If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a Walmart truck, a Columbia truck accident lawyer can provide the legal support you need. Truck accident claims can be complex, often involving large corporations, insurance companies, and aggressive legal teams working to minimize payouts. A skilled attorney can:
- Investigate the accident thoroughly, gathering crucial evidence such as black box data, driver logs, and surveillance footage.
- Determine liability by identifying whether the driver, Walmart, or a third-party contractor is responsible.
- Negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Take your case to court if necessary to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
With the right legal representation, you can level the playing field against large corporations and secure the financial recovery you need to move forward.
Walmart is one of the nation’s biggest retailers, with its 18-wheeler trucks and delivery vehicles crowding the roadways. Although these trucks are key links in the nation’s supply chain, they also loom over other vehicles on the road and outweigh family cars by over 70,000 pounds.
There were 5,837 commercial truck accidents in the U.S. in 2022, with 70% of injuries occurring to motorists in other vehicles rather than the truck driver. With the growing number of Walmart delivery trucks on the road, Walmart trucks contribute substantially to commercial truck accidents, including those in Georgia and South Carolina.
What Causes Walmart Delivery Truck Accidents?
Walmart trucks cross state lines, placing them under regulation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These federal regulations limit driving hours, require regular inspection and routine maintenance, and help ensure that well-qualified drivers are behind the wheels of large delivery trucks.
If you were injured in a Walmart truck accident in Orangeburg or the surrounding areas, a semi-truck accident lawyer in Orangeburg can guide you through the legal process and protect your rights. Truck accident cases often involve multiple liable parties, including the truck driver, Walmart, third-party maintenance companies, or even manufacturers of defective truck parts.
Unfortunately, it only takes one of the many entities responsible for maintaining, loading, and driving a Walmart truck to breach their duty of reasonable care for the result to be a serious accident. Common causes of Walmart truck accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper merging
- Tailgating
- Frequent stops, starts, and reverses
- Wide turns
- Improper passing
- Failure to yield the right of way and other traffic law violations
- Unbalanced or improperly secured loads
- Tire blowouts and other maintenance failures
- Mechanical defects
- Fatigued driving
- Impaired driving
Because it takes many entities to ensure that trucks are well-maintained, carry secure loads, and have qualified drivers behind the wheel, there are multiple potentially liable parties after an accident. It takes a diligent investigation to pinpoint the cause of the accident, determine the correct liable party, and file a claim against the appropriate insurance company. Some Walmart truck accident cases require litigation in court.
Is Walmart Liable for an Injury Victim’s Damages?
After a Walmart truck accident, determining liability quickly becomes challenging. Liability could depend on whether or not the truck driver was a Walmart employee or a third-party contractor. The Walmart company self-insures its trucks and may pay a settlement out of pocket after an accident, depending on the scope of the damages. They also carry excess insurance from a separate company to cover the largest claims.
Damages In Walmart Truck Accidents
Because of the large size and weight of Walmart delivery vans, box trucks, and 18-wheelers, injuries are often serious or catastrophic in accidents involving smaller vehicles. Common damages recovered in Walmart delivery truck accident claims include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future income loss
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Compensation for pain and suffering
Depending on the unique circumstances of the accident, other damages could be available such as loss of limb, disfigurement, the loss of one of the senses, or diminished quality of life. If a loved one dies in an accident caused by a Walmart truck, close family members could recover compensation through a Columbia wrongful death claim against Walmart.
How Can a Walmart Truck Accident Lawyer Help My Case?
Proving liability and making a compelling case against a powerful multinational retail corporation like Walmart is challenging and requires careful navigation and assertive action. Call Marc Brown Law Firm for the experienced Sumter truck accident legal representation you need to maximize your financial recovery so you can focus on your physical recovery.