Truck Accidents

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We have been helping people just like you for over 95 years, and we will be here to help you and guide you. – Attorney Catie Meehan

Truck Accidents

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We have been helping people just like you for over 95 years, and we will be here to help you and guide you. – Attorney Catie Meehan

Getting Results
$3.85 Million
Truck Accident Case

South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyers

Accidents involving commercial trucks are legally complex, and trucking and insurance companies will try to take advantage of that to deny you compensation. We won’t let them.

For a free case review, call us at 843-720-2800.

Representing Injured People Since 1927

Truck Accident Lawyers in South Carolina

After a truck accident, you must take time to focus on recovery for yourself and your family.

Being involved in any type of automobile accident can be a horrible experience for all involved. But a crash caused by an 80,000-pound semi-truck is horrific and leads to serious damages and injury. The usual causes of accidents involving 18-wheelers or semi-trucks vary, but often they involve the truck driver being negligent or reckless.

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Words simply cannot convey how impressed I’ve been with Steinberg Law Firm from day one. I politely fired my first attorney for lack of integrity but once I got the ball rolling with SLF, it's been smooth sailing ever since. This firm never missed a beat! - Shana

Answering Your Questions

Assessing liability for a truck accident is not always as simple as it may seem for an accident victim.

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Who may be liable in a semi-truck accident?

A variety of people and entities may be liable for truck accident injuries. In addition to the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, and those in charge of truck maintenance may also bear responsibility. Additionally, if poor or dangerous road conditions contributed to an accident, you may be able to sue some government departments.

Our Truck Accident Practice Areas

Click on any topic below to learn more about how we can assist you.

Crashes involving trucks are often more complicated than a crash between two cars. Because these cases are more complicated and complex, it is imperative that if you are involved in one of these types of crashes, you hire an experienced South Carolina tractor-trailer accident lawyer to help you and to get you the compensation you need.

Types of Truck Accidents

Truck Driver Error
Drunk Driving Accidents
No-Zone Accidents
Hours of Service Violations
Trucking Company Negligence and Load Issues
Truck Malfunctions / Defects

Accidents caused by any of the above can have devastating effects on unsuspecting and innocent motorists, and we believe that truck accident victims should not have to bear the financial responsibility for an accident they did nothing to cause.

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Our Truck Accident Practice Areas

Click on any topic below to learn more about how we can assist you.

Crashes involving trucks are often more complicated than a crash between two cars. Because these cases are more complicated and complex, it is imperative that if you are involved in one of these types of crashes, you hire an experienced South Carolina tractor-trailer accident lawyer to help you and to get you the compensation you need.

Types of Truck Accidents

Truck Driver Error
Drunk Driving Accidents
No-Zone Accidents
Hours of Service Violations
Trucking Company Negligence and Load Issues
Truck Malfunctions / Defects

Accidents caused by any of the above can have devastating effects on unsuspecting and innocent motorists, and we believe that truck accident victims should not have to bear the financial responsibility for an accident they did nothing to cause.

We Are Always Here for Clients

How a Truck Injury Law Firm Can Help You

The truck crash lawyers at the Steinberg Law Firm have handled many complicated cases.

We will start protecting your rights and start working on the case immediately. Large trucking companies and insurance companies have armies of lawyers on their side; you should have an experienced team working for your benefit so that you can receive the fair compensation you deserve.

After a crash with a semi-truck, there are many things that have to be done as quickly as possible to preserve evidence so that the cause of the crash can be recreated. With a serious big rig crash where one or more people have been seriously injured or killed, the trucking company will immediately send a team of investigators to the crash site in order to either gather evidence that will hurt you or even attempt to destroy or conceal evidence. Therefore, it is important that your team is on your side as quickly as possible.

South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyers Serving Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville and all of South Carolina

Charleston Truck Accidents

As a port city, Charleston sees a high volume of truck traffic. The Port of Charleston is the fourth largest port on the east coast, growing at approximately eight percent per year. What’s more, South Carolina Ports Authority is making the Port of Charleston deeper, from 45 to 52 feet, to accommodate “mega container ships.” Of course, once a ship unloads the cargo, workers load the cargo onto semi-trucks that deliver the cargo across the east coast. While semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles are crucial to the state’s economy, they also pose significant risks to others on the road.

Charleston routinely sees the highest number of fatal and non-fatal traffic accidents in the state. According to the most recent data, there were 72 fatal traffic accidents and nearly 4,500 injury crashes in Charleston County. About 25 percent of these accidents involved trucks. Hundreds of motorists are injured or killed in Charleston truck accidents each year. However, box trucks, moving trucks, and pickup trucks are responsible for the substantial number of Charleston truck accidents. In 2019, there were about four times as many accidents involving pickup trucks as there were semi-truck accidents.

Common causes of Charleston truck accidents include:

  • Drowsy driving;
  • Speeding;
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; and
  • Distracted driving.

After a truck accident, it does not matter which type of truck caused the collision. At the Steinberg Law Firm, we represent clients injured or killed in all types of Charleston truck accidents. Our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys understands the challenges you and your family are going through and works diligently to secure the compensation you need and deserve after an accident.

Goose Creek Truck Accidents

With nearly 42,000 residents, Goose Creek is one of the larger Charleston suburbs. While Goose Creek does not have any major highways traveling through the city, that does not mean that residents do not need to worry about truck traffic. This is because US-52, which bisects Goose Creek, serves as a route for trucks to reach parts of central South Carolina that are not accessible by taking larger nearby highways such as I-95 and I-26. Additionally, truck drivers in Goose Creek regularly drive on the city’s surface streets while dropping off cargo to local businesses. This can present unique risks to Goose Creek motorists.

Semi-trucks are designed to operate on large, straight roads. These trucks are large, extending up to 80 feet, and heavy, weighing up to 80,000 pounds. They have a much larger turning radius than cars and enormous blind spots preventing them from seeing cars and pedestrians in their immediate vicinity. Thus, semi-truck drivers must maintain constant vigilance to ensure they do not place other pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

Unfortunately, Goose Creek truck accidents are common and often lead to severe injuries, including:

While Goose Creek trucking accidents focus on large commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers and semi-trucks, most truck accidents involve pickup trucks. Pickup trucks are especially common in Goose Creek. Pickup trucks also pose risks to motorists, including:

If you have been injured in a Goose Creek truck accident, the Steinberg Law Firm is here to help. We have decades of experience holding negligent motorists accountable for the injuries they have caused to our clients.

Summerville Truck Accidents

Summerville is located just off Interstate 26, meaning semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles frequently pass through the city. Like many Charleston suburbs, Summerville has experienced tremendous population growth in recent years. In fact, between 2016 and 2019, the population of Summerville increased by 15 percent. This has led to an increase in the number of vehicles on the road.

Given the high volume of traffic during the day, most truckers plan their route to arrive in Charleston in the evening. However, this too presents serious risks. Truck drivers arriving in the Charleston area late at night will have often spent a full day on the road. They may be drowsy, increasing the chances of a Summerville truck accident. Of course, distracted driving is not the only risk facing Summerville motorist, other causes of Summerville truck accidents include:

  • Drunk driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Speeding
  • Aggressive driving
  • Vehicle defects

While many Summerville truck accidents involve large commercial trucks, most of these accidents are caused by pickup truck drivers.

Pickup trucks are often overlooked in terms of the dangers they pose. However, about 20 percent of all fatal and non-fatal accidents involve pickup trucks, whereas just five percent involve semi-trucks.

While pickup trucks are not as large as semi-trucks, they are also dangerous to other vehicles on the road. Pickup truck drivers do not need to have their vehicles inspected as often as semi-truck drivers and do not need to obtain a commercial driver’s license. Common causes of Summerville pickup truck accidents include:

In many ways, an accident with a pickup truck can be just as serious as a Summerville semi-truck accident. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a Summerville truck accident, reach out to the dedicated personal injury lawyers at the Steinberg Law Firm today. We offer free consultations to Summerville residents and can help you determine how to pursue compensation for your injuries.

These are only some of things the lawyers and staff will accomplish when you hire the Steinberg Law Firm:

To Help Fight and Win Your Case We Will

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    Examine the crash scene

    Take detailed photographs and measurements at the scene of the crash, noting the lengths of any skid marks and locations of the vehicles.

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    Collect evidence

    Collect and maintain any evidence at the scene of the accident and ensure the “chain of custody” so that it can be used in court without claims of evidence tampering.

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    Obtain trucking company records

    Obtain records from the trucking company about the driver of the semi including their driving log notes which are required to be kept by Federal law.

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    Hire experts

    If necessary, hire our own crash reconstruction expert to look at all the evidence and give an expert opinion on what caused the collision and how the crash occurred.

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    Obtain police records

    Acquire the police accident investigation report and any documentation, photos or measurements taken by the police while investigating the crash.

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    Collect witness statements

    Find all witnesses and get recorded statements as soon as possible so that the information provided is the most accurate and no one forgets important facts.

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    Get the black box

    Obtain the truck’s “black box” and preserve the data. Like airplanes, 18-wheelers have a black box that records all data about the truck in real time, including speed, direction and breaking action.

We Handle the Details

To Help Fight and Win Your Case We Will

  • circle-one
    Examine the crash scene

    Take detailed photographs and measurements at the scene of the crash, noting the lengths of any skid marks and locations of the vehicles.

  • circle-two
    Collect evidence

    Collect and maintain any evidence at the scene of the accident and ensure the “chain of custody” so that it can be used in court without claims of evidence tampering.

  • circle-three
    Obtain trucking company records

    Obtain records from the trucking company about the driver of the semi including their driving log notes which are required to be kept by Federal law.

  • circle-four
    Hire experts

    If necessary, hire our own crash reconstruction expert to look at all the evidence and give an expert opinion on what caused the collision and how the crash occurred.

  • circle-five
    Obtain police records

    Acquire the police accident investigation report and any documentation, photos or measurements taken by the police while investigating the crash.

  • circle-six
    Collect witness statements

    Find all witnesses and get recorded statements as soon as possible so that the information provided is the most accurate and no one forgets important facts.

  • circle-seven
    Get the black box

    Obtain the truck’s “black box” and preserve the data. Like airplanes, 18-wheelers have a black box that records all data about the truck in real time, including speed, direction and breaking action.

We Handle the Details

Common Semi-Truck Accident Injuries

Due to the size of these trucks, the injuries that are caused by a truck crash can be, on average, much more severe than in car accidents. Moreover, semi-truck accidents cause multi-vehicle collisions, affecting more people than just a car fender bender. Here are some of the common semi-truck crash injuries:

  • Brain injuries: Brain injuries are common in crashes. Although newer vehicles are equipped with more and better airbags, there is still a chance of brain injury in a truck crash.
  • Back injuries: Injuries to the spine and back are common in many types of accidents with all types and sizes of vehicles. However, due to the size of tractor-trailers, accidents involving 18-wheelers are more violent, causing more spinal cord injuries.
  • Loss of limbs (amputations): When a smaller vehicle is struck by a speeding semi-truck often the smaller vehicle flips in the air. When this happens, the driver and passengers in the smaller vehicle are thrown out of the car, and in the process have arms and legs severed.
  • Burns and death by fire: In most crashes, cars do not catch on fire. But due to the impact of a crash caused by an 18-wheeler, this can ignite the gas tank or fuel lines, causing vehicles to catch fire.
  • Fatal truck crashes: Again, due to the size of these machines and the speed at which they travel down the highway, there is a higher percentage of fatalities when semi-trucks are involved.

In recent years, truck crashes accounted for 67 of the 1,030 vehicles involved in fatal South Carolina auto crashes, accounting for 6.5 percent of fatal accidents in the state. These semi-truck crashes took the lives of 49 occupants of other vehicles, 10 truckers, and 6 pedestrians.

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Results

WE HAVE RECOVERED OVER $800 MILLION FOR CLIENTS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, INCLUDING:

$3.15 Million

Truck Accident

$1.5 Million

Truck Accident

$1.0 Million

Pedestrian Hit by Semi-truck
Steinberg Law Firm's Legacy
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What Should You Do at The Scene of a Semi-Truck Crash

There are many things that people at the scene of a semi-truck crash can do that will help their case or the cases of friends and family that were also in the vehicle.

Get to safety

The first thing is to make sure you are not putting yourself further into harm’s way — for example, if your vehicle is on fire then get out of it immediately.

Call 911

Next, assuming you are able, call 911 as soon as possible so that help can arrive for anyone that is injured, including yourself. The quicker an ambulance arrives the better chances the injured will have to survive. Also, the quicker police arrive the better they can direct traffic to help prevent subsequent accidents. The other reason that you want the police there is to be able to investigate the crash by interviewing witnesses and taking pictures. Once an accident report is generated, that document can be used later by the attorneys to determine who was at fault if a lawsuit is necessary.

Note the truck driver's behavior

Note if the truck driver is acting intoxicated. Check for the following: slurred speech and stumbling/falling over. Note if the truck driver is attempting to destroy evidence of being intoxicated by throwing away bottles or cans of alcohol from the truck cab.

Truck Accident Scene
Document the scene

Attempt to get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of everyone involved including anyone who could potentially be a witness.

If you have a smartphone take pictures so that you can record what the scene of the crash was like right after the crash. Take photos of the entire area so that, if necessary, your future personal injury lawyer will be able to get a good sense of the roadway and how the crash happened. We can not emphasize how important these photos will be going forward.

Cooperate

Be cooperative and honest with the investigating police officer when they ask you to provide a statement of what happened. Do not exaggerate anything but also do not leave any facts out, even if you think they might not matter.

Free Truck Accident Injury Consultations

In the aftermath of an injury-causing 18-wheeler accident, there are numerous damages for which you may seek compensation.

We understand injuries can prevent you from supporting yourself and your family, and we have the legal knowledge and skill to help you pursue financial compensation from the person responsible for your unnecessary pain and suffering. If you have been the victim of such an accident in South Carolina, our attorneys are ready to help you understand the scope of your legal options.

Potential Causes of Tractor Trailer Accidents

Every motor vehicle crash usually has one or more causes. The most likely cause of motor vehicle crashes is driver negligence, and truck accidents are no different. Negligence includes actions like distracted driving or driving too closely behind another vehicle and not being able to stop in time, or reckless driving such as sudden lane changes. However, due to the specific nature of tractor-trailers, their size, and the regulations that control drivers’ actions, the causes of truck crashes can be many. Here are some of the main causes of semi-truck crashes:

Speeding & DUI

Speeding

A truck driver traveling at a high rate of speed will be unable to stop the truck in time. Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and are difficult to stop. If the truck driver is faced with a sudden emergency and cannot stop in time due to speeding, then the driver would be negligent.

Driving Under the Influence

A surprising number of truck accidents are caused by drivers being intoxicated by alcohol or being under the influence of other drugs.

Falsified Log Books

Falsified Log Books

Federal law requires semi-truck drivers to only drive a certain number of hours in a 24 hour period. Once they hit that maximum amount of hours, they have to pull over and rest for at least 10 hours.

This law is in place to protect the truck driver as well as other vehicles on the roads and highways of America.

Often, however, a semi-truck driver falsifies the log book that keeps track of the hours, thus creating a dangerous situation and violating the law.

Poor Training

Poor Training

Every state has requirements for people to get their specialized license to driver trucks. Frequently, the trucking companies themselves hire and train drivers. Sometimes, corners are cut in the training and there are ill trained drivers on the road who cannot handle the big rigs properly.

While this may get drivers on the road more quickly, it also produces potentially dangerous situations for drivers and everyone else sharing the roads with them.

Mechanical Failures

Mechanical Failures

Truck parts can fail during use for several reasons. Due to wear and tear on the big rigs, there are bound to be mechanical failures such as break failures or tire blowouts. However, trucks are supposed to be inspected on a regular basis, and sometimes these inspections fail to catch problems.

Mechanical failures can also spring from poorly manufactured parts that should not have made it into the truck in the first place. When manufacturers and inspectors are negligent, all motorists are put at risk.

Improper Loading

Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Trailers

Sometimes semi-truck crashes are caused not by the negligence of the driver but by the negligence of the people loading it.

If too much weight is loaded onto the semi, this could be dangerous and cause a crash. Also, if the cargo is loaded into the rig in an unsafe manner without properly being strapped down, the cargo could shift during transit, causing the vehicle to become unstable.

If you are seriously injured due to the negligence of a semi-truck or pickup truck driver, then you have the right to be compensated for your injuries. These types of crashes can cause devastating injuries that can rip a family apart. You should contact an attorney that has experience handling large truck accident cases so that, if necessary, a civil lawsuit can be filed against the driver and the trucking company.

Charleston, South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyers

Recovering Compensation After a Truck Accident

The economic damages that can be recovered may include the following:
  • Property damage to your car and any items you may have had in the vehicle
  • Unpaid medical bills and expenses related to your treatment and recovery
  • Lost wages due to an inability to work while healing from your injuries
  • Future lost wages due to a long term disability affecting your future earning capacity
Non-economic damages that you would be able to recover are more difficult to discern because your lawyer is not just adding up numbers. Non-economic damages include the following:
  • Pain and suffering from your injuries
  • Emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mental suffering
  • Humiliation and damage to your reputation
  • Loss of enjoyment of life and relationships

Get the Compensation You Deserve

Recovering Compensation After a Truck Accident

The economic damages that can be recovered may include the following:
  • Property damage to your car and any items you may have had in the vehicle
  • Unpaid medical bills and expenses related to your treatment and recovery
  • Lost wages due to an inability to work while healing from your injuries
  • Future lost wages due to a long term disability affecting your future earning capacity
Non-economic damages that you would be able to recover are more difficult to discern because your lawyer is not just adding up numbers. Non-economic damages include the following:
  • Pain and suffering from your injuries
  • Emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mental suffering
  • Humiliation and damage to your reputation
  • Loss of enjoyment of life and relationships

Get the Compensation You Deserve

Punitive Damages

Unlike semi-truck crashes that involve driver negligence, if the driver was intoxicated, you may be able to seek punitive damages from the drunk truck driver and the trucking company. Punitive damages can be awarded to the injured plaintiff not to compensate the plaintiff for any injuries, but to punish the drunk driver and the trucking company for their outrageous and reckless behavior.

This is why contacting an experienced semi-truck crash lawyer is very important in order to protect your rights. If you have been injured by a collision with a large truck, please do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at Steinberg Law firm at (843) 720-2800. We can answer your questions and help you recover the damages to compensate you for your injuries. The initial consultation is free.

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Contact a South Carolina Truck Accident Attorney

Talk to a Truck Accident Attorney in South Carolina at The Steinberg Law Firm

For a free review of your case, call us at 843-720-2800.

If you have been injured or otherwise harmed in a truck accident, we can help. Contact the truck accident attorneys at the Steinberg Law Firm today by calling us at 843-720-2800 to learn more about how we can put our extensive experience fighting for truck accident victims to work for you.

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