Charleston Truck Accident Lawyers

Put Decades of Experience in Your Corner!

Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC has handled more than 60 truck accident cases over the course of our firm’s history, including rollover accidents, cases involving driver negligence, falsified logbooks, and fatal accidents.

Our Charleston truck accident lawyers have a reputation for excellence in these cases, stemming from our passion for protecting our clients’ rights and pursuing justice on their behalf. We draw from our years of experience to determine the factors at play in the accident cases we handle.

When it comes to traffic accidents between two different consumer vehicles, sorting out who is responsible is often a fairly straight-forward endeavor. In some cases there may be extenuating circumstances but, most of the time, fault lies with one or more negligent drivers.

When a commercial truck accident occurs, injured parties often assume that fault similarly lies with the truck driver. While this may sometimes be the case, often times the circumstances are more complicated than that. The government understands what kind of risks large commercial vehicles pose on the road for other drivers, which is why the commercial trucking industry is heavily regulated.

It relies on a series of different parties all working together to ensure that a commercial rig is safe and that it is operated by a qualified driver. When this cooperation and vigilance does not happen, other motorists are put at risk-- and not just because of truck driver error.

The liable parties following a trucking accident can include:

• The truck driver
• The party that leased the truck (or trailer)
• The manufacturer of the truck (or trailer)
• The owner of the rig
• The shipping company

Of course, it is not expected for a trucking accident injury victim to be an expert in trucking regulations or to even be certain what exactly caused their accident. Usually, there will be an investigation as to what precisely happened on the road, but, beyond that, it may be up to a capable Charleston trucking accident attorney to establish just how and why the dangerous conditions that caused the accident were present.

How Are Truck Accidents Investigated?

Truck accidents are often far more complex than typical car-on-car collisions for many reasons. Investigating a truck crash usually requires the help of experts, a thorough understanding of federal trucking laws, and more resources to comb through each piece of evidence in the crash involved in the collision.

To help victims understand the extent of a truck accident investigation and what it may entail, we discuss examples of evidence that attorneys look at when reviewing a case.

Truck accident investigations may involve the following:

• Driving logs and records: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established mandatory limits on the amount of hours a truck driver can be on the road without breaks. This rule is supposed to cut down on the number of drivers who drive while fatigued or drowsy, which can cause deadly accidents.

• Truck maintenance logs: By law, trucking companies are required to conduct regular maintenance on their vehicles. These inspections should check for potential defects, repairs, or any issues that could deem the vehicle unsafe to drive. If a company did not keep adequate maintenance records, they can be held liable for accidents.

• Black box & GPS technology: A black box records information about a vehicle, including the speed, braking, and location. Analyzing this type of data can help attorneys evaluate a driver’s behavior and if it contributed to the accident.

• Weather reports: Information about the weather at that time can play an important role in determining whether a driver was driving too fast given the weather conditions. If a driver was speeding during the rain or when it was foggy, this can point to evidence of negligence.

• Driver employment records: Drivers must have the proper training and pass performance tests before beginning their jobs. If a company allowed a driver without adequate training on the roads, they can be held liable for injuries they cause.

• Cargo data: Federal regulations place maximum cargo limits for a reason - overloaded or improperly loaded cargo can affect the maneuverability of a truck and make it unsafe to operate.

Handling a Comprehensive Range of Truck Injury Cases

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No Fees Until We Win!

At Pierce | Sloan, we charge no fees until we win. This means that unless we are successful in representing your case, you don’t have to worry about legal fees! There’s no risk in pursuing the legal representation you need and deserve after an accident.

We have been serving clients since 1999. Based in South Carolina, our team of attorneys represents clients in state and federal courts nationwide, having represented individuals and corporations in at least 30 different states. Our Charleston truck accident lawyers are licensed in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Arrange a Free Review with Our Firm

Discuss your case with our firm when you call to request a free case evaluation at our office. If you are unable to come to us due to your injuries, our truck accident attorneys can come to your home or even your hospital room in order to provide the initial complimentary consultation needed to move forward.

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Contact Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC today at (843) 968-0886 or complete our online form!

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