Have you suffered catastrophic injuries after a collision with a tractor-trailer? If so, you may have the right to compensation for your suffering and damages. However, if you feel intimidated by the claims process, you are not alone.
When you get help from an experienced Mt. Pleasant personal injury lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm, you can feel confident as you fight to bring the at-fault party to justice. Learn more about how the claims process works and the value of your damages when you contact our team for a free consultation today.
When to Call a Truck Accident Attorney in Mt. Pleasant
It may not always be clear whether you have grounds for legal action after suffering injuries in a commercial truck wreck. However, when you get help from a truck accident attorney in Mt. Pleasant, SC, at Shelly Leeke Law Firm, you can get answers.
The Burden of Proof
For your truck accident claim to be successful, you must be able to show that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. The burden of proof in commercial truck accident claims is based on a preponderance of the evidence. This means the evidence your personal injury lawyer presents must convince the judge and jury that the defendant is more likely than not responsible for causing your injuries.
Your truck accident lawyer will need to provide compelling evidence that shows how the defendant’s negligent actions contributed to your injuries and why you are seeking the amount of compensation you are as part of your claim. If your attorney can show that someone else’s conduct contributed to or caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
If you had concerns that your injuries were not severe enough to warrant filing a truck accident claim, you could rest easier. Your eligibility is not based on the severity of your injuries or the type of injury you sustained.
Instead, to qualify for truck accident compensation, you must show that your injuries have substantially impacted your life in some way. Some of the most common types of injuries you might be able to sue for with help from your truck accident lawyer in Mt. Pleasant, SC, include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial trauma
- Broken and fractured bones
- Lacerations
- Organ failure
- Contusions or abrasions
- Sepsis
- Internal bleeding
- Road rash
- Neck injuries
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Third-degree burns
These are just a few examples of the injuries you might be diagnosed with following a commercial truck wreck. If you suffered another type of injury we did not include on the list above, do not hesitate to contact our team to explore your options for financial relief further.
How to Win Your Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you hope to win your truck accident lawsuit and recover maximum compensation for your damages, you should be prepared to pursue your case across all potential avenues of financial recovery. Generally, this includes filing a claim with the insurance company and bringing your case to court.
File an Insurance Claim
South Carolina follows fault-based insurance laws. This means when you are involved in a collision with a commercial truck, you will typically file a claim with the liable party’s insurance provider. This might be the truck driver’s personal auto insurance coverage, the trucking company’s general liability insurance coverage, or another type of insurance.
However, in some instances, if you purchased no-fault protection coverage of your own, you might be able to file a claim with your own insurance company. However, be advised that filing a claim with your own insurance company may increase your insurance premiums. For this reason, it is always in your best interests to discuss your insurance claim options with your attorney before filing.
Additionally, it is essential to note that dealing with the insurance company may be more challenging than expected. Insurance settlements frequently only cover medical expenses and property damages. The insurer may not cover out-of-pocket, financial, or non-economic damages. With this in mind, you should always be prepared to bring your case to trial as well.
Pursue a Truck Accident Lawsuit
Filing a civil Lawsuit is one of the best ways to recover your damages in their entirety after a commercial truck wreck. Unlike insurance claims which may limit the amount of compensation you can recover and which types of damages may be recoverable, going to trial gives you a chance to be made whole and ensure all liable parties are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Some examples of economic and non-economic damages you could recover in your Mt. Pleasant truck accident claim include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental distress and English
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of income
- Medical expenses
- Reduced earning potential
- Loss of consortium
Common Causes of Mt. Pleasant Truck Accidents
Your truck accident lawyer will need to carefully examine the type of collision you were involved in so we can identify the liable party.
For example, if a drowsy truck driver caused your injuries, you could file a claim against the negligent trucker and the trucking company that forced the trucker to operate the tractor-trailer outside the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) work-hour rules and regulations. Other common causes of truck accidents in Mount Pleasant include:
- Distracted driving
- Dangerous road conditions
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failure to perform safety inspections
- Defective 18-wheeler parts
Contact a Mt. Pleasant Truck Accident Lawyer for Help Today
Truck accident claims are notoriously complex. Whether multiple parties share liability for your damages or your injuries have significantly impacted your life, you may require the legal guidance and support of an experienced legal advocate.
Reach out to a reputable Mt. Pleasant truck accident attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm today. Our firm proudly offers no-cost, risk-free consultations to truck accident victims across Mt. Pleasant and the state of South Carolina. Claim yours by filling out our online contact form or calling our office today.
