Southeastern Freight Lines: Truck Accident Lawyer

Southeastern Freight Lines was founded in 1950 in Lexington, South Carolina. The company began with 20 employees and 11 trucks. By 1975, the founder’s son became president of the company. In 1996, Southeastern Freight Lines expanded to a New Orleans facility and then to Tyler, Texas. Today, Southeastern Freight Lines operates 88 service centers in the Southeast, Southwest, and Puerto Rico. They have over 8,000 employees, over 4,045 truck drivers operating over 3,000 trucks over North America.

All types of auto accidents can cause serious injuries or fatalities. However, when one of the vehicles involved in the accident is a large truck or tractor-trailer, the consequences can be devastating due to the truck’s massive weight and size. In many cases, the truck driver's negligence caused the accident.

Regardless of who was at fault for the accident, it is the drivers and passengers in passenger vehicles who typically suffer the most catastrophic injuries. The weight of a large semi-truck can crush a passenger vehicle. Truck accidents can also cause devastating multi-vehicle pile ups on the highway.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. Thinking about bringing a lawsuit or fighting with the insurance company may seem overwhelming, especially as you are trying to recover. That is why the experienced personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are ready to fight for you. We will confront the trucking company and their insurers, negotiating aggressively with them so you can focus on your recovery.

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we have the financial resources and experience needed to thoroughly investigate the truck accident that caused your injuries. Large trucking companies like Southeastern Freight Line have significant resources and many lawyers who will help them avoid paying compensation to victims.

They may even send an investigator to the scene of the accident to begin gathering evidence against you. It is crucial that you contact our legal team as soon as possible to begin investigating the truck accident. We will find all of the evidence available proving that the truck driver or a third-party driver’s negligence and/or recklessness caused the accident.

As well as all other motor vehicle accidents, most truck accidents are caused by some type of negligence or error on the part of the truck driver. Truck accidents involving large vehicles, such as 18 wheelers, big rigs, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and dump trucks are most often caused by the following:

• Tailgating
• Aggressive drivers
• Unrealistic delivery schedules that encourage truck drivers to speed
• Failure to inspect brakes, tires, trailer couplings, lights, and other equipment
• Tailgating
• Impairment by alcohol, illegal drugs, over-the-counter or prescription medications
• Cell phone use, including texting while driving, watching videos, and talking while driving
• Eating or drinking while driving
• Jackknifing
• Failure to check blind spot mirrors
• Speeding and ignoring reduce speed limits for trucks
• Mechanical failures

When truck accidents happen, trucking companies may send their representatives to the accident scene. They will begin handling everything about the truck accident to mitigate their liability and to help the trucking company avoid paying damages. These representatives understand that the best time to confront a victim of a truck accident is right after the event. Victims are typically in shock and may unintentionally admit fault even if they were not at fault.

Do not talk to any representatives from the trucking company or their insurer. Instead, only discuss the accident with the police officer on the scene. As soon as you are released from the hospital, we recommend discussing your case with a lawyer. Your lawyer can handle communications with the insurance company. There are two ways to pursue compensation after a commercial truck accident. First, you can file a claim with the trucking company's insurance for compensation. You can also file a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver, the trucking company, or anyone else who was at fault.

Accidents involving commercial trucks are more complex than typical car accidents. There are usually more severe injuries and a larger number of defendants involved. If you have been injured in a traffic accident, the personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.