What To Do After a Truck Accident in Greenville

In 2022, there were 9,790 truck tractors and other large trucks involved in accidents in South Carolina. These accidents cause fatalities, injuries, and property damage. If you or a loved one is in a truck accident in Greenville, you need to know what to do.

Our Greenville truck accident lawyer explains what to do after a truck accident.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident in Greenville?

After a truck accident in Greenville, SC, make sure you’re in a safe place. Then, call law enforcement. Cooperate with the accident investigation. Get immediate medical attention. Do what you can to gather evidence and information.

Call Jordan Law Center at 864-808-1810 to talk to a lawyer about your case.

10 Steps To Take After a Truck Accident in Greenville

1. Assess your safety

Immediately after a truck accident in South Carolina, take steps to protect your safety. Truck accidents often occur on busy, high-speed roads. You must avoid additional danger.

If you can, turn on your hazard lights. Pull over where you can stop safely, away from traffic.

Sometimes, especially when there may be spinal injuries, it’s not appropriate to move victims.

Additionally, vehicles may be disabled. But do the best you can to mitigate additional danger while you wait for help to arrive.

2. Call the police

Always call law enforcement when a truck accident occurs. You’re required to report an accident in South Carolina if anyone is injured or if there is apparent damage of $1,000 or more. Regardless, it’s always best to call law enforcement after a truck accident.

When you call 911 or the police department, tell them that a truck was involved. Law enforcement officers are trained to investigate truck accidents and can explore factors that may be important.

In Greenville, SC, the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Greenville Police Department investigate most traffic crashes. Other law enforcement agencies investigating in Greenville County include:

Simpsonville Police Department
Greer Police Department
Mauldin Police Department
Fountain Inn Police Department
Travelers Rest Police Department
Greenville County Sheriff’s Office

You may call 911 or the non-emergency police contact number. If anyone is or may be injured, call 911.

3. Get medical attention

Truck accidents involve heavy vehicles and often occur at high speeds. Always seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you have injuries. Adrenaline can temporarily mask pain, so you may be hurt without realizing it. First responders can:

Assess your injuries
Provide life-saving care
Begin healing
Identify the full extent of injuries
Document injuries
Link the injuries in time to the accident

Medical attention is important for your well-being and a claim for compensation. When there is a gap between the accident and receiving care, the insurance companies will question why. Always get medical care right away.

4. Gather essential evidence

Evidence at the scene may help prove your case. If you’re able, take photos. Photograph vehicles up close, the broader scene, and debris fields. Gather names and contact information of witnesses. Ask the driver what company they work for.

Do not jeopardize your physical safety to gather evidence. Medical attention is the most important. If anyone is injured, law enforcement should respond and gather much of this information. Only gather your evidence if you can do so safely.

5. Notify the insurance company.

Advise the insurance companies that an accident occurred. Provide the basic facts—date, place, vehicles involved, and accident report number. Tell them if you were injured. You can follow up with more information later.

6. Stay off social media.

It’s normal to want to explain what happened on social media but resist the temptation. You can assume the insurance companies will look for your accounts and what you say about the accident. Simply posting on social media may be used as evidence that you weren’t seriously injured. Don’t post about the accident—or anything else—for now.

7. Continue medical attention

Medical attention is critical to your well-being and to your legal claim. Follow your medical care instructions and limitations. Track your appointments, including the date and what treatment is given. Keep records of bills. Your Greenville truck accident lawyer can guide you through how to record your pain, activity levels, and other important items for your legal claim.

8. Investigate commercial truck factors

A commercial truck accident may have underlying causes that are not immediately clear. For example, there may be truck maintenance that was not done properly, or the driver may have a problematic employment history. These factors can impact fault and the outcome of the legal claim and must be investigated. An attorney experienced in truck accidents can identify what things to explore and how to access information.

9. Determine the value of your claim

The law for truck accidents in Greenville and throughout South Carolina is that a victim may receive compensation if another party is at fault. South Carolina uses a modified comparative negligence system, awarding compensation based on fault, with a bar of a party being 51% or more at fault.

Evaluate fault and determine your damages award. Damages are specific to the losses of the person. You may claim both economic and non-economic losses. When you know the value of your case, you can properly pursue your compensation.

10. Pursue your compensation

You may pursue compensation for a truck accident in South Carolina through insurance or a legal claim. Ideally, insurance will pay what the case is worth. If not, you can file a legal claim.

How a Greenville Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

Preserving evidence quickly and following up with witnesses
Investigating factors unique to truck accidents in Greenville
Proving fault
Determining case value
Talking to the insurance companies
Challenging insurance companies and their teams of lawyers
Guiding you through the steps to take after a truck accident
Knowing the local Greenville courts and the best ways to pursue your case

Contact a lawyer

Have you or a loved one been involved in a truck accident in Greenville? Are you wondering what to do? Contact Jordan Law Center at 864-808-1810 to talk to a lawyer.

“Jordan Law has been working with my family and I for over a year due to a car wreck. They have been very helpful and informative throughout the whole process. They have kept us up-to-date in a timely matter and have always remained professional and kind!”

“If I could give this company 10 stars I would in a heart beat!! Melissa and William were the nicest people for me and my family. I handed them a very difficult accident case and after 4 long months of arguing with insurance companies I was given more money.”

“Will and the team handled our case in the most utmost professional and yet sensitive manner. They had a sense of urgency for us , yet never rushed anything. They provided us with step by step details and updates of our case, coordinated all info in a very timely manner and negotiated on or behalf for a end result we were very satisfied with. We would highly recommend Will Jordan and his firm.”