Mount Pleasant Truck Accident Attorneys

Free Case Evaluation

Call 803-327-7800 now or fill out the form above to schedule your free case evaluation.

Mount Pleasant Truck Accident Lawyers

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Fighting for South Carolina accident victims for 20 years

Mount Pleasant is a large suburban town in Charleston County. Tractor-trailers, rigs, semis, and other large commercial trucks regularly travel on the main highways - Routes 17 and 703 and Interstate 526. Construction trucks, pickup trucks, and delivery trucks routinely travel on Mt. Pleasant’s local roads and communities.

At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we have 25 years of experience holding truck drivers and the companies that ship goods into and out of South Carolina liable for the accidents they cause. Our Mt. Pleasant truck accident lawyers aggressively fight to restore your life and compensate you for your financial and personal damages. Call us today to assert your rights.

Free Case Evaluation

Call 803-327-7800 now or fill out the form above to schedule your free case evaluation.

Truck Accident Lawyer Mount Pleasant SC

How Can We Help?

How do your Mount Pleasant truck accident lawyers fight for clients?

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Experience matters. The truck driver and trucking companies will have seasoned lawyers who will try to deny your claim or limit the amount they should pay. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we understand the legal issues. Our lawyers anticipate the arguments and defenses the insurance companies will assert. We work with a team of liability and medical professionals. We fight for truck accident victims in many ways, including the following:

  • We investigate the truck accident. This includes having our own investigators examine the accident site, examine the damaged vehicles, and speak to any witnesses. We also review the police investigation of the accident.
  • Conduct discovery. Our Mount Pleasant truck accident lawyers question the defendants in writing and orally. We question everyone who has knowledge of your truck accident. Our lawyers also examine the shipping arrangements, any electronic logging devices, any black boxes, and any other relevant evidence.
  • Determine your damages. We review all your damages by speaking with your doctors so we can understand the medical care you need, the cost of that care, and all the ways your injuries are making your life difficult and upsetting. We review with your employer, financial experts, life planners, and other experts to calculate your other damages.
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, our lawyers understand how to negotiate with insurance companies, including what offers and counteroffers they are likely to make.
  • Try your case in court. If the insurance companies (there are often more than one) fail to make a fair settlement offer, our lawyers are ready to argue your case before a jury of your Mount Pleasant and Charleston County residents.

Our South Carolina truck accident attorneys represent clients on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not have any upfront costs. We only receive legal fees if your case is successful.

Why are truck accidents more complex than car accidents?

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There are several key differences between truck accidents and car accidents. Generally, the injuries are much more severe in truck accidents due to the size and weight of the truck. Truck accidents are often more deadly than car accidents because of these same factors.

In many car accident cases, the claim is made against just the driver. In most truck accident cases, we file personal injury and wrongful death claims against the driver and corporations such as the truck driver’s employer or the company that owns the trucks.

There are generally more regulations for driving a commercial truck than a car. It is also more likely that one or more of the defendants may be located in another state.

We coordinate the claims, review the applicable laws, file your claim, and negotiate with the different insurance companies.

Why do truck drivers and companies cause accidents in Mount Pleasant?

Almost every truck accident is preventable. Our Mt. Pleasant truck accident lawyers work with local law enforcement, the police, and through the formal discovery process to determine the cause of your accident and why the defendants should pay your damages. Some of the reasons truck accidents happen in South Carolina include the following:

  • Speeding, driving through red lights, tailgating, and other traffic violations.
  • Driving while tired. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that drivers keep electronic logs of how long they operate their trucks. The FMCSA mandates that drivers rest after they have been driving for a specific number of hours during a day and sets weekly limits of 60/70 hours of driving.
  • Driver distraction. Drivers who focus on texting, using a mobile phone, looking at a navigation system, drinking, eating, or adjusting the radio are not focusing on the road and how to handle emergencies.
  • Driving too fast or improperly when it rains, or there is other bad weather.
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Reckless or aggressive driving.
  • Failing to drive safely at construction sites.
  • Defective truck parts such as hydraulic systems, electrical systems, brakes, tires, and coupling devices.
  • Trucking company failures. These include the failure of a trucking company to:
    • Vet their drivers
    • Educate their drivers
    • Regularly inspect their trucks
    • Properly load the cargo into/onto their trucks

What are the different kinds of truck accidents?

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Truck drivers of semis, tractor-trailers, and other trucks of all shapes and sizes cause accidents in the same ways that other drivers do. They may tailgate, causing a rear-end collision. They may drive through a red light, causing a broadside collision. They may drive while under the influence of alcohol, causing a head-on accident.

Our Mt. Pleasant truck accident lawyers handle all types of truck accidents, no matter the type of vehicle. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we handle:

  • Jackknife accidents – often due to skidding or speeding that cause a tractor and trailer to travel at different speeds or different paths.
  • Rollover accidents – due to improper loading, overloading, taking curves too fast, the center of gravity of the truck, and other factors.
  • Underride accidents in which a small car slides under a tall truck, usually killing the occupants
  • Blind spot accidents because drivers cannot see around the sides and rear of their truck
  • Tire blowouts
  • Cargo overload and improperly loaded cargo accidents
  • Wide-turn truck accidents
  • Single-vehicle and multi-vehicle accidents
  • Passing and merging accidents

Some large trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. When that truck collides with a smaller vehicle in Mt. Pleasant, the people in the smaller vehicles are going to suffer very serious injuries or fatalities.

What types of injuries do Mt. Pleasant accidents cause?

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At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we represent accident victims who have any type of serious injury, including injuries that require a lifetime of medical care. We work with surgeons, orthopedists, neurologists, pain management doctors, and a full range of physicians who treat drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders.

Our Mt. Pleasant truck accident victims represent clients who have the following types of injuries, among others:

Who is liable for my injuries?

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Do not assume that only the truck driver is liable. The companies involved in the shipment and other defendants may also be responsible. It’s important to identify all the defendants because each defendant has their own insurance coverage – and your claim may be worth much more than the policy limits that the driver has.

At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we review all aspects of the Mount Pleasant truck accident, the employment arrangements, and the shipping contracts. We file personal injury and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible, including the following:

  • The driver of the truck
  • The employer of the truck driver
  • The owner of the truck, such as when a fleet owner leases out their trucks
  • The broker who arranges the shipment
  • The companies that load the shipment
  • Shipping companies like Amazon and FedEx
  • Manufacturers of defective truck parts
  • Maintenance and repair companies
  • Sellers of alcohol
  • Construction companies

If your accident is due to faulty road maintenance or improper road maintenance, we may also file a claim against a South Carolina entity or agency.

Is there a time limit for filing a lawsuit in South Carolina?

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The statute of limitations (time frame) for filing your truck accident case in Mt. Pleasant is generally three years from the date of the truck accident. Some exceptions may apply.

We recommend that you contact us now so that we can talk to witnesses, investigate the accident site, put the insurance companies on notice, and speak with your doctors. These factors can help make your case stronger.

What is my truck accident lawsuit worth?

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The value of your case depends on how much a jury is likely to pay. Insurance companies base their offers on that determination. We base our offers on that determination. After the investigation phase and the formal discovery phase (questioning everyone who has relevant knowledge), we will prepare a formal demand.

Our demand is based on the following:

  • Your pain and suffering – how much you hurt and how much you worry or become upset/depressed because of your injuries.
  • Your medical bills – including ER care, surgeries, hospitalizations, rehabilitative care, and medications
  • Your income loss – including wages, benefits, business income, and permanent disability income
  • The damage to your vehicle
  • Compensation if you have any scarring or disfigurement or lose the ability to use a body part
  • Compensation for your inability to enjoy life’s pleasures, including spousal relations

The demand includes the damages you have so far and the future damages you are reasonably likely to have.

If your parent, spouse, or child dies, we will help you obtain wrongful death compensation for the following:

  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Any medical bills for your loved one due to the Mt. Pleasant truck accident
  • Any pain and suffering of your loved one due to the accident
  • Your pain and suffering due to your tragic loss
  • Loss of financial support from your family member
  • Loss of love, guidance, education, and comfort your loved one would have given each family member

Do you have a Mount Pleasant truck accident lawyer near me?

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Yes. We meet clients at our Mt. Pleasant office, located at 10 Shem Drive, Suite 300. We speak with truck accident victims by phone and through online video forums like Zoom. If your injuries make it too difficult to come to our office, we can make alternative arrangements to meet with you at a convenient location.

Our lawyers have helped many people just like you. We’re here to guide you through this difficult time.

Speak with McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC now

Truck accidents change lives in an instant. One moment, you’re enjoying the pleasures of Mt. Pleasant. The next moment, you’re in a hospital, scared for your future. We’re here to help you. Our Mt. Pleasant truck accident lawyers have more than 25 years of experience fighting aggressively to hold truck drivers and trucking companies liable for the injuries and deaths they cause. Our team prepares each case for a jury trial, though many cases do settle.

Call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. The sooner you speak with us, the faster we can help you recover. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency, which means our success depends on your success.

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