Tractor-Trailer Crash Lawyer
To help prevent serious trucking accidents, the government has implemented a series of regulations to keep truck drivers and their equipment in top condition for safe driving. But safety isn’t the only thing the trucking industry cares about — it is also driven by profits. In order to deliver cargo quickly and increase their revenue, too many trucking companies push their drivers to break the law and ignore safety regulations.
One of the biggest problems on the road is truck drivers who ignore the hours-of-service requirements and drive to the point of fatigue. To cut costs and increase productivity,some trucking companies and their drivers also don’t maintain their equipment like they are required to. This can result in brake failures and other malfunctions that can lead to serious accidents. Some companies hire unsafe drivers who have a history of reckless driving, and some truckers use — or abuse — drugs or alcohol while at the wheel of an 80,000-pound semi-truck.
Joye Law Firm’s Truck Wreck Lawyers Can Help
The personal injury attorneys of Joye Law Firm have a track record of holding trucking companies responsible for demands placed on drivers that result in irresponsible and reckless driving. If you’ve been seriously injured in a heavy truck accident, Just Call Joye and get our truck accident attorneys on your side.
We assure you that our attorneys and staff will treat you with the respect, compassion and care that you deserve. We have over four decades of experience helping injured people like you recover not just the compensation they deserve, but also their lives.
We can help you too. Just Call Joye. You can reach us at (888) 324-3100 or fill out an online form for a free case review.
Joye Law Firm’s trucking accident attorneys serve clients in Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner and Summerville. We are also ready to take on your case anywhere in South Carolina.
Our Experience Sets Us Apart
With more than 110 years of collective litigation experience, it is clear that Joye Law Firm’s proven personal injury lawyers are committed to our clients and to the professional practice of personal injury law. Several of the attorneys at Joye Law Firm have received an AV rating, the highest bestowed by the respected law firm reviewers at Martindale-Hubbell. Several of our lawyers also have been recognized as Super Lawyers.
Our truck accident lawyers are proud of their record of securing positive outcomes for our clients, including a $4.375 million settlement for a man who received facial and head injuries in a tractor-trailer wreck, separate $3.86 million settlements for the families of two men killed in a truck accident, a $1.025 million settlement for a man severely injured in a collision with a big rig and a $975,000 settlement for a man who injured his back in a truck crash.
Although it is true that all cases are unique, and past results are in no way intended to guarantee that a similar result can be obtained in a future matter, previous results obtained by a law firm do show the extent of the firm’s experience when it comes to serious injury and wrongful death cases. Please click on the Results tab for more details about the results we have obtained for previous Joye Law Firm clients.
About Trucking Accidents
Because tractor-trailer wreck cases involve a lot of technicalities and serious damages, they can become quite complex when the insurers and trucking company’s legal teams get involved. If you’ve been the victim of a truck accident, you need a qualified personal injury lawyer to protect your rights and advocate your interests. The sooner you act, the better. In many cases, we’ve had challenges proving our clients’ cases because the accident scene or the damaged vehicles have not been preserved.
The truck accident lawyers at Joye Law Firm have a proud tradition of success with tractor-trailer wreck cases, and one of our own lawyers has been invited to join the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America. With more than 20 years of experience handling truck accident claims, Mark Joye knows how to win. In his position, he provides fellow attorneys with guidance and counsel on the best methods of litigating these cases and works to uphold the organization’s mission to eliminate unsafe and illegal interstate trucking practices. Mark has been a frequent lecturer at legal seminars on topics related to truck accident cases.
After handling many truck accident matters over the years, Joye Law Firm’s attorneys have identified some common issues. We also understand that all truck accident cases are unique — including yours. That’s why it’s important to talk to us directly. Just Call Joye at (888) 324-3100 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
Here are some issues that arise in many truck accidents:
- Driver fatigue — Being sleepy or excessively tired while driving an 80,000-pound vehicle is a recipe for disaster. That’s why federal regulations limit the amount of time truckers can spend on the road, but those rules are too frequently ignored. A report in the Journal of Public Health revealed that 37 percent of surveyed commercial truck drivers said they had driven more than the weekly hours-of-service limit of 60 hours over seven days or 70 hours over eight days during the past two months. Almost one fifth of the drivers acknowledged that they had fallen asleep at the wheel at least once during the prior month. South Carolina’s roads saw almost 2,000 wrecks involving heavy trucks in 2009, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration figures. Driver fatigue was a factor in nearly 33 percent of those accidents.
- Brake failure —Sometimes a truck driver will claim that the brakes “just went out,” causing a serious truck accident. However, brake experts say that such an unexpected, total brake failure almost never happens. That’s because tractor-trailers’ air brakes have many safety features and backups to prevent them from going out completely. The real cause of most so-called brake failures is miles and years of neglected maintenance.
- Driver’s use of over-the-counter drugs — Serious side effects from over-the-counter drugs can significantly hinder a truck driver’s ability to drive. Simply because a drug is legal doesn’t mean that it’s safe to take while behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer. Yet many truck drivers use legal drugs that can cause drowsiness, slowed reaction times, blurry vision and nervousness. Some truckers even abuse legal drugs to keep them awake or calm their nerves.
Key Things To Remember After A Truck Crash
Getting immediate medical treatment for yourself and others should be your first priority after a tractor-trailer accident. It is a good idea to get a medical examination and tell your doctor about your accident even if you don’t feel injured at first. Some types of serious injuries do not become evident until hours, days or even weeks later.
You should report the collision to your insurance company as soon as possible, because a delayed report could hurt your claim. When you talk with the insurance company, do not provide a recorded or written statement about the accident until you have consulted with a qualified Charleston trucking accident attorney like the ones at Joye Law Firm.
It is a smart idea to periodically write down remarks about your recovery and how your injuries have affected your daily routine, because specifics could be hard to recall later. You should also hold on to all receipts and documents that relate to the accident and your treatment.
If an insurance adjustor approaches with a settlement offer, decline to sign any documents without first talking to an experienced accident attorney. You could sign away your rights to the full compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Accident Lawyers Today
You can rely on our seasoned attorneys to get you the money and benefits you are entitled to if you’ve been seriously injured in a truck accident.
Just Call Joye at (888) 324-3100 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
