4 What-Ifs: Why You Need a Truck Accident Attorney
There are dozens of attorneys who can handle a car accident, and many who will therefore believe, or will try to convince you, that they can therefore handle a truck accident claim. The truth, however, is that only an attorney with experience in truck accident claims should be handling your claim if you intend on protecting your rights and interests. Why? Consider some of these hypothetical situations below that would require a special attorney to handle.
What If: Trucking Laws Are Broken?
Trucking is governed by laws and regulations that are binding on the industry. These rules set standards for how many hours a driver may drive, how much weight their trucks can carry, the height of the rigs that are acceptable for the road, what roads and lanes a truck driver may use on the highway, and the like. You may have given little thought to these laws as an average automobile driver, and an attorney familiar only with car accident claims may be just as unfamiliar with them as you are. An attorney with proper experience with truck accident claims will be able to use these laws to get you the best outcome possible for your claim.
What If: There’s More Than One Party to Sue?
In a traditional auto accident, there are likely only a couple of parties capable of being sued. However, with a trucking accident, there are likely far more parties involved. Consider contractors, owners of the trucking company, drivers, manufacturers, and even government entities. There might even be some parties that aren’t immediately identifiable that an experienced truck accident attorney would be able to track down. An experienced truck accident attorney will be able to look for and find these parties before the statute of limitations, or deadline for bringing claims, winds down.
What If: You Are Partially at Fault?
In South Carolina, the law has a component called modified comparative negligence. This means that if you are partially at fault for the accident, you may not be eligible to receive all of the compensation to which you normally would be entitled. For instance, imagine that you are awarded a $100,000 payout for your accident. If you are found to be 10% responsible for the accident, that number will be reduced by 10%. If you are found to be more than half at fault for the accident, you may not be entitled to anything at all. An attorney with experience with truck accidents will be able to formulate the best defense against modified comparative negligence if it applies to you.
What If: You Want a Variety of Ways to Settle Your Claim?
There may be a variety of ways to settle your claim, some of which may not involve going to court. Your claim could settle before trial. Alternatively, it may go before an arbitrator or a mediator to determine a settlement with which both parties are reasonably satisfied. Arbitration and mediation are systems of dispute settlement where instead of going before a judge, parties go before a neutral third party. Some of these alternative ways to settle your claim, other than going to trial, may be the best way to protect your rights and interests. If you want a variety of methods of settling your claim, you may want a truck accident attorney to assist.
Where Can I Find an Attorney?
You can contact a Columbia truck accident attorney with truck accident experience at The Stanley Law Group. Call 803-799-4700 and set up a consultation today.
