What to Expect During Your South Carolina Truck Accident Claim

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in South Carolina, you’re likely dealing with a lot at the moment. With medical bills, car repairs, insurance calls, and trying to recover from your injuries, everything can feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t have to go through this alone. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, we help truck accident victims like you secure the compensation they deserve. Here’s what you can expect during your South Carolina truck accident claim.

Step 1: Get medical treatment and gather evidence

Remember, your health comes first. Even if you think you feel fine after the truck accident, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries, like whiplash or internal bleeding, might not show up right away but could quickly cause serious problems. Additionally, medical records are a key piece of evidence for your case.

While you need to focus on healing, it’s also important to gather evidence. If possible, take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and any damage to your vehicle. Get contact information from any witnesses and request a copy of the police report. Don’t worry if you weren’t able to collect this information at the time of the crash – our lawyers can help.

Step 2: Hire a truck accident lawyer

Truck accident cases can be more complicated than the average car accident. Part of the reason for this is that truck accidents often involve multiple parties. The truck driver, the trucking company, and even truck manufacturers may all have played a part in causing the crash. On top of that, insurance companies for the trucking company are going to try to avoid paying compensation. They will have attorneys working to avoid a finding of liability against the driver and company. When you come up against all of this, having an experienced truck accident lawyer in your corner can make a big difference.

At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, we thoroughly investigate your truck accident. We look at driver logs, trucking company records, and black box data from the truck to find out what happened and who should be held responsible. When you hire us, you can focus on recovering while we handle the legal side of things.

Step 3: Investigate the accident

Once you hire a lawyer, we get to work right away. This includes gathering more evidence, reviewing accident reports, and possibly bringing in accident reconstruction experts to determine exactly what caused your crash. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include the following:

• Driver fatigue
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Improper truck maintenance
• Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo
• Driving under the influence

Our goal? To determine liability and build a strong case for your compensation.

Step 4: File an insurance claim

After we gather enough evidence, we file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. In most cases, this will be the trucking company’s insurer. Trucking companies are required to carry higher insurance coverages than regular drivers, but this doesn’t mean that they’ll pay out easily. Insurance adjusters may try to minimize your claim, argue that you were partially at fault, or offer you a lowball settlement.

That’s why it’s so important not to accept any settlement without talking to a skilled South Carolina truck accident lawyer. We negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to make sure you get the compensation you need for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Step 5: Negotiate a settlement

In many cases, truck accident claims are settled out of court. Once we present our case to the insurance company, they may come back with a settlement offer. If the offer is fair, you can accept it and receive your compensation. If it’s too low, however, we can negotiate for a better amount. Our lawyers understand the tactics insurance companies use, and we won’t let them take advantage of you.

Step 6: File a lawsuit (if necessary)

If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we may need to file a lawsuit. This doesn’t mean your case will necessarily go to trial – many lawsuits are settled before ever reaching the courtroom. However, filing a lawsuit shows the insurance company that we’re serious about securing you the compensation you deserve.

If your case does go to trial, we can be with you every step of the way. Our attorneys can help prepare you for what to expect, present your case skillfully in court, and fight for your rights in front of a judge or jury.

Step 7: Receive compensation

Once your case is settled or you win in court, you can receive your compensation. This money can help cover your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. If the trucking company was especially negligent, you may also be awarded punitive damages, which are meant to punish the wrongdoer and prevent future accidents. Our South Carolina truck accident lawyers can explain more about this.

How long does a truck accident claim take?

There’s no set timeline for a truck accident claim, as every case is different. Some cases might settle in a few months, while others could take a year or more. Factors that affect the length of your case include:

• The severity of your injuries,
• How long it takes to collect evidence.
• Whether the insurance company is willing to negotiate.
• Whether a lawsuit is necessary.

At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, we work as quickly as possible to get you the compensation you need. However, we never rush a settlement if it means accepting less than you deserve.

How much is my South Carolina truck accident case worth?

The value of your case depends on various factors, like:

• Medical expenses (past and future).
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering.
• Property damage.
• Punitive damages (in cases of extreme negligence).

We carefully calculate all your damages so you can receive maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.

What should I do after a South Carolina truck accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, here are some important steps you should take:

• Seek medical attention, even if you don’t feel injured. Your health should be your top priority.
• Call the police and request an official accident report.
• Take photos, get witness information, and document your injuries.
• Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters. They may try to get you to say something that could inadvertently hurt your case.
• Contact the truck accident attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling cases just like yours here in South Carolina, and we’re dedicated to fighting for victims’ rights.

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a South Carolina truck accident? Don’t wait to get help on your side. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, we can listen to your story, explain your legal options, and guide you through every step of your claim. To set up your free consultation, call our offices or fill out our contact form. We are here to help.