A seemingly routine drive home in Orangeburg, South Carolina, can become a nightmare after colliding with an 18-wheeler. The physical pain, doctor appointments, and endless calls with the trucking company, who only protect themselves rather than helping you. Add uncaring insurance companies, and it is a familiar tale for many truck accident victims and their loved ones.
But you can count on your Orangeburg truck accident attorney from Marc Brown Law Firm to help you with the legal process. Your Orangeburg personal injury lawyer at our firm will work tirelessly to hold the trucking company accountable if their negligence and the truck driver’s reckless behavior caused you harm.
Preserve Crucial Evidence After a Truck Accident
After a devastating truck accident, the trucking company and their insurance provider immediately enter damage control mode. Their priority is to protect their interests, often at the expense of your right to fair compensation. Here’s what happens behind the scenes:
- Trucking companies deploy a rapid response team to accident scenes within hours, if not minutes. The team gathers evidence to build a defense strategy, often before you’ve even had a chance to seek legal counsel.
- They prioritize repairing the damaged truck as quickly as possible, potentially erasing crucial evidence that could prove the truck driver’s negligence or the company’s liability.
- Trucking companies and their drivers must meet the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, which require maintaining certain records. However, they may have internal policies legally allowing them to destroy these records immediately. This eliminates valuable evidence related to driver fatigue, vehicle maintenance issues, or other factors that could have contributed to the accident.
- Modern trucks are equipped with in-cabin computers and satellite messaging systems that generate vast amounts of data. This data can be instrumental in your case, but some service providers delete it within days.
- Engine control modules (ECMs), or the truck’s “black box,” record vital information like speed, braking, and acceleration. This data is critical in proving the truck driver’s actions leading up to the accident. However, this data must be downloaded quickly, as it can only be recovered if preserved.
How an Experienced Orangeburg Truck Accident Attorney Helps
Remember, time is of the essence. South Carolina law under S.C. Ann. ยง 15-3-530 imposes a time limit for filing lawsuits. Your car accident attorney will compassionately review your case and explain the deadlines for your claim, whether for personal injury or wrongful death. Here is how we help:
- Send a spoliation letter to demand that the trucking company preserve all relevant evidence
- Your attorney can seek a court order to compel the company to preserve electronic data and other crucial evidence if necessary
- Your attorney can hire experts to analyze the available evidence and reconstruct the accident, ensuring no stone is left unturned in your pursuit of justice
- An attorney can guide you through interactions with insurance adjusters and the at-fault party, protecting your rights and preventing missteps that could jeopardize your compensation.
You Deserve Just Compensation
Your truck accident lawyer in Orangeburg will investigate the accident, identify all liable parties, and build a solid case to secure maximum compensation for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
- Wrongful death in case of fatalities
- Punitive damages
Trust Marc Brown Law Firm With Your Truck Accident Claim
Truck accidents rarely result in minor injuries. When a massive commercial truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the occupants often suffer severe or even catastrophic harm, ranging from whiplash and facial injuries to broken bones and traumatic brain injuries.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, do not settle for less than you deserve. Contact an experienced Orangeburg truck accident lawyer with Marc Brown Law Firm today to ensure you receive fair compensation for your substantial damages. You can reach us by phone or through our quick contact form to get started.