Columbia Truck Accident Attorney: What to Do After a Semi-Truck Collision

This video features Tyler D. Bailey, Esq., a Criminal Law attorney based in South Carolina.

Tyler Bailey | 888-981-0034 | Free Consult

“If you don’t get a lawyer as soon as possible, there’s a chance that a lot of the evidence your lawyer will need to make sure you receive everything you’re entitled to, they will not be able to get their hands on.”

Why do big rig truck accidents occur? Do truck drivers ever falsify their logbooks? Who is liable for tractor-trailer accidents: the driver, or their employer?

Tyler Bailey is the founder of Bailey Law Firm, which is based in Columbia, South Carolina. He can assist with matters ranging from personal injury and workers' compensation to criminal defense, family law, and civil law. He was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 trial lawyers by National Trial Lawyers Monthly. As a Columbia truck accident attorney, he can assist victims of catastrophic semi-truck collisions.

In this video, he explains how truck drivers are sometimes pushed by their companies to break laws and meet tight deadlines. When this happens, it puts everyone on the road at risk of injury and death.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-981-0034 or by submitting a contact form on this page. There is no charge for the consultation, and you never owe any out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Key Takeaways From Tyler Bailey:

While driving long distances, truck drivers can engage in dangerous distractions such as watching videos, video calling, texting, and more. Additionally, with the pressure to keep trucks on the road for longer periods of time without proper breaks, driver fatigue is a serious problem that can result in dangerous situations for both the driver and anyone sharing the road with them.

Truck drivers are under immense pressure to stay on the road as long as possible, especially with the extra deliveries required due to COVID.

These drivers are not being paid during rest breaks or the time it takes to load and unload their big rig. This inspires some drivers to forego the rest breaks required by law. While the law requires truck drivers to take periodic breaks, increased pressure from the trucking companies seeking to offer quick delivery to maximize their profits results in many drivers failing to follow standard safety protocols including rest break requirements, proper speed limits, and frequent maintenance checks and repairs, causing otherwise avoidable collisions on the road.

The driver, trucking company, as well as any other party involved, could be held responsible for an accident.

Anybody related to driving, renting, owning, or operating a semi-truck could be held liable for damages incurred in an accident. A truck accident lawyer will investigate each related party to see how and where the negligence occurred to decide who is responsible. In some cases, multiple parties might be responsible.

Drivers are only required to maintain their records for a certain period of time.

This is why it is essential to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Waiting to seek legal help could result in valuable evidence being hidden, destroyed, or dispersing over time. While the majority of truck drivers are experienced, hard-working people, there are instances when the logbooks drivers are required to keep are falsified in an effort to make it look like they were following the rules when reality might tell a different story. For example, these false logs could indicate that a driver was resting, when in reality they were on the road ignoring safety protocols when the wreck occurred.

Trucking companies will immediately contact their insurance and legal teams after an accident.

This is another reason it is necessary to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Trucking companies have experienced teams on their side to protect their interests at your expense. An experienced truck accident lawyer on your side will know how to handle these teams as well as know what tricks and pitfalls to watch out for. If you have been injured in a trucking accident but fear that you can’t afford to hire a lawyer, there’s good news; most personal injury attorneys work on contingency, which means you won’t have to pay your lawyer unless and until they win your case. If you are unable to contact a lawyer or pursue a case yourself due to your injuries, a loved one can do so on your behalf.

To learn more, contact Tyler Bailey directly by calling 888-981-0034 or by submitting a contact form on this page. There is no charge for the consultation, and you never owe any out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only. In some states, this video may be deemed Attorney Advertising. The choice of lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.

Legal Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. Use of this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Information entered on this website is not confidential. This website has paid attorney advertising. Anyone choosing a lawyer must do their own independent research. By using this website, you agree to our additional Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.