How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth in Charleston, SC?

Why Truck Accidents Generate Higher Case Values Than Car Accidents

Truck accidents result in more severe injuries due to the massive weight difference between commercial vehicles and passenger cars. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds compared to a 3,500-pound sedan. This weight disparity creates crushing forces that cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal organ injuries, and fatalities at rates far exceeding standard vehicle collisions.

The case value framework for truck accidents includes multiple damage categories that amplify settlements:

• Medical expenses: Catastrophic injuries require intensive care, surgery, rehabilitation, home health aides, and ongoing treatment. Lifetime medical costs can reach $5 million or more for severe spinal cord injuries.
• Lost income: Truck accident victims often face permanent disability. Courts award damages for lost wages during recovery and lost earning capacity over a lifetime.
• Pain and suffering: South Carolina recognizes non-economic damages for physical pain, emotional trauma, and loss of life enjoyment—often the largest component of settlements.
• Punitive damages: When trucking companies knowingly violate safety regulations, courts may award punitive damages to punish bad behavior and deter future violations.

Multiple Liable Parties Increase Settlement Values

Unlike two-car accidents with limited liability sources, truck accidents typically involve multiple defendants, each with substantial insurance coverage:

• Truck driver: Commercial drivers must carry medical examiner certificates, obtain CDL licenses, and comply with Hours of Service regulations.
• Trucking company: Employers are liable for negligent hiring, inadequate driver training, failure to maintain vehicles, and pressure to violate logbook regulations. Large trucking firms carry $1 million+ liability coverage.
• Cargo loader or shipper: Improperly loaded cargo causes jack-knife accidents and rollovers.
• Truck manufacturer: Defective brakes, steering systems, or tire failures create product liability claims.
• Maintenance contractors: Third-party mechanics responsible for brake service or inspections can be liable if negligent repairs cause accidents.

FMCSA Regulations and Evidence

Trucking companies must comply with strict federal safety regulations. Violations serve as powerful evidence of negligence:

• Hours of Service violations: FMCSA rules limit drivers to 11 hours of driving per 14-hour work day. Electronic Logging Devices record violations automatically.
• Vehicle maintenance violations: Commercial trucks require regular inspections of brakes, tires, lights, and steering.
• Pre-trip inspection failures: Drivers must perform documented walk-around inspections.
• Medical certification violations: Drivers with undiagnosed conditions operating without proper medical clearances violate FMCSA standards.
• Drug and alcohol violations: Failed drug screenings and DUI convictions create strong liability evidence.

Black Box Data and Electronic Evidence

Modern commercial trucks contain Event Data Recorders (EDRs) that capture critical accident data including vehicle speed, brake application patterns, steering angle, engine RPM, ELD data showing driver hours, and GPS location data. This objective data often proves driver negligence more effectively than eyewitness testimony. Our attorneys immediately preserve and analyze black box data before trucking companies can destroy evidence.

Average Truck Accident Settlement Ranges in South Carolina

• Minor injuries (broken bones, soft tissue): $50,000–$150,000
• Moderate injuries (multiple fractures, temporary disability): $150,000–$400,000
• Severe injuries (permanent disability, spinal cord damage): $400,000–$1,000,000
• Catastrophic/fatality cases: $1,000,000–$5,000,000+

Cases involving multiple liable parties, regulatory violations, or punitive conduct can exceed these ranges significantly.

Charleston Commercial Vehicle Traffic Patterns

Charleston experiences extraordinary commercial vehicle traffic due to the Port of Charleston, I-26 corridor, I-526, and US-17. High-traffic corridors increase both accident frequency and the likelihood of multiple-vehicle collisions that dramatically increase settlement values.