(843) 314-4202
The Only Truck Accident Lawyer in Goose Creek You Need
According to more recent census data, Goose Creek, SC’s population exceeds 46,000. Since it is situated at the intersection of many busy roads in and out of Charleston, significant traffic-related accidents involving cars and trucks now occur regularly. In a report from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, more than 60 Berkeley County truck accidents happen each year, with approximately 58 resulting in serious injuries. These numbers are staggering.
At Hopkins Law Firm, we represent individuals injured in such accidents and who require the professional services of a Goose Creek commercial truck accident lawyer. Our team has been helping injured parties for over two decades, and during this time, they have acquired extensive knowledge of how to handle these claims to achieve the best possible outcome. Our Goose Creek truck accident lawyers take a comprehensive approach to every case they handle, focusing on what is important to you.
Additionally, we are available to answer your questions whenever they come up. The result is that you are getting more than a lawyer when you bring Hopkins Law Firm onto your case; you’re getting an advocate who will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you through every step of the process.
Causes of Goose Creek Truck Accidents
Trucks are unique vehicles in that they are significantly larger and heavier than other vehicles. What’s more, the nature of a truck driver’s job puts additional pressure on them that most motorists simply don’t face. The following represent the most common causes of truck accidents in Goose Creek, SC.
Distracted Driving
We’re living in an era where everyone, everywhere, is glued to their mobile devices, and this, unfortunately has made the roads unsafe across the world. Because truck drivers spend long hours on the road to reach their destination, they are especially prone to boredom and become susceptible to finding ways to keep themselves occupied. In doing so, truckers often engage in activities that remove their attention off the road, increasing the chances of causing an accident.
Some of the most common distractions among truck drivers include:
- Talking on the phone
- Scrolling social media
- Texting while driving
- Watching television
- Playing games on the phone
- Using the truck’s CB radio
- Eating/drinking
- Talking with any passengers
At the office of this respected truck accident lawyer in Goose Creek, we make sure a truck driver is held liable for any injuries caused by any of these distractions.
Fatigue/Drowsy Driving
By law, truck drivers are required to engage in 10 hours of rest for every 11 hours they drive. Unfortunately, some truck drivers in South Carolina have found ways to skirt around this requirement, but it can have catastrophic results: when a trucker skips out on sufficient sleep, it dramatically increases the chances of the driver nodding off behind the wheel. This type of fatigue-related driving can lead to serious accidents, often involving other cars, trucks, and pedestrians.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Speeding – like, seemingly, everywhere nowadays – is a common cause of needing a truck accident lawyer in Goose Creek, and a speeding truck driver will likely have even less time to respond to sudden road obstacles like other drivers and pedestrians. Because of the vehicle’s size and weight, the maneuverability and response time do not allow for much error.
Impaired Driving
Some Goose Creek truck drivers, to fend off the inevitable fatigue that sets in after covering hundreds of miles per day, will rely on illegal or over-the-counter drugs to help keep them alert. While these substances may assist truck drivers in staying on the road longer, they compromise a trucker’s ability to operate their rig safely. What’s more, once the effects of a drug wear off, truckers often find themselves even more fatigued than before, impacting their ability to drive safely even further.
Mechanical Failures
Because semis and other large trucks rely on the myriad of complex systems that must work together for the vehicle to operate safely, mechanical failures remain common. When one system fails, the driver may lose control of the rig, or the truck’s trailer may detach, leading to a potentially catastrophic truck accident.
Some common equipment failures that may lead to a Goose Creek truck accident include:
- Defective tires
- Defective brakes
- Poorly maintained or defective truck parts
- Defective lights
- Overloaded cargo/misloaded cargo
- Tire failures
- Trailer-related defects
- Steering system failures
How Your Trusted Truck Accident Lawyer in Goose Creek Fights for You After a Truck Accident
As the truck accident lawyer Goose Creek SC has come to know and trust, Bill Hopkins and his staff acknowledge that it is simply not fair that hardworking Goose Creek residents find themselves financially disadvantaged by a truck driver’s negligence. After a truck accident, you may find your life turned upside down, and the fact of the matter is that you cannot support your family if you are stuck in the hospital recovering from severe accident-related injuries. Even after your eventual release from the hospital, you may face additional recovery time and medical expenses.
Through a truck accident lawsuit, truck accident victims can obtain meaningful compensation to help them move on more smoothly after an accident. And that’s where Hopkins Law Firm comes in.
To successfully bring a Goose Creek truck accident case, we establish the following:
- Duty – The truck driver owed you a duty of care.
- Breach – The truck driver violated the duty of care he/she owed you.
- Causation – The truck driver’s actions caused your injuries.
- Damages – You suffered legally recognizable damages due to the accident.
If we can demonstrate these elements, you may be able to bring a claim against the trucking company. Bear in mind that trucking companies are generally liable for their employees’ negligent actions, which means the company might also be responsible for your injuries if a negligent truck driver injured you while acting within the scope of their employment. Alternatively, trucking companies may be held liable if they negligently hired a driver they should have known posed a risk to other motorists.
If our truck accident lawyer in Goose Creek successfully brings an accident lawsuit, you can recover financially for your pain and suffering. While every case is unique, South Carolina law typically allows accident victims to recover for their economic and non-economic damages in the wake of an accident.
A truck accident lawyer in Goose Creek typically defines “economic damages” as those intended to compensate you for the out-of-pocket expenses you incurred due to the accident and include:
- Medical Bills – A list that includes emergency room treatment, hospital expenses, follow-up doctor’s visits, and more.
- Lost Wages – Consisting of the income you would have earned had you not been involved in the accident.
- Decrease in earning capacity due to the long-term effects of your injuries or disability.
- Property damage.
A typical truck accident lawyer in Goose Creek will define “non-economic damages” as those intended to compensate you for the emotional and psychological impact of the accident on your life. Unlike economic damages, these are subjective, meaning they vary significantly based on the individual circumstances of each case. However, non-economic damages include the following:
- Disfigurement
- Humiliation
- Emotional distress
- Inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (involving a spousal relationship)
- Loss of reputation
- Mental anguish
- Loss of society and companionship (involving a relationship with others)
- Physical impairment
- Pain and suffering
Contact Goose Creek Truck Accident Lawyer for Immediate Assistance
If you or a loved one was recently injured in a Goose Creek truck accident, our sympathies – first and foremost – go out to you and your family. We understand the challenges that follow in the wake of a serious accident, and pledge to you that we’ll do whatever we can to help. Our Goose Creek commercial truck accident lawyer team is available to schedule a consultation to discuss the accident and provide you with an honest assessment of your case.
With Hopkins Law Firm on your case, you will immediately be comforted knowing that your situation – and your future – is in caring and capable hands. To learn more and schedule a consultation with one of our Goose Creek truck accident lawyer team members, call us at (843) 314-4202 or visit https://www.hopkinsfirm.com/
