Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in North Charleston

Experienced Semi-Truck Accident Representation in North Charleston

If you’ve been injured in a commercial truck accident—or lost a loved one—you may be entitled to significant compensation. But these cases are rarely straightforward. Truck accident claims often involve multiple parties, complex regulations, and insurance companies that act quickly to limit what they pay.

Having the right attorney on your side early on can make a meaningful difference in how your case unfolds.

An experienced truck accident lawyer will do more than handle paperwork, they will:

• Protect you from aggressive insurance tactics
• Build a strong case backed by evidence
• Navigate both South Carolina law and federal trucking regulations with confidence

Personal injury attorney Frank Hartman has the knowledge and experience you need for a commercial truck accident case–and he’s committed to achieving the best possible outcome for people who have been injured in and around the Charleston area.

Why an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Makes a Difference

Commercial Trucks are Riskier on the Road

Commercial truck drivers require special licensing for a reason. Operating a semi-truck or a tanker isn’t just like driving a scaled-up version of your car. Large commercial vehicles are harder to turn, are at greater risk of tipping or sliding out of control when forced to make abrupt adjustments, and take longer to slow down and stop than smaller vehicles. So, it’s harder for them to avoid collisions and they often have greater momentum when they do crash. That means more serious injuries and a greater risk of death.

Truck Accident Cases are More Complicated

At first glance, it might seem that a commercial truck accident case would be just like any other car accident case. So, you might not understand the importance of working with an experienced North Charleston truck wreck lawyer, rather than any local car accident attorney. But, commercial trucking cases are different for several reasons, and you want to work with an attorney who has in-depth knowledge of these issues:

• The driver may or may not be the negligent/responsible party in a commercial trucking case–an employer, vehicle owner, company that loaded the truck, company responsible for vehicle maintenance, or vehicle part manufacturer may be wholly or partly responsible.
• Issues that aren’t often involved in motor vehicle accident cases may be in play, such as negligent hiring, negligent training or supervision, pressure from the company to operate unsafely, and the company’s history of road safety or maintenance issues.
• Many commercial truck drivers travel all over the country, meaning that the driver may live and be based in a different state, and the driver’s employer may, as well. This may require special processes for serving process on responsible parties and obtaining evidence.
• Commercial truck drivers are subject not only to state traffic laws, but also to a wide range of federal safety regulations–these regulations may play an important role in the case, but not all car accident lawyers are familiar with them.
• Modern commercial vehicles have equipment that may offer valuable evidence in a truck accident case, including digital hours-in-service records and in-cab cameras.
• You may need an expert witness, such as an accident reconstructionist or an expert in the effects of toxic chemicals a vehicle was carrying, to help establish your claim.

North Charleston truck wreck lawyer Frank Hartman has the knowledge and experience you need to navigate a commercial truck accident case, and the resources to identify and hire the experts you need to establish your claim and prove your damages.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Trucking accidents typically fall into two main categories: driver error and vehicle maintenance failure. In a three-year analysis conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 87% of crashes were determined to be attributable to the driver. The FMCSA concluded that the three most common “critical events” leading to a large truck crash were:

• Running out of the travel lane (32%)
• Vehicle loss of control due to traveling too fast for conditions, cargo shift, vehicle systems failure, poor road conditions, or other reasons (29 percent)
• Colliding with the rear end of another vehicle in the truck’s travel lane (22 percent)

Of course, these events have a variety of possible causes, including:

• Brake problems
• Traffic flow interruption (congestion, previous crash)
• Prescription drug use
• Traveling too fast for conditions
• Unfamiliarity with roadway
• Roadway problems
• Required to stop before crash (traffic control device, crosswalk)
• Over-the-counter drug use
• Inadequate surveillance
• Fatigue

Other common causes of and contributing factors to tractor-trailer accidents include:

• Overloaded trucks
• Oversized trucks
• Driving in conditions of poor visibility due to fog, snow, rain, or smoke
• Driving at high speeds beyond the road and weather conditions
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Aggressive driving behavior (speeding, tailgating, inappropriate lane changes, etc.)
• Lack of experience and/or inadequate training
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Survivors of collisions with commercial trucks often require long-term care. They may suffer severe injuries that include:

• Fractures and broken bones
• Soft tissue injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Lacerations and contusions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries