People often underestimate how devastating truck accidents can be. The vast majority of people that come out unharmed from truck accidents are the truck drivers themselves. If you got hurt in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you aren’t alone. The Thumbs Up Guys can help.
The damages that can come from even a minor truck accident can be staggering. Don’t pay for any of those out of your own pocket. Instead, enlist the help of experienced truck accident lawyers in Knightsville. With a free consultation, we will help you get started on recovering financial compensation.
We Can Help You Get Compensated for Your Damages
Commercial trucks and tractor-trailers can cause significant damage to a passenger vehicle in a collision. Aside from vehicle repairs, you can factor various damages into your truck accident settlement.
Lost Wages
Truck accidents often cause catastrophic injuries. According to Title 42 of the U.S. Code, catastrophic injuries are injuries that permanently prevent you from doing any gainful work. Whether your injuries led to permanent disability or a long recovery period, you can recuperate any of your lost wages at the expense of the negligent truck driver’s insurance company.
Medical Expenses
Think about how large and heavy most trucks are. If one crashes into you, the chances of sustaining serious injuries are extremely high. You can get compensated for various medical expenses such as:
- Physical therapy and psychological services
- Surgeries
- Hospital and clinic visits
- Emergency room visits
- Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, canes, walkers, etc.
- Prescription medicines
- Assisted living services
Even simple medical procedures can cost thousands of dollars with or without health insurance. Don’t end up paying for the negligence of another driver. Instead of facing extensive financial hardship, get a settlement that covers your medical expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
In contrast to medical expenses or lost wages, non-economic damages don’t have any fixed monetary value. In other words, you will need a truck accident attorney to help calculate them based on a formula and other surrounding factors pertinent to your truck accident. Non-economic damages typically include:
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability and disfigurement
Money can’t replace the life of a loved one or critical bodily function, but it can help you move forward in the healing process. Our goal in calculating your non-economic damages is to get justice on your behalf and ensure that the negligent truck driver responsible for your accident is held accountable.
Why Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Attempting to file a claim to battle the trucker driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturers alone isn’t advisable. Leave the fight to a legal . There are many obvious benefits to hiring a truck accident lawyer in Knightsville, such as:
- Assistance in gathering evidence for your truck accident claim
- Handling of all the paperwork and communications for your truck accident claim
- Getting in touch with s to provide supporting testimony
- Fighting on your behalf during negotiations or in court at trial
However, one of the biggest reasons you should hire a truck accident lawyer is to even the odds against trucking companies and insurance companies. One of the most common mistakes truck accident victims make is placing faith in these companies to do the right thing.
After an accident, don’t expect trucking companies to keep critical information from the truck’s event data recorder safe. On the other hand, you also shouldn’t expect insurance companies to process your claim quickly. They’ll often try to hinder your ability to gather evidence and pressure you into settling for way less than what your settlement is truly worth.
Liability and Comparative Negligence in South Carolina
Before proceeding with attempting to recover compensation after a truck accident, liability must first be established. There are several parties that could hold a level of liability in a truck accident. South Carolina is a fault-based state and uses a comparative negligence system when applying liability in an accident.
Comparative negligence means that multiple parties could share in the responsibility for an accident. If it is determined that you hold a level of liability, your potential compensation will be affected accordingly.
That means that if you are assigned 10% of the fault for the accident, the most you will be able to recover is 90% of the full value of your claim. If you are over 50% responsible for the accident, you will no longer be eligible to recover compensation from another party. Instead, it is likely that others will attempt to recover compensation from you and your insurance.
Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents
Truck accidents have a three-year statute of limitations under South Carolina Code of Laws § 15-3-530. Even though three years seems like a lot of time, you shouldn’t get comfortable. The more you let time pass, the harder it is to gather essential evidence and information surrounding your truck accident.
In addition, waiting too long will make it easier for the insurance companies to challenge your claim.
Hiring an Attorney Early Is Essential
One of the best things you can do for your case is to hire a Knightsville truck accident attorney soon after your crash. Hiring an attorney early has myriad benefits. In addition to ensuring that you meet all deadlines and putting your lawyer in the best position to build a strong case, you will be helping yourself avoid any costly mistakes.
Insurance companies will typically act quickly after a collision to do everything they can to avoid a large payout. They know that this is the time when accident victims are most vulnerable and have a bag of tricks they will use to attempt to deny or devalue a claim. By hiring an attorney, you can force the insurance company to deal directly with them.
Your attorney will serve as a firewall, blocking any potential threats from the insurance company. An experienced truck accident attorney is the best possible protection against unfair insurance practices.
We Charge No Upfront Fees
Our Knightsville truck accident attorneys charge nothing upfront. Instead, we work on a contingency basis. This means that you owe us nothing for our services unless we win a settlement for you. In addition, you can receive a case review for free to learn more about what we can do for you.
Schedule an Appointment With Our Knightsville Truck Accident Lawyers Today
Our truck accident lawyers in Knightsville have years of experience helping people like you get financial compensation from insurance companies. If you need help with your claim, please reach out to Miller, Dawson, Sigal, & Ward over the phone or by contacting us online today. There is no risk or obligation when you set up an appointment with us.