Car Accidents with 18-Wheelers & Big Rigs in Columbia SC

South Carolina 18-Wheeler Accidents: Get Justice Now

Columbia SC is a commercial trucking hub, and its roads are packed with large 18-wheelers and big rigs.

When 18-wheelers and big rigs are involved in collisions, it can result in horrific consequences.

Everyday drivers in passenger vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists don't stand a chance when they get hit.

The aftermath of a truck accident is nothing like a regular car crash.

They require specialized expertise and skilled legal counsel to obtain fair compensation for your injuries.

Richland county and surrounding areas report hundreds of commercial truck accidents each year, and South Carolina ranks among the most dangerous for large truck crashes each year.

At Lawsuit Legal, we're on the front lines and witness the devastation these crashes can have on victims and their families.

Our Columbia accident lawyers understand life can change forever in the aftermath of serious injury and fatality.

You deserve best-in-class legal support to hold the responsible accountable.

Call 888-713-6653 now to discuss your case — no recovery, no fee.

Why Truck Accident Claims Are Different in Columbia, SC

Truck accident cases share few similarities with standard car accidents. South Carolina is a hotspot for truck crashes, and the area surrounding Columbia is especially high-risk. When an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle slams into a passenger vehicle it's usually to catastrophic effect.

These claims are complex matters and require specialized expertise involving:

• Complex federal regulations - Commercial trucks must comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations covering everything from driver qualification to vehicle maintenance
• Multiple liable parties - Beyond the driver, potential defendants include trucking companies, cargo loaders, maintenance providers, and truck manufacturers
• Aggressive corporate defense teams - Trucking companies deploy experienced adjusters and attorneys immediately after crashes
• Catastrophic damages - Medical costs alone frequently run into hundreds of thousands or millions
• Sophisticated evidence requirements - From "black box" data retrieval to logbook analysis

And when you are hit by a big rig it isn't handled the same as a standard car accident.

The battle is just getting started unfortunately.

Medical bills mounting? Unable to work? Insurance adjusters minimizing your suffering?

Moments after a serious truck accident is reported the insurance companies have catastrophic loss teams that head to the scene. Their goal is to investigate and build a defense to pay you, the victim, as little as possible. Most injury victims and their attorneys start their case off on the back foot.

Under South Carolina's comparative negligence laws if they can pin 51% or more responsibility on you, you'll be completely barred from recovery. Every percentage blame they can successfully attribute to you means thousands of dollars less for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.

Insurance adjusters may claim you were:

• Speeding slightly before the 18-wheeler collision
• Following too closely behind the commercial truck
• Failed to signal properly when changing lanes near the big rig
• Partially in the truck's blind spot when the crash occurred
• Distracted by your phone or navigation system

They don't play fair, they know what's at stake, and they start using tactics to reduce what they have to pay from day one.

The legal team at Lawsuit Legal is deeply experienced handling complex truck accident cases and can help you level the playing field.

We can help you put an end to the bullying and ensure your claims are taken seriously after injury.

Why Columbia SC is a Truck Crash Hotspot

Columbia's notorious "Malfunction Junction" – where I-26, I-20, and I-126 converge is one of the deadliest areas for catastrophic 18-wheeler crashes statewide. The heavy congestion on our highways and roads, steady construction, and traffic mix of large trucks and smaller vehicles is a recipe for devastating injuries.

Columbia's strategic location at the heart of South Carolina's interstate network transforms our city into a high-density commercial trucking corridor where tractor-trailers from across the Southeast converge.

This dangerous mix has contributed to our high-rate of devastating truck-vs-car accidents.

High-risk hotspots for truck accidents exist across the entire metro area, not just the highways and interchanges.

Augusta Road's collision corridor, Assembly Street and Gervais Street, along with multiple intersections and locations in downtown Columbia present unique hazards and record higher than average collision rates.

What's Actually Causing Columbia's Catastrophic 18-Wheeler Crashes?

Want to know why these devastating crashes happen? The regularly recurring causes of Columbia truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations - Despite strict regulations, many commercial drivers exceed legal driving limits and drive fatigued
• Distracted driving - Using phones, texting, using GPS mapping displays, and dispatchers demanding constant communication
• Dangerous Roads - Six-lane configurations that cause frequent lane changes, low visibility intersections,overwhelmed off-ramps, on-ramps, and exit ramps causing backups
• Improper loading - Unbalanced or unsecured cargo causing rollovers or jackknifing
• Poor maintenance - Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical issues or maintenance failures
• Inadequate training - Companies cutting corners with inexperienced drivers that mishandle and fail to operate their vehicles safely in Columbia's challenging driving environment
• Speeding and aggressive driving - Particularly dangerous with commercial vehicles due to the greater distance needed to stop safely
• Driving under influence - Drug and alcohol impaired drivers and other reckless behaviors

At Lawsuit Legal our experienced truck accident lawyers have decades of experience and know exactly what to look for in order to expose the true causes of your collision. Get the legal help you need after a serious accident.

Types of Large Truck Accident Cases Our Lawyers Have Deep Experience Handling

Jackknife Accidents

These massive "V-shaped" wrecks block multiple lanes on the busy Columbia corridors when they happen. The subsequent chain-reaction crashes can involve dozens of vehicles in a pile-up. Victims caught in the "crush zone" when the trucks fold at their connection point end up in a chaotic mess of crushing metal, cargo, and wreckage. Our "Malfunction Junction" is a frequent location for jackknife wrecks.

Underride Collisions

Underride crashes occur when passenger vehicles slide beneath the high clearance of commercial trailers and regularly lead to fatalities. The height differential can shear passenger vehicles at the head level, bypassing critical safety features like airbags and crumple zones. These horrific collisions have occurred on sections of I-20 and I-77 with devastating consequences.

Wide-Turn Incidents

Columbia's downtown wasn't designed for 73-foot commercial vehicles. When 18-wheelers attempt tight turns at intersections like Assembly Street and Gervais Street, they must swing wide into adjacent lanes to accommodate their massive 55+ foot turning radius. Big rigs have huge blind spots and negligent drivers can miss vehicles in them when they fail to check. These maneuvers create dangerous "squeeze points" where unsuspecting motorists get trapped between the swinging trailer and fixed objects.

Blind Spot Crashes

"No-Zone" accidents occurring when vehicles are hit because of a blind spot. Up to 30 feet behind the trailer, 20 feet in front of the cab, and along both sides are concealed from visibility in the No-Zone. Truck operators are required to physically check their blindspots ensuring it's safe before initiating maneuvers that can cause collisions. Side-swipe car accidents can have a devastating impact on smaller passenger vehicles, even occurring at low speed.

Rear-End Collisions

Large semi-trucks and commercial vehicles need more distance in order to stop safely. Truck drivers who fail to maintain proper following distance and hit vehicles from behind can seriously injure victims. Even a small "tap" from a big rig is capable of causing traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and other trauma to the occupants of smaller passenger vehicles.

Potential Compensation for Columbia Truck Accident Victims

The financial impact of a serious truck crash extends far beyond initial medical bills. Victims may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses - Past, current, and future treatments
• Lost income - Including diminished future earning capacity
• Property damage - Vehicle replacement and personal property
• Pain and suffering - Physical pain and emotional trauma
• Permanent disability - Lifestyle adaptations and ongoing care
• Disfigurement - Psychological impact of permanent changes
• Loss of consortium - Impact on marital relationship
• Wrongful death damages - For families who lose loved ones

In South Carolina law there's no statutory cap on compensatory damages in most personal injury cases, meaning your recovery isn't limited by law. After a devastating collision with an 18-wheeler, the difference between adequate and excellent legal representation can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in your final settlement.

Don't you deserve the best representation possible working to ensure you get paid what you deserve?