Curtis Dayson | Updated On: April 14, 2025 | Uncategorized
The United States depends on commercial vehicles and their drivers to transport and deliver goods. When all goes well, these trucks help ensure that companies and people don’t experience product shortages. Unfortunately, some truck drivers are involved in severe accidents with other, smaller cars.
Let the skilled big truck wreck lawyers at Dayson Shalabi Burkett Law Firm, LLC (DSB) help you understand why having a law firm in your corner is beneficial. Our 18-wheeler wreck lawyers will also explain what to do after a truck accident in South Carolina.
Factors That Make Semi Trucks More Dangerous Than Other Vehicles
Large commercial semi-trucks pose far more significant risks on roads than smaller passenger vehicles. Here’s a closer look at the main factors making semi-trucks more dangerous than other automobiles.
Their Weight and Size
Your automobile weighs about 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. It’s certainly heavy. However, commercial trucks can weigh far more than your automobile. A commercial truck weighs up to 80,000 pounds if loaded with goods! That’s nearly 20 times heavier than your car.
The velocity of such a heavy vehicle traveling down a highway or street can be astronomical when hitting a passenger automobile. And, in this instance, it’s the smaller vehicles that absorb such a decisive blow. That’s one reason why severe injuries and death are more common crashes involving semi-trucks compared to passenger automobiles. Understandably, people involved in this collision often contact a big truck wreck lawyer.
Commercial trucks are also much taller and longer than standard vehicles. These characteristics can make it more challenging for a truck driver to avoid crashing into a passenger automobile.
Takes More Time to Stop
Due to their immense size, semi-trucks are more dangerous than smaller automobiles. These larger vehicles must have a longer stopping distance than passenger vehicles.
For example, imagine a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle driving 65 miles per hour (MPH) on a local highway. If both drivers had to stop suddenly, the passenger vehicle driver would need 316 feet to stop entirely. At the same speed, a truck driver would need 525 feet to stop the automobile entirely.
The Risk of Rolling Over
Because semi-trucks are much longer than passenger vehicles, they can cause immense damage if they turn over in an accident. A similar situation, jackknifing, occurs when a truck’s cab and trailer fold in on one another.
Rollovers and jackknifing are two serious problems that can lead to accident-induced injuries and road closures for clean-up purposes. The seriousness of these incidents often warrants legal help from an 18-wheeler wreck lawyer.
How Hiring a Big Truck Wreck Lawyer is Helpful
If a commercial truck driver hits you, working with an accident lawyer in Charleston, SC, can improve your case outcome. Here’s how:
Extensive Knowledge of South Carolina’s Laws
Regulations and rules for accidents involving semi-trucks differ from those involving passenger vehicles. An 18-wheeler wreck lawyer understands how federal and state laws impact trucking companies’ operations and truck drivers’ responsibilities.
Forming a Strong Case
Completing claim-related forms and gathering evidence can be daunting to those who don’t do that for a living. Thankfully, a big truck wreck lawyer regularly assists clients with completing forms, using evidence to form strong cases, and other legal-related actions.
Assistance With Sometimes Tense Negotiations
As 18-wheeler wreck lawyers know, semi-truck accidents often involve many parties. An accident between two passenger vehicles would only involve drivers and their respective insurance companies. After a trucking accident, you could find yourself going up against another driver, this person’s employer, a business, and this company’s legal team.
During these times, you need the experience and fearlessness of our Charleston, SC, accident lawyers. We represent our valued clients against trucking companies of any size.
Representation If Your Case Goes to Court
Some truck accident cases settle out of court—others go to trial. If the latter happens, a big truck wreck lawyer can advocate on your behalf. Attempting to represent yourself might look like a smart move in the movies and on TV. In real life, those without legal experience quickly find themselves in over their heads.
What To Do After a Truck Accident in South Carolina
If it’s been a long time since your last accident, or you’re fortunate enough to have never been in a truck accident, forgetting how to proceed is understandable. Follow these steps from our big truck wreck lawyers to never wonder what happens next after a commercial vehicle hits you.
- Call 911: It’s rare for a trucking accident not to cause serious injuries. Unfortunately, this step isn’t always under your control. It’s common for commercial vehicles to strike passenger automobiles with so much force they leave drivers unconscious.
- Receive Medical Attention: No matter how insignificant they seem, you should receive immediate medical treatment for your post-accident injuries.
- Gather Evidence: Another essential step is to gather evidence at an accident scene. This step is as simple as snapping pictures or taking videos on your smartphone.
- Speak to an 18-wheeler Wreck Lawyer. In addition to the injuries and expenses involved, truck accident victims often find themselves unsure how to proceed or who to hold legally responsible.
Why Choose DSB When You Need a Big Truck Wreck Lawyer?
In the last section, we discussed the importance of contacting an accident lawyer in Charleston, SC, after a semi-truck strikes your automobile. Just as vital is ensuring you choose an excellent law firm. DSB has decades of combined experience and is dedicated to helping truck drivers.
Here’s what else sets us apart:
- Proven Results: We’ve helped clients recover over $30 million in settlements.
- Personalized Attention: DSB takes the time to understand each detail of your case, never rushing through the importance of your accident.
- No Win, No Fee: We don’t believe accident victims should worry about legal fees as they face post-collision medical bills and vehicle expenses.
Hiring a big truck wreck lawyer can help you navigate complex legal processes. It’s also beneficial for helping you obtain potential compensation. We’re ready to help with what to do after a truck accident in South Carolina. Get your free case review today.