Columbia Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Columbia Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney

Drivers in the Columbia area often encounter large commercial vehicles, such as delivery trucks and tractor-trailers, on local highways like I-26 and I-77, as well as on smaller local streets. While accidents involving large commercial vehicles aren’t as common as passenger vehicle crashes, these accidents can easily result in devastating losses for those involved. A Columbia commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help if you are hurt in such an accident.

Representing Commercial Vehicle Accident Claims in Columbia, SC

The Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III can help you recover from a commercial vehicle accident in Columbia. Since 1996, our firm has helped many injured accident victims prove fault for crashes caused by other drivers and has secured many substantial case awards. Our team is confident we can guide you to a positive outcome in your commercial vehicle accident case, but you have limited time to gather evidence and pursue accountability for your damages.

When you choose our firm to handle a commercial vehicle accident case, we will immediately begin gathering the evidence you need to establish fault for the accident. We can obtain evidence that you may not know how to secure on your own, and we can also resolve the complex liability disputes that often arise in accident cases involving commercial drivers. Our goal for every client is to help them obtain maximum compensation for their losses as swiftly as possible.

Building a Commercial Vehicle Accident Claim in Columbia, SC

South Carolina follows a fault rule for vehicle accidents involving multiple parties, meaning that whoever caused the accident is liable for the resulting damages. Before you can claim any compensation for your losses, you will need to prove the exact cause of the accident and identify the party or parties responsible. This may sound simple enough, but many commercial vehicle accident cases raise difficult questions of shared liability.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety reported 145,761 total traffic collisions statewide in 2023, with 87 of these accidents involving a commercial truck. The National Safety Council reported that in 2023, truck accidents most commonly resulted in harm to occupants of other vehicles. About 70% of those injured or killed in truck accidents that year were occupants of smaller passenger cars.

Your Columbia commercial vehicle accident lawyer can gather proof of liability, securing evidence that you may not know how to obtain without their help. Once you have proven the cause of your accident, your attorney can determine which party, or parties, bear liability for your damages. It’s possible for fault to fall to the truck driver, the driver of another vehicle, or to multiple liable parties.

After most vehicle accidents in South Carolina, auto insurance is the primary option for recovery for injured victims. State law requires all drivers to have auto insurance, and commercial vehicles are typically covered by more expansive policies than the average individual auto insurance policy. However, you should not assume that insurance will fully cover your damages or that filing your claim will be easy. You need an attorney’s help to negotiate a fair settlement.

You may need to file a personal injury case to recover your damages after a commercial vehicle accident. Once you have proven fault and shown the full extent of the damages you suffered, you will need to establish causation between the defendant’s actions and your claimed losses. This means your damages must have resulted from their actions, and not from any other cause.

Ultimately, any commercial vehicle crash has a high chance of causing life-changing harm, and you need to know what to do if you think another party caused such an accident. The Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III can provide compassionate legal counsel through every stage of your recovery efforts, so reach out to our team and learn more about how we can help.

FAQs About Columbia, SC Commercial Vehicle Accident Laws

How Can I Prove Liability for a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Columbia?

You can prove liability for a commercial vehicle accident in Columbia with an attorney’s help. They can gather evidence like police reports, eyewitness testimony, trucking company records, and photos of the crash scene to help you prove exactly how your accident happened. Some of the evidence you need will not be available for very long, so it’s important to hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer as soon as possible to start building your case.

What Does Vicarious Liability Mean in a Commercial Vehicle Accident Case?

In a commercial vehicle accident case, vicarious liability means that one party bears responsibility for the actions of another party. This usually applies to an employer bearing fault for their employee’s actions. For example, if a trucking company failed to enforce applicable industry regulations in any way that contributed to causing the accident, the company could be found vicariously liable for the resulting damages.

What Compensation Can I Claim for a Commercial Vehicle Accident?

The compensation you can claim for a commercial vehicle accident may include your vehicle repair costs, the cost of medical care you need to recover from your injuries, and income you are unable to earn while you recover. Additionally, if you are filing a personal injury case, it’s possible to seek compensation for pain and suffering. Your attorney can estimate the total value of the compensation you could potentially recover if you succeed with the case.

Why Should I Hire a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer in Columbia?

You should hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer in Columbia to have a better chance of winning your case. Regardless of whether liability for the accident is clear, you could face numerous legal challenges as the case unfolds that you cannot resolve on your own. Hiring skilled local legal counsel means you will have a dedicated legal advocate ready to help you prove fault for the accident and pursue maximum compensation for your damages.

The Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III can build a successful case on your behalf. Our team has helped many past clients navigate difficult legal proceedings following commercial vehicle accidents, and we’ll apply this experience to your claim. You have limited time to pursue accountability for your damages, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Columbia commercial vehicle accident lawyer you can trust.