Charleston 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer Information
Semi truck, tractor trailer and 18-wheeler accidents are common occurrences on Charleston roads and highways. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people die as a result of 18-wheeler accidents and big rig collisions in the United States each year with a substantial number of 18-wheeler truck accidents occurring in Charleston, South Carolina, every day. Due to the high population and highly congested traffic throughout Charleston’s sprawling metropolis, the city of Charleston unfortunately has its fair share of big rig truck accidents. In 2009, the U.S. Census estimated Charleston’s population to be at 2.3 million people within an area of 579 square miles. With Charleston being the fourth largest city in the United States and the largest city in the State of South Carolina, 18-wheeler accidents and semi truck crashes on Charleston highways are inevitable.
Charleston’s freeway system, which is made up of 739.3 miles of freeways and expressways in a ten-county metropolitan area, uses a hub-and-spoke freeway structure serviced by multiple loops. The innermost loop is Interstate 610, which encircles Charleston’s downtown, the medical center, and many core neighborhoods with about a 10-mile diameter. The automobile is still the most common form of transportation in Charleston, with approximately 71.7% of its residents driving to work alone each day.
Charleston 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
Due to the sheer weight difference of a car versus the weight of an 18-wheeler or tractor trailer, accidents that involve commercial vehicles often times result in severe injuries or even death. Compared to the average weight of an automobile, which is only 5,000 pounds, one can easily see how much more dangerous commercial vehicles like an 18 wheeler can be. That is why if you are injured by a semi truck or commercial vehicle in Charleston, it is important that you choose an experienced Charleston 18-wheeler accident attorney who knows the truck regulations and laws both nationally and for the State of South Carolina.
Commercial vehicles go by different names such as:
- Big Rig
- 18 Wheeler
- Tractor Trailer
- Semi Truck
- Stake Truck
Charleston truck accidents caused by an 18-wheeler, big rig, semi truck, tractor trailer, bus or commercial vehicle are common on Charleston streets, avenues and highways. Many of the semi truck crashes that occur in the city of Charleston happen along the major Charleston highways, which include the US-17, US-52, SH-30, I-526, and I-26.
Types of Trucks
The following trucks do specific things and carry certain types of cargo:
- Bob-Tail Trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Refrigerated trucks
- Flat bed trucks
- Logging trucks
Buses are also considered commercial vehicles as well, but as a rule do not haul cargo. Instead a bus is a transportation vehicle that carries children or adults such as a school bus or commercial bus like Greyhound. School bus accidents or commercial bus accidents are common on Charleston roads and freeways. The causes may vary, but often times the accident is a result of hazardous road conditions or driver negligence.
It is essential to hire a Charleston bus accident lawyer if you have been involved in the following type of accident:
- Charleston city buses;
- transportation buses such as Greyhound;
- shuttle bus accidents when driving to and from the airport, such as Charleston International Airport or Hilton Head Airport; and/or,
- casino bus accidents that occur running back and forth from Charleston Museum.
The ways Charleston truck accidents happen occur are too numerous to list. Blind spots, rear-ends, sideswipes, head-ons, load overturns, jack-knifes are all possible and can result in fatal wrongful death truck accidents.
If you live in Charleston and have a claims for an accident that involved a big rig or an 18 wheeler, your case might be filed in one of these courts:
Charleston County Circuit Court - Court of Common Pleas
100 Broad Street Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 958-5000
Straight Truck Accident Lawyers Serve Charleston and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Southeastern South Carolina, including Andrews, Burton, Charleston, Cross, Garden City Beach, Georgetown, Goose Creek, Hendersonville, Hilton Head Island, Holly Hill, James Island, Johns Island, McClellanville, Moncks Corner, Mount Holly, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Orangeburg, St. George, St. Mathews, Summerville, Walterboro, areas in the vicinity of Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston International Airport and Air Force Base, and other communities in Charleston County.
Charleston 18-wheeler accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Charleston 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.
Types of Trucks
What is Board Certified in Civil Trial or Personal Injury Trial Law & What are the Requirements?
Lawyer Advertising in South Carolina Regarding
"Specialization"
Many successful lawyers seek to distinguish themselves by becoming board certified in various areas of law. The State of South Carolina's Rule of Professional conduct Rule 7.4 sets rules for lawyers who wish to advertise that they have a "specialty" or "specialize" in a particular area of law.
In South Carolina, The Supreme Court of South Carolina Commission on CLE and Specialization governs attorney specialization according to South Carolina Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4
Rule 7.4 Communication of Fields of Practice and Specialization
RULE 408 - CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZATION
If you wish to retain an attorney it is not essential that they be a "Specialist" in civil law to do an excellent job. However, if you wish to only choose a lawyer that has earned a "Specialization" from an ABA approved organization and you are unsure if they have a specialization, simply ask if they do hold such a specialization.
Serving clients throughout Southeastern South Carolina, including Andrews, Burton, Charleston, Cross, Garden City Beach, Georgetown, Goose Creek, Hendersonville, Hilton Head Island, Holly Hill, James Island, Johns Island, McClellanville, Moncks Corner, Mount Holly, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Orangeburg, St. George, St. Mathews, Summerville, Walterboro, areas in the vicinity of Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston International Airport and Air Force Base, and other communities in Charleston County.
Hiring a Charleston 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in an 18 wheeler truck accident in Charleston, South Carolina, it is recommended that you hire a qualified Charleston 18-wheeler accident lawyer who is knowledgeable in federal laws and South Carolina state laws regarding trucking regulations. Charleston, located in Charleston County, is the largest city in South Carolina with extensive roadways and congested freeways due to its high population. Therefore, it is not uncommon for truck collisions, wrecks, crashes and injuries to occur due to the high amount of traffic. If you or a loved one have been injured in a Southeast South Carolina truck accident, contact a qualified Charleston semi truck accident attorney today for a free initial consultation.
Charleston & South Carolina Professional Associations
In addition to selecting a qualified Charleston accident & injury lawyer that regularly handles Charleston big rig truck accident cases, you should also check out the attorney
Types of Trucks on Charleston Highways
There are many types of commercial trucks found in and around Charleston, South Carolina. Trucking companies in Charleston offer a wide variety of vehicle choices. Some Charleston trucking companies deal with courier and small package delivery as well. Some companies offer bicycle couriers for downtown Metro areas and will also use an assortment of vehicles ranging from cars, vans and pick-up trucks to large tractor-trailers and bobtail trucks.
Types of Trucks Used By Charleston Trucking Companies:
- 18 Wheeler
- Semi Truck
- Tractor Trailer
- Big Rig
- Semi Trailer
- Box Truck
- Straight Truck
- Flatbed Truck
- Stake Truck
- Bobtail Truck
Be sure to insist on the highest levels of safety by selecting a reputable Charleston trucking company that uses late model vehicles which are inspected on a regular basis.
When to Hire a Charleston Semi Truck Accident Lawyer
In many cases, Charleston 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways a Charleston tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious box truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need a Charleston truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Charleston truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Charleston tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.
Charleston Trucking Companies
Following is a list of trucking companies based in Charleston, South Carolina. Services offered include container drayage, loose freight drayage, overweight loads, bonded moves, same day delivery.
A R Skipper INC
AA Auto Service Center
Aaro Trans LLC
Adeona Shipping And Logistics LLC
Albrecht Trucking INC |
Allegience Moving Company INC
Altman Trucking LLC
ATS Intermodel LLC
Autometrics Motosports
Boats On Wheels LLC |
Some companies deal with the transport of import and export containers through the Port of Charleston, which is located nearby. |
18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve Charleston and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Southeastern South Carolina, including Andrews, Burton, Charleston, Cross, Garden City Beach, Georgetown, Goose Creek, Hendersonville, Hilton Head Island, Holly Hill, James Island, Johns Island, McClellanville, Moncks Corner, Mount Holly, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Orangeburg, St. George, St. Mathews, Summerville, Walterboro, areas in the vicinity of Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston International Airport and Air Force Base, and other communities in Charleston County.
Charleston truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Charleston truck accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.
Charleston Bobtail Truck Accident Lawyers Represent Injured Truck Drivers
Truck drivers who operate an 18-wheeler truck or big rig on the busy roads and highways of Charleston such as US-17, US-52, SH-30, I-526 or I-26, can become injured when a major commercial vehicle collision occurs. Truckers often say, “Ride with me for just one day and you will see what it is like ‘out there’…it’s not always the trucker’s fault…”
It is not uncommon to see a big rig wreck, semi crash or major accident involving semi truck drivers in Charleston, SC. Charleston’s freeway system, which is made up of 739.3 miles of freeways and expressways in a ten-county metropolitan area, uses a hub-and-spoke freeway structure which is serviced by multiple loops. The danger of an 18-wheeler truck accident is not just confined to injured people in automobiles, but can end up injuring the truck driver affecting their livelihood and family’s livelihood as well as the automobile driver. So, when a Charleston 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer is contacted, be it by an automobile driver who has been injured or a truck driver that has been injured at the dangerous hands of another, you will need an expert Charleston truck injury lawyer to fight for your rights.
The Semi Truck Driver is Not Always at Fault
When an 18-wheeler is moving down a Charleston road or highway, such as US-17, US-52, SH-30, I-526, or I-26 at high speeds, it is nearly unstoppable and can easily turn a motorist’s everyday commute into a lethal situation. Although a passenger car is lightweight, in comparison, and can easily maneuver in and out of lanes on Charleston highways, it is no match for a big rig truck. If the two vehicles are unable to avoid a collision, wreck or crash, the driver of the passenger car will be lucky to escape with their life.
A driver of a passenger vehicle could easily be killed as a result of veering out of his lane and then smashing into a tractor trailer truck let’s say on the U.S. 59 Southwest Freeway which is just under the beltway in Charleston. If the trucker tried to avoid hitting the passenger car but was unable to avoid the wreck or crash, then this would be a case where the accident was caused by the driver of the passenger vehicle and therefore the trucker would not be at fault.
Truck Driver Facts
- Two of your fellow truck drivers die each day in accidents
- 33,000 people driving large trucks are injured each year
- 6.3% of U.S. truck drivers are injured each year.
Injured Truckers Need Legal Representation
A qualified Charleston 18-wheeler accident attorney should offer a free case review. If they decide to take on your legal matter, they should not require an up-front fee. Truckers with a trucking injury claim are generally taken on a contingency fee basis. In other words, your Charleston truck accident attorney is only paid if you receive compensation for your injuries.
Injured Truckers Need to Know Their Rights
As a trucker, you have rights you need to be aware of. It is not uncommon for aggressive insurance companies to contact you shortly after the accident in an effort to try to get you to settle quickly and convince you that you want the matter to go away. In many cases, injuries are not so quick to heal. Many times the injuries can be permanent, long-lasting, and career-threatening. That is why you need a competent Charleston truck accident lawyer that is not only prepared to mediate a resolution, but also prepared to take your case to court.
When Negligence Changes a Trucker’s Life
Qualified Charleston truck accident lawyers know exactly how to provide nationwide representation for truckers injured in trucking accidents caused by a variety of negligent acts and mechanical malfunctions, including:
- Rear-end, Head-On Crashes and Jackknives
- Poor Maintenance, including Tires and Brakes
- Driver Fatigue
- Unsecured Loads
- Aggressive Driving
- DWI/Drug Use
- Lack of Reflectors and Poor Visibility
Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, litigation can be very complex. Hiring a semi truck accident attorney who specializes in the numerous trucking laws throughout the United States is essential for a successful verdict outcome. For more information about trucking laws or to schedule an appointment with an experienced commercial truck injury lawyer, contact a truck injury attorney today.
When an 18 Wheeler accident occurs, your Charleston truck accident lawyer will check the truck driver’s credentials to see if he/she attended an accredited Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) school. In Charleston, South Carolina, one truck driving school is 911 Driving School, 1055 South Carolina 41, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466, although there are many others throughout the country. See the Nationwide List of Accredited CDL Schools for a more comprehensive list.
Resources for Truck Drivers |
Trucking Schools (earn your CDL):
911 Driving School
Palmetto Training Inc
Trident Technical College |
Occupational Health Care Facilities
NHC HealthCare, Charleston
Medcare Express
Carolina Center Occupational |
Companies that provide towing services for big rigs: |
Craven's Towing
CMA Mobile Automotive Services
American Towing Services |
Ray's Towing
Jenning's Towing & Garage Inc
Herbie's Towing Service |
Contact a Charleston 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer for a free initial consultation. |
Truck Accident Attorneys for Injured Truckers Serve Charleston and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Southeastern South Carolina, including Andrews, Burton, Charleston, Cross, Garden City Beach, Georgetown, Goose Creek, Hendersonville, Hilton Head Island, Holly Hill, James Island, Johns Island, McClellanville, Moncks Corner, Mount Holly, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Orangeburg, St. George, St. Mathews, Summerville, Walterboro, areas in the vicinity of Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston International Airport and Air Force Base, and other communities in Charleston County.
Charleston truck accident attorneys for injured truckers are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Charleston 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.