You should hire a North Carolina truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after a crash. If you were hurt in a collision caused by a commercial truck driver, having legal help early on can make a difference in the outcome of your case.
Working with an injury lawyer while you heal from trucking accident injuries allows you to focus on your treatment and recovery while our legal team handles your insurance claim or lawsuit. We can take the necessary steps to develop a compelling case while you are in the hospital, in rehab, and recovering at home.
Call a Truck Wreck Attorney as Soon as Possible if You Are Hurt
If you or a family member suffered injuries in a collision caused by the driver of a tractor-trailer, box truck, or any other commercial vehicle, call a South Carolina truck accident lawyer about your case as soon as your injuries allow.
These cases are often challenging and complex, and injuries may be serious or even catastrophic. They could include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Serious burns
- Wrongful death
With significant injuries, the value of your claim could be substantial. This makes it more difficult to negotiate a fair settlement with the trucking company and their insurer because they probably will not want to pay what you deserve. Having a lawyer on your side ensures you have someone who will fight for your best interests throughout this process.
Why You Want a Lawyer Handling Your Truck Accident Case Early
Trucking companies and their insurers may begin developing a legal strategy to pay out as little as possible in your case within hours of the crash. Doctors are stabilizing your injuries and determining a treatment plan while the liable parties are working to protect their financial interests.
It is not unusual for corporations and their insurance carriers to:
- Send investigators to the scene
- Gather evidence before you can access it
- Take statements from witnesses
- Demand you give a recorded statement
- Pressure you to accept a quick, low settlement
You should be focused on your injuries, but you are stuck thinking about how to manage the insurance claims process. Having a North Carolina personal injury lawyer handling your case allows us to:
- Preserve key evidence from the crash
- Ensure the trucking company cannot destroy or alter records
- Interview witnesses before memories fade
- Begin building a compelling case
One of the first things your attorney may do is to send a spoliation letter to the trucking company demanding that certain types of evidence be preserved. This could include crucial evidence showing what caused the wreck or violations of industry regulations. This evidence could be lost without quick action.
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How a Trucking Accident Attorney Protects Your Rights
Your South Carolina personal injury lawyer will know how trucking accident cases work, how to navigate the process, and how to develop a strong argument for fair compensation. Liability is often complex in these cases. The potentially liable parties include:
- The trucking company
- The truck’s owner
- A cargo loading company
- A maintenance contractor
- A vehicle or part manufacturer
Even when a truck driver causes the crash, their employer is often vicariously liable. This means you will not file your case against an individual. Instead, the liable party is generally a large corporation that employs the driver.
As part of building your case, you can expect your attorneys to:
Investigate How the Crash Happened
Your lawyer will gather police reports, black box data, driver logs, GPS records, and other evidence to determine what happened and who was at fault. We may also work with accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals to prove fault, liability, and damages.
Handle All Communications With the Trucking Company’s Insurer
Your attorney will manage all contact with the insurance companies to prevent them from taking your words out of context or pressuring you into a lowball settlement.
Document Your Accident Injury Damages
Personal injury lawyers know how to document your recoverable damages to date and work with experts to estimate your future care needs, expenses, and other losses. This includes medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and other costs.
Negotiate Aggressively or Take the Truck Accident Case to Trial
Most commercial vehicle collision claims settle, but if the insurer will not offer what you deserve, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and prepare to take the case to court.
Your Truck Injury Lawyer Will Manage All Applicable Deadlines
If you wait too long to pursue compensation, you risk missing your state’s statute of limitations. When this occurs, you are likely to lose the right to take a case to trial and ask a jury to issue a verdict in your favor.
The deadline you must work within varies from state to state:
- North Carolina: Three years for an injury under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52
- South Carolina: Three years for injuries per S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530
If the collision caused your loved one’s death, you may have less time to act. This is also true if the wreck involved a government vehicle or employee. Speak with a lawyer as soon as possible, even if you are still receiving treatment. We can ensure you meet all deadlines.
Discuss Your Commercial Vehicle Accident With Our Legal Team for Free
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, has five offices equipped to handle commercial accident cases in North and South Carolina. In all, our six attorneys have served more than 10,000 clients and recovered $100+ million. We provide free consultations, so contact us today to learn how our truck accident attorneys can help you get justice.