Getting into any sort of automobile crash can be traumatizing and stressful. When one of the vehicles is a huge semi-truck, crashes can be catastrophic or fatal. The driver and passengers in the smaller vehicle usually suffer greater injuries in these types of wrecks.
If you are considering filing a lawsuit after getting into a crash with a truck, you may be wondering where to go and who to talk to. Accidents like yours can be inherently more complicated because a semi-truck was involved. Lawsuits involving semi trucks can involve multiple parties and require knowledge of federal regulations governing truck driver and trucking company conduct.
It is imperative to have a skilled legal professional by your side. If you need a trustworthy and reliable St. Matthews truck accident lawyer, look no further than Whetstone Perkins & Fulda. Call our law office today to discuss your case with a seasoned personal injury attorney.
Causes of Semi-Truck Wrecks
Several factors can contribute to a trucking collision. Some of the most common causes include the following:
Lack of Experience
Due to their large size, trucks can be challenging to drive. Truckers without sufficient experience or training can easily cause accidents by underestimating or overestimating the truck’s size and movements.
Reckless Speeds
Speeding or driving too fast increases the chances of a crash because it reduces the time and space a truck driver has to brake. This can lead to a rear end collisions or rollovers in some instances.
Poor Maintenance
Truck accidents are not always the truck driver’s fault. Sometimes, trucking companies fail to maintain their trucks regularly, resulting in brake malfunctions or failures of essential parts.
Fatigue
Truck drivers commonly have long routes and tight deadlines. As a result, they may skip sleep to avoid delays. However, less sleep and more stress can lead to fatigue at the wheel and delayed reactions on the road.
Improper Cargo Loading
When cargo is loaded incorrectly, a truck can crash due to uneven weight distribution or shifting cargo.
Driving Under the Influence
A trucker is more likely to get into an accident when they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Reaction times and attentiveness is reduced, making drunk driving incredibly dangerous.
No matter the reason, a seasoned attorney in St. Matthews could assist you with filing a successful claim after you have experienced a truck accident.
What to Know About Filing Truck Accident Claims
A statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit on when someone can file a lawsuit regarding a particular issue. Any automobile accident claim must be filed within this timeframe.
In South Carolina, the filing deadline generally is three years unless a governmental entity is involved. That means that a plaintiff has three years from the date of the truck wreck to file a lawsuit. An injured party may lose the ability to recover compensation if that deadline is missed.
Truck accident claims can be resolved by settling with the opposite side’s insurance company or in court. Whether a settlement or pursuing a case before a judge and jury will be is more beneficial depends on many circumstances. Insurance companies often provide inadequate settlement offers or will simply refuse to pay at all.
Settling can be simpler than litigation if all parties are willing to negotiate in good faith. You can hire a St. Matthews truck accident lawyer to seek the best result possible for your truck accident claim.
Call Our St. Matthews Truck Accident Attorneys Today
No one should suffer due to another driver’s negligence. Collisions with large 18-wheelers can have life-altering consequences.
Our St. Matthews truck accident lawyers could help you seek justice through financial compensation. Contact Whetstone Perkins & Fulda today for a consultation.
