[Transcript]
Hi, my name is Kenneth Berger, and I handle truck accidents throughout the Myrtle Beach area and across South Carolina. When it comes to Myrtle Beach, we have a lot of semi-trucks, big trucks, and 18-wheelers on 17, 501, and many points in between. The combination of beach traffic and heavy trucks has only increased the number of trucking accidents in the Myrtle Beach area and the risk to Myrtle Beach residents and visitors of being involved in an accident with one of these heavy trucks.
Now, we've handled many of these truck accidents, and they are different from car wrecks for a number of reasons. The first reason is that trucks are bigger and can cause more harm. Because they can cause more harm, we're often dealing with higher medical bills, a greater likelihood of permanent injuries, and a greater need for ongoing or future medical care. There is a certain skill set and knowledge base required to handle a trucking case that ties directly into determining the root cause—the underlying reasons why this truck hit you. Why did the truck run a red light? Why did this trucker crash into you from behind? Were they fatigued? Were they under the influence? Was there something wrong with the braking system on the vehicle? Was the load they were carrying too heavy?
Trucks are regulated because we recognize that these heavy trucks can cause tremendous harm and easily cause death. There's an entire regulatory scheme of safety regulations in place to protect the public from getting hurt by an 18-wheeler. Often, when a trucking accident occurs, a number of these safety regulations are violated, and the trucking companies and truckers should be held accountable. Truck wrecks are different from ordinary car accidents in that they are often more vigorously defended by the insurance companies because they realize there’s more at risk—there’s a greater chance of a higher verdict or settlement. They often take measures they might not in a car wreck. We’ve found it's really important to gather evidence on the front end before it starts disappearing. It’s important to do vehicle inspections, get the experts, and pull the black box data from the trucks before that data starts to disappear.
If you’ve been involved in any type of trucking accident in the Myrtle Beach area, I strongly encourage you to speak with an attorney experienced in handling these truck wreck cases. We've handled many of them throughout South Carolina, and at any given time, we're always working on different truck accident cases. We’re very familiar with the experts involved, from those who understand how truck companies operate to collision reconstructionists, conspicuity experts, and human factors experts. There's a lot that goes into making sure the truck driver and the trucking company are held fully accountable. If you have any questions whatsoever regarding one of these 18-wheeler or heavy truck cases, reach out to us today. You can contact us via live chat, fill out the contact form on our website, or pick up the phone and call us. We look forward to hearing from you, answering your questions, and helping in any way we can. [Music]
What to Do After A Truck Accident in South Carolina![Truck Accident in South Carolina]()
Whether you were the person hurt in the collision, or a loved one of the injured party, this information should help guide you on what to do after an accident.
1. Focus on your health.
Lawyers can figure out the insurance and legal issues. Instead of worrying about that, concentrate on getting the medical attention you need. It will benefit your short and long-term wellbeing.
2. Avoid giving an insurance adjuster any information about the wreck until you speak with an attorney.
You have no obligation to speak with the trucking company's insurer. Furthermore, anything you tell them about the collision or your damages will most likely result in them trying to twist your words against you down the road.
3. Consider getting a free consultation from a lawyer with experience handling 18 wheeler and other commercial vehicle accidents in South Carolina.
It might turn out that you can handle your case without legal assistance, but there is no harm in at least getting some free legal advice from an experienced truck accident attorney who understands the issues specific to your case.
4 Factors that Make Semi-Trucks More Dangerous than Cars
Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles pose a much higher risk when an accident occurs.
1. Excessive Weight.
Semi-trucks are much heavier than cars and, therefore, can cause significantly more damage in a crash. Consider the difference between being hit by a 3,000-pound car versus a 70,000-pound truck. The end result is often catastrophic with truck accident injuries ranging from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries or even death.
2. Inability to Brake.
An 18-wheeler’s large size makes it more difficult to brake quickly. For example, when traveling at 65 miles per hour, a passenger vehicle will take about 316 feet to come to a complete stop while a semi-truck will need about 525 feet. The additional distance needed to stop increases the likelihood of being rear-ended by a truck if there’s a sudden stop in traffic, especially if the semi-truck driver is not paying attention.
3. Limited Visibility.
Large trucks have blind spots due to their sizable height and length. In fact, warning signs stating, “If you can’t see me, I can’t see you,” are often seen on the back of tractor trailers. If truck drivers aren’t hyperaware of their surroundings while driving on the interstate, the results could be disastrous.
4. Fatigue.
Unless we’re on a road trip, most of us do not spend more than an hour or two on the road on any given day. On the other hand, truck drivers are often on a never-ending road trip – driving in 10-hour increments for days on end. While regulations have gotten stricter on the amount of time truck drivers can spend behind the wheel, these rules are not guaranteed to prevent fatigue – and likewise, are not always followed. At the end of a shift, it’s understandable that a driver may begin to feel tired, but even a brief moment of drowsiness or distraction could lead to a life-altering crash.
Trucking companies must recognize the dangers their trucks present and take on the responsibility of ensuring they keep South Carolina’s roads as safe as possible. This includes performing thorough background checks on drivers, strictly enforcing all trucking regulations, training drivers on how to recognize and manage fatigue, and purchasing an insurance policy that can cover any damages if their truck driver does cause a wreck.
Contact Us for South Carolina Truck Accidents
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident, you need to reach out to a South Carolina truck accident lawyer. Contact the Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger today. Our experienced legal team understands that you are hurting both physically and financially after your accident, and we want to help you and your family get the justice that you deserve so that you can focus on the healing process. Call us today at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC), or start a live chat 24/7 with a real, live person to arrange a free and confidential consultation.