Greenville Truck Accident Lawyers
Injured in a Truck Accident? Call (252) 429-5161 for Legal Help!
Truck accidents are some of the most severe motor vehicle accidents that can occur on the road. This is because commercial trucks, such as semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers, are much larger and heavier than other vehicles. As a result, truck accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries and even death for the occupants of smaller vehicles.
If you or a loved one were involved in a truck accident, you need to know that you are not alone. Thousands of people are injured or killed in truck accidents each year in the United States. The good news is that you may be entitled to compensation for your losses if the truck driver, trucking company, or another party was at fault for the accident.
At Lanier Law Group, P.A., we understand how devastating truck accidents can be for victims and their families. Our Greenville truck accident attorneys are here to help you fight for the justice and fair recovery you are owed. We are committed to providing you with the compassionate, personalized legal guidance you need and the aggressive representation you deserve.
For a free, confidential consultation, call our office today at (252) 429-5161. See how our Greenville truck accident attorneys can help you.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents can be caused by a variety of factors. However, the majority of truck accidents are caused by one or more acts of negligence. When a person or party fails to act reasonably or with reasonable care and this failure results in harm to another person, that person or party can be held legally liable for the victim's injuries and damages.
Some common causes of truck accidents in Greenville include:
- Truck driver negligence: This includes things like speeding, tailgating, distracted driving, and drowsy driving.
- Truck driver error: This includes things like making improper turns, driving under the influence, and failing to yield the right of way.
- Truck driver impairment: This includes things like driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and driving while fatigued.
- Truck driver inexperience: This includes things like failing to properly load the cargo, failing to properly secure the cargo, and failing to account for the truck's size and weight when driving.
- Truck equipment failure: This includes things like brake failure, tire blowouts, and faulty steering mechanisms.
- Improper truck maintenance: This includes things like failing to properly inspect the truck and failing to properly maintain the truck.
- Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo: This includes things like failing to properly load the cargo, failing to properly secure the cargo, and failing to account for the truck's size and weight when driving.
- Manufacturing defects: This includes things like faulty tires, faulty brakes, and faulty steering mechanisms.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident?
Determining liability is a critical step in any truck accident claim. To recover compensation for your losses, you will need to be able to prove that another person or party was at fault for the accident. In some cases, this may be the truck driver. In other cases, it may be the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, or another party.
Depending on the circumstances, the liable party may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck manufacturer
- The truck maintenance company
- The shipping company
- Another driver
What Are the Federal Trucking Regulations?
Federal trucking regulations in the United States are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to ensure the safety of commercial vehicles, drivers, and the public. These regulations govern various aspects of the trucking industry, including driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and cargo securement.
Some of the key regulations include:
- Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations: These rules limit the number of hours a commercial driver can operate a vehicle to prevent fatigue-related accidents. Generally, drivers are allowed to drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, with a maximum of 60 hours on duty in seven days or 70 hours in eight days. Drivers are also required to take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving.
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Requirements: To operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), drivers must obtain a CDL, which involves passing knowledge and skills tests. The CDL system includes different classes and endorsements depending on the type of vehicle driven, such as those for hazardous materials (HazMat) or passenger transport.
- Drug and Alcohol Testing: Federal regulations mandate that trucking companies conduct drug and alcohol testing for their drivers. This includes pre-employment testing, random testing, post-accident testing, and testing for reasonable suspicion. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for CMV drivers is 0.04%.
- Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection: Trucking companies are required to regularly inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles to ensure they are safe to operate. Drivers must also conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections to identify and report any defects or issues.
- Cargo Securement: FMCSA regulations specify how cargo should be secured to prevent shifting or falling during transport, which could cause accidents. These rules apply to all types of cargo, from general freight to specific items like logs, pipes, and vehicles.
- Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): The ELD mandate requires most commercial drivers to use electronic devices to record their driving hours automatically. This rule is designed to ensure compliance with HOS regulations and to reduce the risk of falsified logbooks.
- Driver Qualifications: Federal regulations set minimum qualifications for CMV drivers, including age (usually 21 years old for interstate driving), physical health standards, and a clean driving record. Drivers must undergo regular medical examinations to maintain their CDL.
These regulations are designed to enhance safety and reduce the risk of accidents involving commercial trucks. Trucking companies and drivers who fail to comply with these regulations can face penalties, including fines, license suspension, and increased liability in the event of an accident.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks, the injuries that can result from truck accidents are often severe. In many cases, the victims of truck accidents suffer from catastrophic injuries that can have lifelong consequences.
Some examples of common truck accident injuries in Greenville include:
- Broken bones: The force of impact in a truck accident can easily break a person's bones.
- Soft tissue injuries: This includes things like sprains, strains, and deep bruising.
- Lacerations: In severe cases, truck accident victims may suffer from deep cuts and lacerations.
- Internal organ damage: The force of impact in a truck accident can cause a person's organs to be crushed, punctured, or otherwise damaged.
- Burns: If a truck accident causes a fire, the victims may suffer from severe burns.
- Spinal cord injuries: The force of impact in a truck accident can cause a person's spinal cord to be crushed, severed, or otherwise damaged.
- Paralysis: In severe cases, truck accident victims may suffer from partial or complete paralysis.
- Amputations: In severe cases, truck accident victims may suffer from the loss of a limb.
- Head and brain injuries: The force of impact in a truck accident can cause a person's head to be struck by an object or to strike an object.
- Concussions: In severe cases, truck accident victims may suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can cause permanent brain damage.
How Can a Greenville Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. However, truck accident claims are notoriously complex.
They often involve multiple liable parties and large insurance companies that will do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. This is why it is so important to have an experienced truck accident lawyer in Greenville on your side.
A truck accident lawyer in Greenville can help you by:
- Investigating the accident: This includes things like reviewing the accident report, interviewing witnesses, and visiting the scene of the accident.
- Gathering evidence: This includes things like the truck's black box data, the truck driver's logbook, and more.
- Calculating your total losses: This includes things like your medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.
- Negotiating with the insurance company: Your attorney can handle all communication and negotiation with the insurance company, so you can focus on your recovery.
- Filing a lawsuit: If the insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement, your attorney can file a lawsuit and represent you in court.
At Lanier Law Group, P.A., our truck accident lawyers in Greenville have decades of combined legal experience. We know how to build strong cases and we know how to win. You can rely on us to provide you with the personalized, one-on-one legal guidance you need and the aggressive representation you deserve.
At Lanier Law Group, P.A., we have 11 office locations and are prepared to fight for you. Call us today at (252) 429-5161 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled Greenville attorneys.
We Fight for Our Clients
*Featured Case Results, Settlements, & Trial Wins From Our Attorneys
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$5.95 Million Permanent Brain Failure
Our client had a brick fly off of a utility trailer and go through their windshield and hit her on the face.
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$4.8 Million Settlement
A case with multiple plaintiffs who were potentially exposed to a deadly disease while in the hospital.
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$4.3 Million Head-On Collision
Personal injury litigation settlement for a client who was involved in a head-on collision with a commercial tractor-trailer.
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$3.1 Million Birth Injury/Hypoxic Brain Injury
The OB doctor’s negligence caused a delay in the baby’s birth which resulted in the baby suffering of a severe hypoxic brain injury.
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$1.8 Million Litigation Settlement
Our client was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a meat truck.
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$1.375 Million Medication Overdose/Hospital Negligence
Our client died following an overdose of medication that occurred as a result of the negligence of the nursery staff while they were in the hospital.
We Never Back Down From a Fight
Featured Reviews, Testimonials & Results
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There are times in your life you are so hurt and feel life has a grudge against you. Nothing in your life is going right. I lost the most important person in my life to death, of which I knew mistakes were made because I witnessed it with my own eyes. When you contact a law group you most of the time get all business and a matter of fact conversation. I want all to know that from the first phone call they listened to my lengthy story, sobbing most of the time with so much compassion. They never made any promises but offered assurances that no stone would be unturned. They fulfilled every word they said. They restored faith that I had lost. Until you are in a position like mine you can never know how invaluable Lanier Law Group is. They were wonderful while maintaining their professionalism. They treated me like a family member. They really do care about their clients. But most of all they are the best at what they do. I worked in the court system for years so I knew how attorneys and law firms basically operated. Understanding the law and it's interpretation is the ultimate key to winning any case. Also know that if an attorney/attorneys study and review your case and know that you don't have a chance in a court of law and are big enough to tell you that instead of giving you false hope, you then my friend have a group with valuable shared values. I have so much respect for everyone in this Law Group. I recommend Lanier Law Group, P.A. to anyone who needs representation, they are in your corner. 20 out of 10 stars.- Diane W.
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I started working with Lanier Law Group in 2020 on my Social Security Disability case. They from start to finish were awesome. My case manager Janet Hanks and attorney, Ashley Sappenfield were always available to answer all my questions. I did not have to do much but sit back and let them handle whatever was needed. My case took too long (2 years) and if I did not have Janet and Ashley My case would still not be approved. I would recommend Lanier to anyone to get the job done and approved. Do not go to another firm with your case, who promise the world and do not see it to completion and do not think another firms would have worked as hard as they did on my case. Lanier Law Group will always be the choice for me and all my family members to handle any cases of this type and other legal services they provide. They went above and beyond!- Phillip J.
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Mrs. Gonzalez did an awesome job of explaining everything in detail and keeping me informed on the status of my case. Despite poor customer service with the insurance company, Mrs. Gonzalez was able to fix what they could not. Mrs. Gonzalez was very helpful with helping me understand things that I was not aware of when dealing with insurance claims. I am so thankful for her expertise and professionalism.- Mario H.
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The staff kept me well informed in a more than timely manner and was always ready to answer any questions I may have.- Timothy M.
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The Lanier Law Group provided excellent customer service! My main contact was Denise.- Malinda P.
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Great experience. Tish was very helpful as my case progressed and explained all of the steps to me, leaving me with very few questions. Shea was also very helpful during the negotiation process.- Nyesha B.
Don't Hire Just Any Firm
Take Control of Your Case Today With the Help of Lanier Law Group
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Our attorneys are confident taking cases to trial and will always seek to maximize your compensation.
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Regardless of when you contact our firm, we're here to make sure that you get the answers you need. We also offer weekend appointments and consultations.
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Every case we take on has a team of dedicated professionals assigned to make sure that we're delivering the best possible service and results.
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After an injury, every second counts. We are available to meet with you in person, virtually, or at your location to provide the highest quality legal counsel.