related crashes and 4,800 fatal crashes in 2020 alone.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a large truck crash in the Fort Mill area, there’s a good chance your lives have been turned upside down in an instant. Unfortunately, it’s up to you to prove who was to blame for the accident and how they were at fault. We can help.
At Johannesmeyer & Sawyer, PLLC, we are a local personal injury law firm that handles these details for you. We will file your claim, deal with the insurance company, and ensure you get the compensation you need and deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Common Causes of South Carolina Truck Accidents
Our Fort Mill truck accident attorneys understand the complexities of investigating and pursuing 18-wheeler crashes and commercial vehicle collisions in York County. We have experience handling accidents of every type and know how to build a strong case for our clients. Some of the main factors we see in local truck crashes include:
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Drugged or drunk drivers
- Driver fatigue
- Missed or poor truck maintenance
- Lack of experience or poor driver training
- Missed or poor truck maintenance
- Unsecured or poorly loaded cargo
- Poor road conditions
- Defective or faulty equipment
Fault for Truck Accidents in Fort Mill, SC
Commercial truck accidents in Fort Mill are rarely true accidents. Instead, most of these crashes are due to negligence. When you’ve been seriously hurt through no fault of your own, you have the right to pursue a personal injury case against the responsible party. Truck accident cases can be complex, however, because several different parties could be held accountable.
Truck Drivers
Truck drivers are often the first parties to take the blame when there is a crash. Many truckers drive aggressively, distracted, drowsy, drugged, or too fast. If this negligent behavior causes a collision and you are hurt, these drivers should be held accountable.
Trucking Companies
Trucking companies frequently bear some legal responsibility for serious accidents. When they violate federal trucking laws by forcing drivers to work extended hours or hire untrained or unlicensed drivers, these companies need to be named in a claim when something goes wrong.
Cargo Loaders
Those massive trailers must be loaded and secured with precision so that the truck doesn’t become top-heavy or imbalanced. If not done properly and this leads to an accident, the cargo loader may need to answer for their carelessness.
Defective Parts Manufacturers
We’ve all seen parts and pieces of tractor-trailer tires littering the interstate. What if a tire defect caused a major blowout, which led to a jackknife or rollover accident? In this instance, a defective parts manufacturer could be held at least partially responsible for your damages.
Some other parties who might hold some or all of the blame for a Fort Mill trucking accident that caused injuries include maintenance technicians, truck owners, and government road authorities.
Damages You Can Claim in a South Carolina Truck Accident Case
Johannesmeyer & Sawyer, PLLC fights hard on behalf of clients to secure maximum financial recovery after a serious trucking accident. You have the right to pursue damages for a variety of losses and expenses, which can vary depending on the circumstances of the case. These damages might include:
- Property damage
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost income, including future lost earning potential
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Disfigurement and scarring
Some cases allow for exemplary damages, also known as punitive damages. These aren’t common and are limited by South Carolina statute. If a trucking accident took the life of a loved one, South Carolina law allows surviving family members to pursue compensation through a wrongful death case.
How Our Fort Mill Attorneys Pursue Compensation After a Truck Crash
Truck accident cases can be highly complex and contentious. From the moment a trucking company learns of a crash, they summon their own investigators to the scene to secure evidence that may point the finger at their business. Aggressive insurance company representatives might deny your claim or try to offer a quick settlement, which is far less than your case is worth.
When you partner with our firm, we begin working immediately on your behalf. We identify and gather evidence to support causation, fault, and damages. Evidence might include things like witness statements, accident scene surveys, trucker rest logs, dash cam video footage, the driver’s employment records, post-accident drug and alcohol testing, and more.
Our law firm will take over all communication with the insurance company. We will also ensure you get the immediate medical care you require. When the time is right, we will negotiate the full and fair settlement you deserve. If the responsible parties and their insurance company won’t offer a reasonable settlement, we are always willing to take your case to court to achieve the best possible result.
Contact an Experienced Fort Mill, SC Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in the Fort Mill, SC, area, we strongly recommend that you speak with a qualified attorney about your options and rights. Handling a claim like this on your own will never produce optimal results. We never charge a fee upfront for our services and only get paid if we win compensation on your behalf. Our number one goal is to help you get a favorable outcome and take the burden of managing a claim off your hands so you can focus on your recovery.
At Johannesmeyer & Sawyer, PLLC, we offer a free, no-risk consultation for truck accident victims and their loved ones. Call us today at (844) 843-1589 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. We have offices in Fort Mill, Baxter Village, Lake Wylie, and Rock Hill, and we handle cases in Nashville by appointment.
