Hit by a Company Vehicle? Your Rights in a Commercial Car Accidents

If you were hit by a company vehicle, you will likely suffer some serious injuries. Transport trailers, garbage trucks, courier vehicles, and other commercial vehicles are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. As such, they cause much more damage when they are involved in a crash. It is important to know your rights, as well as what to do if a company car hits you. A Charleston car accident lawyer can help you through this complicated legal process and get you the compensation you deserve.

The Right to Pursue Compensation

You will suffer many losses after a crash and if you were hit by a company vehicle, you deserve compensation for those losses. The most common types of damages available in these claims are as follows:

• Medical expenses: Again, the injuries sustained during a company vehicle accident are extensive. You will likely require a great number of treatments, and they are very costly. You deserve to receive compensation so you do not have to pay for these yourself.
• Lost income: Due to the serious nature of injuries sustained, you also will likely be unable to return to work right away. You have the right to receive compensation not only for your lost wages, but also your lost vacation pay, sick pay, bonuses, and other employment benefits.
• Loss of earning capacity: If your injuries are so severe you cannot return to the same line of work in the future, you have the right to pursue compensation for your loss of earning capacity. These damages total the difference between the income you once earned and the income you are now able to earn.
• Property damage: Your vehicle will likely sustain damage if a company vehicle hits you. You are entitled to compensation to make any necessary repairs or replacements. You also have the right to damages if other personal items are damaged, as well, such as your cell phone.
• Pain and suffering: Not all damages in Charleston have concrete dollar values. You also have the right to pain and suffering damages for the physical pain and emotional distress you experienced.
• Wrongful death: If you lost someone in a crash with a commercial vehicle, your family has the right to damages for funeral and burial expenses and your other losses through a wrongful death claim.

In addition to the above damages, you have the right to receive a quick response from the insurer regarding your claim.

Do Not Forfeit Your Rights After a Company Car Hits You

After a company car hits you in Charleston, it is critical that you protect your rights. The best ways to do this are as follows:

• Seek medical attention: You will have to prove the nature, extent, and severity of your injuries to the insurance company. The best way to do this is with medical records, so it is critical that you seek medical attention as soon as possible after a company vehicle hits you.
• Document the scene: You will also have to prove that a commercial vehicle hit you and is at fault for the crash. Documenting the scene can help prove how the collision happened. Take photographs and video footage of the crash scene, locate eyewitnesses, and ask them for their names and contact information. Your attorney may contact them in the future.
• File your claim on time: It is critical that you file your claim within three years of the crash. This is the statute of limitations, or time limit, and if it expires you will lose your right to file a claim for damages.
• Contact a Charleston car accident lawyer: A car accident lawyer in Charleston is an invaluable resource when filing a claim. They can advise you of the law and how it applies to your case, reach out to expert witnesses to help further prove your case, and negotiate with the insurer so you obtain the full and fair settlement you are entitled to. A lawyer can also advise on the next steps to take so your well-being, and your rights, are always protected.

Our Car Accident Lawyer in Charleston Will Protect Your Rights

At the Trey Harrell Law Office, our Charleston car accident lawyer has seen the devastation commercial vehicles cause on the road and is dedicated to helping clients protect their rights in the aftermath. We will put our expertise to work for you, too. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorney and to get the legal help you need. Remember Trey Helps!