At Bringardner Injury Law Firm, we are South Carolina commercial vehicle accident lawyers. We represent victims in compensation claims for personal injury and wrongful death. When you’re hurt in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, a lawyer can fight the corporations and big insurance companies. That’s what you can expect from Bringardner Injury Law Firm.
If you work with our South Carolina commercial vehicle accident lawyers, we will take care of everything needed for your case. Free consultations are available, and if we take your case we can start working for you today. Contact us now.
You Need a Lawyer
Have you been involved in an accident with a:
- Commercial truck
- Commercial van
- Industrial vehicle
- Company vehicle
- Shuttle
- Limousine
- Touring vehicle
- Delivery or service vehicles
- Fleet vehicle
- Utility or work truck
Why you may need a lawyer to represent your interests:
A commercial vehicle transports goods or paying passengers. In addition, a commercial vehicle includes any motor vehicle that is registered to a company or corporation.
If you’re hurt in a motor vehicle collision involving a commercial vehicle, you may have the right to claim financial compensation.
There are some ways that claims involving commercial vehicles are especially complex. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – a commercial vehicle is likely to be insured. However, the claims process can be especially important to make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Bringardner Injury Law Firm has extensive experience representing victims in commercial vehicle accident claims. Let our team take care of everything. We will protect you, pursue your interests, and do everything we can to maximize the monetary payment for your injuries and damages.
Understanding Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Each driver has a duty of care to operate safely on the roads. Each business that uses commercial vehicles has a duty of care to make sure its vehicles are operated safely. Standards for fault in an accident are based on negligence. Negligence is essentially carelessness or failing to do what a reasonable person would do. Each case is different and depends on the specific situation, including the circumstances surrounding commercial vehicles and the companies that use them.
Here are some examples of fault for accidents involving commercial drivers:
- Hiring an unqualified or unsafe driver
- Inadequate training for drivers, especially for vehicles not typically used for personal use
- Retaining an unqualified driver after a history of incidents
- Failing to properly monitor and supervise drivers
- Requiring workers to operate for long periods of time without breaks
- Mishandled loads, trailer sway
- Drivers rushing between tasks
- Violating traffic laws
- Unsafe parking or stopping
- Failing to properly maintain the vehicle
- Poor driving skills and vehicle maneuvering
Employer fault for what employees do
There are multiple reasons that an employer may be responsible for a commercial vehicle accident caused by an employee.
While driving in the scope of their job duties, the employee is the representative and agent of the employer. When the employee is negligent while on the job and causes a motor vehicle accident, the employer is held responsible. The legal doctrine is called respondeat superior. Sams v. Arthur, 135 S.C. 123 (1926).
Liability for an employer direct negligence
In addition to liability for an employee’s negligence, an employer can be independently liable.
They may hire an unqualified driver. They may allow a worker to remain on the job despite warning signs that the person can’t safely operate their vehicle. Direct liability can be found in the employer’s own negligence. See James v Kelly Trucking Company, 377 S.C. 628 (2008).
Issues in Commercial Vehicle Accidents
There are several reasons that you need the right South Carolina commercial vehicle accident lawyer representing you.
Commercial vehicles are typically well-insured
When an accident involves individual drivers and vehicle owners, insurance coverage is always a question mark. Hopefully the at-fault driver has coverage, but some don’t. Commercial vehicles, on the other hand, are usually well-insured. Victims must identify existing insurance policies, compensation limits and how to pursue compensation.
Insurance companies don’t want to pay
Despite a high likelihood of insurance coverage, you can expect the insurance companies to put up a fight when it comes to paying your claim. They may offer you a low settlement. Without a lawyer, you may not know that the offer is too low. The insurance company’s lawyers may tell you that you don’t have a case. Without a lawyer, you may not know what your case is truly worth.
At Bringardner Injury Law Firm, we anticipate the tactics of the insurance company. We know what it takes to go up against the insurance companies and win.
An investigation may be especially important
Commercial vehicles are often large and mechanically complex. There may be elements of the vehicle’s design or maintenance that impacted the collision and injuries.
Accident reconstruction may reveal how the accident occurred. Investigating and evaluating the accident must be done accurately, diligently and in detail. Knowing what to look for in an investigation is especially important when an accident involves a commercial vehicle.
Damages may be high, and you must prove them
Commercial vehicles tend to be large. They may contain equipment or cargo. Victims are often in smaller vehicles with less protection in a crash. With serious injuries, victims need serious compensation.
To receive the compensation you deserve, you must understand what compensation is available to you. You may need detailed medical records, financial documentation, expert witnesses and other evidence to support your claim.
Strategy is important
Remember that the insurance companies don’t like paying the full value of a claim. In some cases, it may be necessary to take your case to trial.
When you work with a law firm that isn’t afraid to go to trial, the insurance companies know that you’re going to fight.
That’s what you can expect from our law firm. We often resolve cases through settlements and negotiations because we try cases if the insurance company is not fair. We fight for our clients, relying on our experience and determination to pursue justice.
Talk to Our Lawyers About Your Accident With a Commercial Vehicle
We never charge legal fees unless we recover money for you. There’s no cost for a consultation. We invite you to talk to a South Carolina commercial vehicle accident lawyer at Bringardner Injury Law Firm today.
Let us help you get maximum compensation for your commercial vehicle accident claim. Contact us now.