Get a Free Case Review -  (803) 471-4188
Free Consultation:
(803) 451-4000
Close
Bishopville, SC Truck Accident Lawyer
Table of Contents

    Bishopville, SC Truck Accident Lawyer

    Collisions between semi trucks and passenger cars are typically serious and often leave victims with expensive, painful, and emotionally damaging injuries that deserve compensation from liable trucking companies.

    Truck accidents are common, with top causes including drowsy driving, speeding, driver error, driver inexperience, and vehicle failure. No matter the cause of injury, go directly to the hospital if a truck accident leaves you injured. Going home or to your primary care physician will not help your case in the same way. It could make it harder to recover economic, non-economic, and potentially even punitive damages from your truck accident lawsuit.

    Discuss your case for free with our truck accident lawyers by calling Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers now at (803) 451-4000.

    What Are the Top Truck Accident Causes in Bishopville, SC?

    Negligence causes most truck accidents in South Carolina, whether it is negligence on the trucker’s, the trucking company’s, or the truck manufacturer’s behalf.

    Drowsy Driving

    Under federal rules, commercial truck drivers may drive only 11 hours in a 14-hour workday. They must also take at least a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving. Furthermore, there must be a 10-hour rest period between workdays so that truckers can get the sleep they need to stay alert while driving the next day.

    Drowsy driving in any vehicle is dangerous, but especially so in a large commercial truck. It worsens drivers’ reaction times, and trucks are already difficult to maneuver in response to sudden changes in traffic or hazards in the road. Our truck accident lawyers can check driver logs and other records to see if a driver bent the rules, whether on their own volition or under the direction of their employer.

    Speeding

    Due to their size, trucks should not reach excessive speeds, even on highways. Driving above the speed limit can be incredibly dangerous, as trucks need far more time to slow down than smaller passenger vehicles. When approaching traffic, bad weather, or a road hazard, semi trucks need substantially more distance to come to a full stop.

    Truck drivers who speed and fail to maintain sufficient distance between their vehicles and those in front of them may cause devastating, possibly deadly, rear-end collisions or underride accidents.

    Driver Error

    Many trucking accidents boil down to driver error. Truckers might not properly check their blind spots before merging or changing lanes, or might even get distracted and take their eyes off the road, causing an accident. Following other vehicles too closely, failing to yield the right of way, drifting into neighboring lanes, and making improper turns are all examples of how driver error can cause catastrophic truck accidents with smaller cars.

    Drivers are more likely to make errors when they are impaired, whether because they are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, are very tired from a long day of driving and exceeding driving limits.

    Driver Inexperience

    Trucking companies have a duty to ensure their drivers are qualified and capable. Hiring an inexperienced driver who lacks the licensing or qualifications necessary to operate a commercial truck puts everyone on the road at risk, including the inexperienced truck driver.

    Vehicle Failure

    Internal issues within commercial trucks can also lead to crashes. Trucking companies must keep up with annual inspections to ensure internal components work properly and do not pose a danger. If vehicle defects result from poor maintenance and missed inspections, trucking companies can be held liable. If vehicle defects are due to design or production errors, the truck manufacturer might be liable, not the trucking company.

    Where Should You Go After a Truck Accident in Bishopville, SC?

    The moments, hours, and days after a truck accident can be some of the most important for documenting a collision and its consequences. Even where you go from the accident scene could make a major difference in your case.

    You should go directly to a hospital following a truck accident. If you do not have visible injuries, you might have internal injuries that are not observable by the eye, such as internal bleeding. After any high-speed or high-impact collision, it is wise to be evaluated by medical professionals due to the high risk of serious injury.

    Do not go straight home from the scene if you are injured, and do not wait to seek initial treatment from your primary care physician. Receiving emergency medical care helps us prove when and how you were injured, and waiting to get treatment might compromise your case.

    What Damages Can You Recover After a Bishopville, SC Truck Accident?

    Recover all of the damages you seek after a recent truck accident for your tangible and intangible losses.

    Economic Damages

    Economic damages may have the largest tangible effect on victims’ lives after truck accidents. You can most likely sue for all of the economic damages you have endured, starting with medical expenses. You should not have to pay for any medical treatment required because of someone else’s negligent conduct, and that includes upcoming expenses from care you might need after the lawsuit ends.

    Economic damages also include lost wages and reduced earning capacity, which are common consequences of truck accidents for victims.

    Non-Economic Damages

    You may also recover non-economic damages, which many personal injury plaintiffs are unfamiliar with. Non-economic damages attempt to compensate victims for intangible damages, such as mental suffering, physical pain, emotional anguish, embarrassment, reduced quality of life, and more. It is common for truck accident victims to underestimate their non-economic damages, which is why many plaintiffs need our lawyers’ help to identify and prove these losses.

    Punitive Damages

    For willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, such as pressuring truck drivers to exceed driving limits, victims might even receive punitive damages. Rather than being designed to compensate you for losses, punitive damages are used to punish trucking companies and truck manufacturers for gross negligence.

    Seek Help from Our Bishopville, SC Truck Accident Attorneys

    Call the truck accident lawyers of Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers for your free case assessment at (803) 451-4000.

    Resources

    Get a Free Consultation

    Consent to SMS Policy
    Yes; I consent to receive communications from Burriss & Ridgeway Injury Lawyers regarding case questions, updates, and service needs. Msg and data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Reply HELP for help or STOP to to opt-out at any time. View our privacy policy.

    Results

    $11 Million
    Confidential settlement regarding a father of three that was catastrophically injured at his workplace when he was the victim of negligent acts committed by a corporate defendant that placed him in danger.
    Confidential settlement regarding a father of three that was catastrophically injured at his workplace when he was the victim of negligent acts committed by a corporate defendant that placed him in danger.
    $8.5 Million
    Client’s husband was struck and killed by a speeding driver working for a South Carolina corporation who was in the course and scope of his employment at the time of the crash. The decedent left behind a spouse and three children.
    Client’s husband was struck and killed by a speeding driver working for a South Carolina corporation who was in the course and scope of his employment at the time of the crash. The decedent left behind a spouse and three children.
    $6.2 Million
    Client was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle that was distracted at the time of the crash. The event occurred on a rural South Carolina roadway. Claims were brought against the driver as well as the corporation.
    Client was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle that was distracted at the time of the crash. The event occurred on a rural South Carolina roadway. Claims were brought against the driver as well as the corporation.
    $6 Million
    The Plaintiff was injured as a result of a failing component of a commercial motor vehicle that fell from the vehicle into the roadway. The Plaintiff brought claims against the owner and operator of the tractor trailer as well as the manufacturer of the vehicle.
    The Plaintiff was injured as a result of a failing component of a commercial motor vehicle that fell from the vehicle into the roadway. The Plaintiff brought claims against the owner and operator of the tractor trailer as well as the manufacturer of the vehicle.
    $5 Million
    The client’s child was killed in a crash involving a trucking company. Claims were brought against both the trucking company and the owner of the faulty equipment that was unsafe for use on the roadway.
    The client’s child was killed in a crash involving a trucking company. Claims were brought against both the trucking company and the owner of the faulty equipment that was unsafe for use on the roadway.
    $4.1 Million
    The Plaintiff was injured as a result of a refrigeration system that malfunctioned, spraying ammonia gas into the Plaintiff's face. As a result of this event, the Plaintiff sustained significant vision loss. The Plaintiff brought claims against his employer and the manufacturer of this system.
    The Plaintiff was injured as a result of a refrigeration system that malfunctioned, spraying ammonia gas into the Plaintiff's face. As a result of this event, the Plaintiff sustained significant vision loss. The Plaintiff brought claims against his employer and the manufacturer of this system.
    $2 Million
    The Plaintiff was injured while riding his motorcycle when he collided with another vehicle. This event occurred in the city of Columbia and the Plaintiff sustained significant bodily injury resulting in extensive medical expenses and permanent injury.
    The Plaintiff was injured while riding his motorcycle when he collided with another vehicle. This event occurred in the city of Columbia and the Plaintiff sustained significant bodily injury resulting in extensive medical expenses and permanent injury.
    $1.8 Million
    The Plaintiff was injured when he was rear-ended by a tractor trailer on Interstate 20. The Plaintiff brought claims against the owner and driver of the tractor trailer for his injuries relate to his lower back.
    The Plaintiff was injured when he was rear-ended by a tractor trailer on Interstate 20. The Plaintiff brought claims against the owner and driver of the tractor trailer for his injuries relate to his lower back.
    $1.5 Million
    The Plaintiff sustained significant injury when she was attacked by a dog while performing repairs on a rental property. The Plaintiff was at the rental property as part of her employment with a rental management agency. She was attacked by the animal and sustained permanent nerve damage in her legs.
    The Plaintiff sustained significant injury when she was attacked by a dog while performing repairs on a rental property. The Plaintiff was at the rental property as part of her employment with a rental management agency. She was attacked by the animal and sustained permanent nerve damage in her legs.
    $1.3 Million
    The Plaintiff was killed as a result of a collision with a logging truck that had been improperly loaded by a timber harvester. The proceeds of the settlement were funded by both the timber harvester and the owner of the logging truck.
    The Plaintiff was killed as a result of a collision with a logging truck that had been improperly loaded by a timber harvester. The proceeds of the settlement were funded by both the timber harvester and the owner of the logging truck.
    $1.5 Million
    The Plaintiff underwent surgery to her neck as a result of injuries sustained when she was struck on the head by a piece of loading equipment at her job. The Plaintiff was employed by a national retailer and was engaged in stocking shelves when the piece of equipment failed. After settling her workers' compensation claim, the Plaintiff brought a claim against the manufacturer of this equipment.
    The Plaintiff underwent surgery to her neck as a result of injuries sustained when she was struck on the head by a piece of loading equipment at her job. The Plaintiff was employed by a national retailer and was engaged in stocking shelves when the piece of equipment failed. After settling her workers' compensation claim, the Plaintiff brought a claim against the manufacturer of this equipment.
    $1.1 Million
    The Plaintiff brought a claim against a local medical facility for a false positive HIV reading. As a result of this false positive, the Plaintiff lived for 4½ years believing that she had the virus which leads to what she feared was an eventual AIDS diagnosis.
    The Plaintiff brought a claim against a local medical facility for a false positive HIV reading. As a result of this false positive, the Plaintiff lived for 4½ years believing that she had the virus which leads to what she feared was an eventual AIDS diagnosis.
    Read More

    Resources

    Recent Posts

    Client Reviews