Truck Accident Lawyers in Lexington, SC

Put 55+ Years of Combined Experienced on Your Side

At The Rick Hall Law Firm, LLC, our Lexington truck accident lawyers frequently handles tractor-trailer accidents, or truck accident cases. One of the most dangerous motor vehicle collisions you could be involved in is with a commercial motor vehicle.

Tractor-trailers are very large and the damage and resulting injuries from colliding with one of these vehicles can be very traumatic and could lead to death. When you have been injured by an 18-wheeler, a construction vehicle, or a commercial van, you need to understand the company's insurance carrier will do everything in its power to ensure the best outcome for their client - not you.

Oftentimes, people weaken their cases by speaking with the other party's attorney before acquiring legal representation of their own. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to seek the counsel of an experienced Lexington, South Carolina truck accident attorney.

Why Should I Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?

Victims of truck accidents in Lexington have the right to file their own claims, but working with an experienced Lexington truck accident lawyer can improve your chances for financial recovery and can alleviate some of the burden of filing a claim on your own. A truck accident attorney from our firm can help gather important documents, compile evidence, and ensure that important deadlines are met.

Speaking with business owners, doctor's offices, attorneys, and insurance company representatives can be overwhelming and intimidating. We speak to the necessary parties so you don't have to. If you were involved in a truck accident in South Carolina, reach out to The Rick Hall Law Firm, LLC.

We Are Committed To Truck Accident Clients

At Rick Hall Law Firm, LLC, in Lexington, our truck accident lawyers are experienced in helping our clients who have been injured in a collision with a commercial vehicle. We try to make sure we do everything we can to help you get the medical attention you need, so you can concentrate on your medical recovery, while we handle the legal matters.

Rick Hall has personally handled and litigated cases in South Carolina and Georgia, recovering millions of dollars for clients who have been injured in tractor-trailer collisions. Treating every client who comes through our doors like an individual is a huge part of our commitment to our clients.

We understand that no two people are the same, and we also understand no two cases which involve large commercial vehicles are the same either. This is the reason we carefully investigate every aspect of every personal injury case.

Contact us online or by phone at (803) 590-9900 for a free consultation. Our Lexington 18 wheeler accident lawyer are here 24/7. We are happy to answer your questions or concerns.

What's the Time Limit for Filing a Truck Accident Claim?

In South Carolina, victims of personal injuries have up to three years from the date of their accident to file a claim. If you are unable to file a claim during this time you may lose the opportunity to win compensation.

Common Types of Truck Accident Cases

Fatigued driving, drunk driving, distracted driving, and reckless driving can all contribute to truck accidents, but sometimes employers and cargo loaders can create dangers on the road, too. While truck accidents can be similar to passenger car accidents and include common cases like rear-end collisions and head-on collisions, there are also several common types that are unique to trailer-tractors and big rigs.

Common truck accidents we’ve seen as a law firm in operation since 1982 include:

• Jackknife accidents: Jackknifing refers to an accident that occurs in tractor-trailers when a truck and its trailer skid and cause the trailer to swing out and form a 90-degree angle so the vehicle looks like it’s folding in on itself. This accident often obstructs roads and can involve numerous other vehicles in the vicinity.
• Accidents from unsecured loads: When cargo loaders improperly load trucks, accidents can happen and put other drivers in harm’s way. Having an imbalanced load, for example, can cause a truck to tip over onto its side when making turns. Additionally, cargo that isn’t secured can fly off or fall of the truck and hit other vehicles or create a road hazard.
• Rollovers: Rollovers occur when drivers lose control of their trucks and the truck rolls onto its side or roof, pinning down the driver and any vehicles the truck has fallen on.
• Underride accidents: Known as one of the most dangerous kinds of truck accidents, underrides occur when cars driving behind trucks become lodged beneath the truck after a truck stops or slows suddenly. Underride guards exist to prevent passenger vehicles from sliding underneath and becoming lodged under trailers in collisions. The steel bars that hang from the rear of trailers have, time and time again, proven to not completely prevent underride.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in South Carolina

There are many things that could lead up to a serious truck accident. Below we go over the most common causes of truck accidents in South Carolina.

Common causes of truck accidents:

If you were injured in a truck accident, call The Rick Hall Law Firm, LLC at (803) 590-9900 for a free initial consultation. Our truck accident attorneys in Lexington are here for you.

Our Experience With Driver Fatigue

One of the leading causes of tractor-trailer crashes is driver fatigue or inattention due to such fatigue. We have handled a case where the driver was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and was taking prescription drugs. Our client suffered significant injuries and we believe the driver could have been under the influence of a drug called an amphetamine.

Laws that regulate the trucking industry called the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations prohibit the use of controlled substances such as amphetamines. We also handle accidents caused by other forms of negligence, including distracted driving, drunk driving, and more. Our Lexington, South Carolina truck accident lawyers are available to investigate your accident.

Truck Driver Fatigue and Federal Safety Regulations

The problem with driver fatigue is widespread in the trucking industry. It has led to other serious problems, including the need for truckers to self-medicate in order to stay awake and overuse of prescription drugs such as amphetamines.

These drugs, while ostensibly used to keep drivers awake, have numerous adverse side effects such as causing nervousness, restlessness, irritability, and agitation, leading drivers to lose control of these large and dangerous 18-wheel vehicles.

The use of controlled substances is generally banned by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Furthermore, the federal motor carrier safety regulations require mandatory drug testing on a random basis and post-accident drug testing if there is a serious collision causing property damage or personal injury.

The federal motor carrier safety regulations specifically require the following:

(a) As soon as practicable following an occurrence involving a commercial motor vehicle operating on a public road in commerce, each employer shall test for alcohol for each of its surviving drivers:

• (1) Who was performing safety-sensitive functions with respect to the vehicle, if the accident involved the loss of human life; or
• (2) Who receives a citation within 8 hours of the occurrence under State or local law for a moving traffic violation arising from the accident, if the accident involved:
  • (i) Bodily injury to any person who, as a result of the injury, immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the accident; or
  • (ii) One or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle to be transported away from the scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle.

(b) As soon as practicable following an occurrence involving a commercial motor vehicle operating on a public road in commerce, each employer shall test for controlled substances for each of its surviving drivers:

• (1) Who was performing safety-sensitive functions with respect to the vehicle, if the accident involved the loss of human life; or
• (2) Who receives a citation within thirty-two hours of the occurrence under State or local law for a moving traffic violation arising from the accident, if the accident involved:
  • (i) Bodily injury to any person who, as a result of the injury, immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the accident; or
  • (ii) One or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle to be transported away from the scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle.

Drivers are also required to undergo a DOT physical annually and to be certified to drive by a medical doctor who is registered with the DOT and qualified to conduct such examinations in order to certify a driver. However, the doctor who conducts these examinations is dependent on the applicant-driver to provide a truthful medical history.

In our practice, we have found instances where drivers have not been truthful in reporting their medical history or the drugs they are taking, and therefore have been improperly issued a medical certificate allowing them to operate an 18 wheel tractor-trailer.

How to Avoid Truck Accidents

As a motorist, there are some things you can do to lower your chances of getting into a truck accident in South Carolina.

Avoid serious truck collisions by:

• Being alert while driving around trucks
• Being patient when you are stuck in traffic near trucks
• Remembering that if you cannot see the driver, then they most likely cannot see you either
• Making sure that the truck driver can see you when you are changing lanes
• Maintain a safe distance from the truck to ensure that you have enough time and space to stop quickly if necessary

Preparing Every Case Like It’s Going to Trial

Our Lexington truck accident attorneys will work toward settling your case, but we prepare each case as though we plan to take it to trial. We work this way because we want to achieve the best outcome we can for every client, which often means seeking a remedy through the court. We are experienced litigators, and we aggressively argue every case with precision and with a dedicated strategy tailored to meet the individual needs of our clients.

Our lexington 18 wheeler accident lawyerare here to protect you by:

• Making sure we do our due diligence to acquire all of the evidence we need to support your claim
• Ensuring that your rights are protected throughout the legal process
• Submitting your claim and other documents to the court in a timely manner
• Enlisting the knowledge of expert witnesses when needed
• Working with physicians, legal nurse consultants, and other medical professionals
• Arguing to get you the settlement you deserve