Sumter Truck Accident Lawyer
Continuing supply chain issues in the post-coronavirus era contribute directly to large truck accidents in South Carolina. The federal government has repeatedly rolled back some HOS (Hours of Service) rules and other important safety regulations. Truckers, who are under extreme pressure to deliver their loads on time, are all too happy to take advantage of these rollbacks. As a result, many truckers are dangerously fatigued. Alternatively, and perhaps even more frighteningly, truckers often drive under the influence of amphetamines and other drugs, just to try and keep their eyes open.
The dedicated Sumter truck accident lawyer at The Stanley Law Group used proven methods to obtain life-changing results in these cases. Our methods rest on old-fashioned values, like hard work every day, a strong belief in the rightness of our clients’ claims, and open communication throughout the process. So, regardless of the nature of your injuries, you can count on us to obtain the financial compensation you need and deserve. Usually, we settle truck accident claims out of court, so victims don’t have to go to trial to receive their compensation.
Truck Crash Injuries
Fully-loaded large trucks weigh at least 80,000 pounds. Additionally, because of the aforementioned safety law rollbacks, bureaucrats routinely allow oversized rigs to ramble on South Carolina streets and highways. The extreme force in such wrecks usually causes extreme injuries, such as:
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Serious Burns: In addition to their huge cargo loads, most trucks carry hundreds of gallons of highly-flammable diesel fuel. Since diesel burns at a different temperature from gasoline, huge fireballs are part of many large truck collisions. The burns these victims sustain require extensive, and expensive, treatment at specialty burn centers.
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Head Injuries: Even the most advanced restraint system in the world cannot possibly absorb all the force in a large truck wreck. Because the force is so excessive, and because the skull is so thin, brain injuries are common in these wrecks. Doctors can only treat head injury symptoms. The injuries themselves are permanent. After brain cells die, they never regenerate.
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Broken Bones: Shattered arm and leg bones are especially common in these wrecks. Victims’ arms usually flail wildly in collisions, and their legs usually strike solid objects. Doctors must use highly-invasive measures to reconstruct these bones. Therefore, the victims must endure additional physical therapy. Even after PT ends, these victims usually experience some permanent loss of use.
To reduce the financial strain these families feel, a Sumter truck accident lawyer connects victims with doctors who charge nothing upfront for their services. That way, victims get the medical attention they need, as opposed to the medical treatment they can afford or the medical treatment an insurance company adjuster is willing to pay for.
Liability Issues
Fatigued driving, and other forms of negligent driving, could involve the negligence per se rule or the ordinary negligence doctrine. If truckers violate the watered-down federal HOS rules or a similar state rule, they could be liable for damages as a matter of law. Ordinary negligence claims often rely on circumstantial evidence, like the time of day and medical conditions, like sleep apnea, which rob truckers of deep, restful sleep.
Comparative fault, a legal doctrine which shifts accident blame from the tortfeasor to the victim, is one of the most common defenses in these cases. For example, a fatigued trucker might collide with a speeding driver.
Individuals are legally responsible for these wrecks. The company that owned the truck is often financially responsible for damages. The respondeat superior doctrine applies if the trucker was an employee who was working in the course and scope of employment at the time. South Carolina law defines all these key concepts in broad, victim-friendly ways.
Reach Out to a Diligent Sumter County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Sumter truck accident lawyer, contact The Stanley Law Group, P.A. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
