Truck accidents happen every day in America, in major cities and in resort towns like Hilton Head, South Carolina. Where there are trucking accidents, there are personal injury lawyers ready to represent the interests of the injured from negligent operators and companies.
If you’ve been hurt in a trucking accident, our Hilton Head truck accident lawyers at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Lawyers want to help you pay for your bills, lost wages, and get additional compensation for your pain and suffering. Here’s how we can help you.
Who Do I Sue in a Truck Accident Claim?
In most vehicle accidents, an accident may not reach the point of a lawsuit. Instead, an insurer will pay you a settlement instead. Sometimes, that offer is fair. Many times, it’s not. A truck accident lawyer can advise you on which is the case for your situation.
If it should come to a lawsuit, there are several possible parties that could be involved. These include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The repair company used by the trucking company
- An equipment manufacturer
- Another driver
- The person or company responsible for securing a load
Figuring out who was negligent in these cases, and thus eligible for a lawsuit, is tricky. Fortunately, you have a truck accident law firm in Hilton Head who can sort out the legalities while you focus on healing.
What Are the Possible Damages I Can Recover?
In a personal injury case, damages are the kinds of legal injuries you’ve suffered. Compensation is meant to repair these. Economic damages are anything that you can tie to a specific dollar amount. This includes things like:
- Lost wages
- Cost of your medical bills
- Cost of your repair bills
- Cost of future care
- Cost of medical devices and prescriptions
Non-economic damages are things like pain and suffering, or loss of consortium in a fatal trucking accident case. In a settlement situation, your truck accident lawyer and the insurance company will argue for a particular multiple of the economic damages.
A third kind of damages is punitive damages. These are added when the court wants to punish the at-fault driver for their negligence. Trucking companies are especially vulnerable to these kinds of damages because they’re held to a higher standard.
When we assess the damages of your case, we’ll make sure you get the most value out of your injury claim.
Speed Is Crucial When Filing a Truck Accident Claim
Many commercial trucks are now required to carry black boxes. These record information about the condition of a vehicle during a crash and can be used by investigators to reconstruct what happened.
The sooner we can get access to that data the better. If you wait too long, that data could get erased before you can use it in your case, putting you at a significant disadvantage. With help from our Hilton Head truck accident attorneys at the MDSW law firm, we can obtain that data before it’s gone.
You also don’t want to wait too long before filing a claim. Per the statute of limitations set forth in S.C. Code § 15-3-530, you have three years to ensure a timely filing of a personal injury claim. While that may seem like enough time, it can be challenging to assess the damages or severity of your injuries until months or years later.
Let Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Hilton Head Help You Win Compensation
Facing the lawyers of a trucking insurance company is something you don’t want to do alone. They know all the legal loopholes that could get you to lose your case or reduce your compensation. Fight back with the Thumbs Up Guys.
If you’ve been injured in a wreck with a commercial 18-wheeler, we have Hilton Head truck accident lawyers at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward ready to help you win compensation. To get started, call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation.