South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents in South Carolina are fundamentally different than auto accidents. The rules and regulations governing tractor-trailers are wholly different and much more nuanced; the relevant and available evidence is more extensive and technical; and the damages are more potentially catastrophic. You can trust the South Carolina truck accident attorneys at Mickelsen Dalton LLC to understand and appreciate these crucial differences. Their track record in these cases speaks for itself – they have successfully recovered millions of dollars in trucking accidents across several states.
As a truck accident law firm, we are well aware of the devastation accidents such as these can leave in their wake. Not only are victims forced to undergo weeks or months of medical care, but they can often face financial consequences beyond their control due to lost wages and mounting medical bills.
If you have been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler or other large vehicle, you need a South Carolina truck accident lawyer standing by your side. You and your family deserve nothing less than a fair and equitable outcome, and the at-fault party must be held accountable. Our commercial vehicle accident law firm is here to make sure that both of those things happen.
If you suffered a severe, debilitating injury in a truck accident or lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, contact our office today to schedule a free case evaluation to learn how we can fight for your legal rights.
South Carolina Truck Accidents
Trucking and commercial vehicle collisions claim the lives of thousands of people each year. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 5,237 semi-trucks and buses involved in accidents that resulted in one or more fatalities in 2019. There were approximately 127,000 injuries resulting from crashes involving large trucks and buses in that same year.
Why Hire Mickelsen Dalton for Your Trucking Accident Claim
Mickelsen Dalton is careful about how many active cases it takes on at a time. We keep our caseload minimal on purpose in order to provide effective representation for our clients. We limit the quantity and types of cases we take on so that we can give your case the attention it deserves. We do this because we know this is more than a case. It’s your life, after all.
Our lawyers are experienced trial lawyers and aggressive advocates who represent the oppressed by providing them a voice and assisting those who are most in need. By working quickly and preparing each case for trial from the start, we maximize the value of each case.
We handle each case with a winning attitude and seek justice to obtain the compensation our clients deserve. Our attorneys have achieved over $40 million in verdicts and settlements for clients in just three years. Additionally, we have brought suits in ten different jurisdictions and appeared in various major news showings.
Do You Need to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
It is critical to have a knowledgeable attorney on your side. A truck accident attorney will be familiar with the rules that govern trucking accidents and will hold all parties accountable.
Accident victims may be perplexed, terrified, and frightened in the aftermath. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident involving a truck, big rig, or any other commercial vehicle, you have rights, and aid is available right away. You will need an experienced and aggressive truck accident lawyer to fight for your rights after the crash.
Mickelsen Dalton LLC has assisted clients who have been involved in commercial truck accidents, and we know how to get you properly reimbursed for your losses. Multiple accountable parties are engaged in a commercial vehicle accident. You will need the assistance of an accident attorney who can handle every part of your case and act in your best interests.
Serious Automobile Accidents Require Serious Legal Representation
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death during the first three decades of Americans’ lives, causing over 35,000 deaths and 2.3 million significant injuries each year. The yearly deaths alone cost our country over $44 billion in medical expenses and lost wages, leaving many families financially devastated.
It can be challenging to obtain a fair and full settlement from an insurance company for severe injuries or a wrongful death, as insurers generally have a singular goal of paying the least amount possible to victims. If an individual suffers catastrophic injuries (or a loved one dies), they are usually met with even stronger opposition, as the potential damages can reach millions of dollars.
Unfortunately, many individuals attempt to negotiate with insurance companies without first seeking the representation of an experienced South Carolina car accident lawyer, often out of fear of incurring exorbitant legal bills. Consequently, many of these victims and their loved ones receive inadequate settlements, leaving them to shoulder the financial burden of ongoing medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs. This is especially the case when the injuries turn out to be worse than expected, which may necessitate further operations and medical expenses and potentially the inability to engage in certain types of work or activities.
We Represent Clients in Truck Injury Cases on a Contingency Fee Basis
At Mickelsen Dalton, we firmly believe that attorney’s fees should never act as a barrier to obtaining quality legal representation. Therefore, we represent the seriously injured and families of wrongful death victims on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will not owe us any fee for our representation unless and until compensation is received and that our fee is based upon a percentage of such compensation. Additionally, we advance all litigation expenses while litigation is ongoing (typically these expenses are repaid through a settlement or jury award).
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in South Carolina
There are many causes of truck accidents. No accident or case is identical, which is why we must first investigate the cause of the incident in order to determine who is to blame for your accident. Truck accidents are caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Defective truck parts
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Driving while intoxicated
- Exhausted driving
- Failure to follow safety and maintenance updates
- Failure to obey road signs
- Failure to properly signal a lane change
- Malfunctioning mechanics
- Not properly securing cargo
Trucks’ braking abilities can play a role in truck accidents as well. Loaded tractor-trailers take 20-40 percent longer to stop than cars, and the difference is even higher on wet, slick roads or with brakes that aren’t well maintained.
It’s critical to figure out what caused your vehicle collision in order to determine liability. You will be compensated for your pain and suffering by the culpable party. Unfortunately, one of the most difficult aspects of truck accidents is that there are many different parties who could be responsible for your injuries.
South Carolina Truck Accident Statistics
According to the United States Department of Transportation, 4,965 people died in crashes involving large trucks in 2020. Truck occupants accounted for 17 percent of the deaths, while other vehicle occupants accounted for 71 percent, and non-occupants accounted for 13 percent. The number of people killed in heavy truck accidents decreased by one percent from 2019.
Passengers in passenger vehicles account for the majority of fatalities in heavy truck accidents. The vulnerability of persons riding in smaller vehicles is the key issue. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and have higher ground clearance, allowing smaller vehicles to underride trucks in collisions.
Federal hours-of-service standards enable South Carolina truck drivers to drive for up to 11 hours at a time. According to surveys, many drivers break the rules and work longer than they are allowed, which is a root cause for many accidents.
Types of Vehicle Cases We Handle in South Carolina
A serious car, motorcycle, bicycle, boating, truck, tractor-trailer, commercial trucking, bus, or other vehicle accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including speeding, driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated (DWI), negligence, distracted driving, driver fatigue, failure to inspect or maintain the truck, improper loading, and road rage. In many cases, others (such as employers, bars, municipalities, and other governmental entities) will also be financially liable for a crash, rather than the truck driver.
Obtaining compensation for minor car accident injuries is often not difficult, as insurers are generally not as concerned about paying for minor injuries and damages (such as scrapes and damaged vehicles). However, when faced with the possibility of multi-million-dollar damages, the opposite is usually true—insurers, companies, and individuals will typically fight hard to protect their bottom line and assets.
Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys Provide Individualized, Compassionate Representation
If you suffered significant injuries that may permanently affect you such as paralysis, a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, you deserve justice and the maximum compensation possible.
At Mickelsen Dalton, we understand that every crash is a unique experience for those involved, which is why we treat every client with individualized attention, and we never lose sight of what is at stake for our clients and their families. As experienced South Carolina truck accident and wrongful death attorneys, we have successfully recovered millions of dollars in compensation for clients who have been injured in a variety of circumstances.
Contact Our South Carolina Truck Accident Attorneys Today
Mickelsen Dalton’s truck accident lawyers in South Carolina and Georgia have experience dealing with insurance companies, investigating incidents, and assisting clients in receiving reimbursement for their injuries. Allow one of our experienced personal injury attorneys in South Carolina to handle the details of your case.
We can assist you in determining who is responsible and what legal steps you can take to aid in your rehabilitation. Determining and proving the cause of the truck crash will be one of the most crucial components of our assignment. We will gather evidence to determine who or what caused your accident so that we can present you with the strongest case possible.
Please contact us at (843) 804-0428 in South Carolina or (678) 641-9054 in Georgia so that we can begin working on your case right away. You can also write us an email at help@mickelsendalton.com or use our website’s online message system. We are available at all times of the day and night.