Trucking Accident Lawyers in Myrtle Beach, SC

With over 100 years of combined experience, the trucking accident lawyers at Axelrod & Associates are here for you if you have been hurt by an eighteen-wheeler or other commercial vehicle.

Tractor trailer trucks are vital to our economy, but tractor trailer truck drivers and other commercial vehicle drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely, and the companies that they work for have a duty to ensure that their vehicles are safe and that their drivers are properly trained.

Eighteen wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and, as a result, have poor braking ability and a lack of maneuverability. This means that collisions involving large trucks and smaller vehicles can be catastrophic, often resulting in serious injury or death.

If you are injured in a tractor trailer truck accident, you need a team of attorneys on your side who are familiar with the laws and regulations governing commercial vehicles and the evidence that you will need to prove liability in a trucking accident case.

Call the trucking accident lawyers at Axelrod & Associates now at 843-353-3449 or complete our contact form to set up a free consultation to find out if we can help – if you are hospitalized or cannot make it to one of our offices due to your injuries, we will come to you.

How a Myrtle Beach Trucking Accident Attorney Can Help You

If you or your family member has been injured in a collision with a commercial truck, eighteen wheeler, or tractor trailer truck, your trucking accident attorneys on the Axelrod team will:

• Investigate the crash, retaining accident reconstructionists and other experts when appropriate,
• Gather the evidence that we will need to prove liability and damages, including the truck’s maintenance logs, inspections reports, cargo logs, weigh station receipts, hours of service logbooks, and event data recorder (“black box”),
• Locate and interview all witnesses to the crash and to the trucking company’s practices that may have contributed to the crash,
• Identify all possible sources of recovery including insurance policies and corporations that may be held liable for the trucking crash,
• Help you to get all medical treatment that you need,
• Demand full and fair compensation from the trucking company and their insurer,
• File a trucking accident lawsuit and prepare your case for trial, and
• Try your case to a jury if the trucking company and their insurer do not agree to pay full compensation for your injuries.

FAQ for Trucking Accident Lawyers in Myrtle Beach, SC

If you have been involved in a trucking accident with an eighteen wheeler, tractor trailer truck, or other commercial vehicle, you may have questions.

Below, we provide some general information, but you should contact a Myrtle Beach trucking accident attorney immediately to discuss the specifics of your case and to find out what your options are.

Who is Liable After a Truck or Commercial Vehicle Accident?

The potential defendants, insurance policies, and other sources of recovery after a trucking accident may include:

• The truck driver (who may or may not be an independent contractor),
• The truck’s owner (which may or may not be the driver),
• The company that leases the truck,
• The company that maintains the truck,
• The trucking company that employs the driver,
• The manufacturer or seller of faulty equipment that caused the crash,
• The company or individual who was responsible for loading the truck’s cargo,
• Municipalities or businesses who are responsible for poor road conditions, and
• Other third parties or companies whose negligence contributed to the crash.

Are Trucking Accidents Different than Auto Accidents?

Trucking accidents 1) are more complex than most auto accident claims, and 2) can cause considerably more damage to accident victims due to the size of commercial vehicles and the heavy loads that they may carry.

Trucking accidents often result in greater damages than most auto accidents, but there also may be multiple defendants and insurance policies available to ensure that you receive full compensation in your trucking accident case.

Your trucking accident attorneys should have experience litigating trucking accident cases and must understand the causes of commercial vehicle crashes, the federal laws and regulations that govern truck drivers and trucking companies, and the types of evidence that will be needed to establish liability.

How Do I Prove that an Eighteen-Wheeler is At-Fault?

To establish liability on the part of the truck driver and their company, you will need to prove:

1. The truck driver and the company that employs them owed a duty of care to you (for example, a duty to keep other drivers safe by following the applicable laws and regulations, by always maintaining a proper lookout, and by not violating traffic laws,
2. That the truck driver and the company that employs them breached that duty of care (they were negligent or grossly negligent), and
3. That you suffered damages (injuries and property damage) that were proximately caused by the truck driver’s and their company’s negligence.

What Kind of Evidence is Needed to Prove Negligence in a Truck Accident Case?

Trucking accident cases may require different types of evidence than would be necessary in an “ordinary” car wreck case, including:

• Accident reconstructionists who can give an expert opinion on what caused the crash,
• Photos or video of the crash scene and the vehicles,
• Witness testimony from people who saw the crash,
• Witness testimony from people or employees who are familiar with the driver’s and the company’s practices,
• Maintenance logs,
• Inspection reports,
• Cargo logs,
• Weigh station receipts,
• Event data recorders (the “black box”), and
• Hours of service

What Causes Eighteen-Wheeler Crashes?

The most common causes of trucking accidents in SC include:

• Driver training and experience,
• Driver fatigue,
• Alcohol or other drug use,
• Speeding,
• Failure to secure cargos properly,
• Failure to maintain lane or running off the road,
• Rear-end collisions,
• Failure to inspect and maintain equipment,
• Vehicle design and manufacture,
• Highway conditions,
• Failure to signal turns,
• Tire blowouts, and
• Violations of federal laws and regulations.

Got Axelrod?

If you have been injured in a trucking accident with an eighteen wheeler, tractor truck trailer, or other commercial vehicle, the Myrtle Beach trucking accident attorneys at Axelrod & Associates may be able to help you to get maximum compensation for your injuries.

Call 843-353-3449 or complete our contact form for a free initial consultation.